Confirmed with Link: Laine, 2nd 2026 to Montreal for Jordan Harris

[CBJWerenski8]

I think Christiansen and Mateychuk will be noticeably better than JJ and likely play ahead of him.

I'm considering a Harris - Severson pairing. Severson's best success in his career came in 2022-23 when his main D partners were Kevin Bahl and Brendan Smith. Defensive D like Harris. Though of course Harris is more cerebral and non physical.

Then who do you have with Werenski? Provorov? Jiricek? Gudbranson?

 

[VT]

I think Christiansen and Mateychuk will be noticeably better than JJ and likely play ahead of him.

I'm considering a Harris - Severson pairing. Severson's best success in his career came in 2022-23 when his main D partners were Kevin Bahl and Brendan Smith. Defensive D like Harris. Though of course Harris is more cerebral and non physical.

Maybe, but I am not sure if Evason wants one of Gudbranson/Jiříček with Werenski. Although all can be, of course.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

I think Christiansen and Mateychuk will be noticeably better than JJ and likely play ahead of him.

This is the Harris thread so I'll reply to this by quickly saying camp will be interesting as the club remakes its defense with many of the same pieces.

I'm considering a Harris - Severson pairing. Severson's best success in his career came in 2022-23 when his main D partners were Kevin Bahl and Brendan Smith. Defensive D like Harris. Though of course Harris is more cerebral and non physical.

Someone above pointed out that Harris is an "either side" guy and that made me think we might need him in the right side, so probably not with Severson? I like your thinking though.

 

[majormajor]

Then who do you have with Werenski? Provorov? Jiricek? Gudbranson?

I wasn't thinking that far ahead.

In pre-season I'd like to see Werenski-Mateychuk get a shot. Call me crazy.

 

[Cowumbus]

Wouldn’t konecny scoring 30 more points than both of his linemates show that he was not, in fact, elevating his linemates?

He’s not an elite player. The point is that his linemates are not very good and he still finds a way to produce.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

I wasn't thinking that far ahead.

In pre-season I'd like to see Werenski-Mateychuk get a shot. Call me crazy.

Hell yeah. I’m gonna need to see some camp and preseason to help me decide what I think should happen with Denton and David (and Jake and JJ).

I’ve argued in the past that it’s possible for both a player to be better than another player right now; and that same player to benefit over the course of his career by playing in the AHL while a “worse” player plays in the NHL to both be true.

 

[majormajor]

wouldn't konecny scoring 30 more points than both of his linemates show that he was not, in fact, elevating his linemates?

No.

 

[NotCommitted]

The performance of any player is largely dependent on the team around them, if you dig through the numbers it starts to look pretty clear even Connor McDavid benefits hugely from having certain kind of player(s) in his line, but of course those players benefit from McDavid even more, but the end result is a line seemingly better than it parts. Like McDavid has reached another level playing with Zach Hyman, but Zach Hyman has reached like 3 new levels playing with McDavid

What does this mean for Jordan Harris though? I get a Jake Bean 2.0 vibe, but I don't know if that 2.0 means like the new and improved, or repeat of the original. I don't know if that comparison makes any sense though, I haven't watched Harris play. Obviously he doesn't have the draft pedigree Bean had, but that might be a good thing. From what I hear Harris is of the "all around" type, which sounds like he might be a decent addition. The Jackets currently don't have the kind of structure or partners to maximize the development and value of lopsided talents.

 

[VT]

The performance of any player is largely dependent on the team around them, if you dig through the numbers it starts to look pretty clear even Connor McDavid benefits hugely from having certain kind of player(s) in his line, but of course those players benefit from McDavid even more, but the end result is a line seemingly better than it parts. Like McDavid has reached another level playing with Zach Hyman, but Zach Hyman has reached like 3 new levels playing with McDavid

What does this mean for Jordan Harris though? I get a Jake Bean 2.0 vibe, but I don't know if that 2.0 means like the new and improved, or repeat of the original. I don't know if that comparison makes any sense though, I haven't watched Harris play. Obviously he doesn't have the draft pedigree Bean had, but that might be a good thing. From what I hear Harris is of the "all around" type, which sounds like he might be a decent addition. The Jackets currently don't have the kind of structure or partners to maximize the development and value of lopsided talents.

From what I've read it seems to me that Harris is a similar player to Danforth. Not in style, but in that he is versatile, such a Swiss Army knife. And although he's a rather average defender, players like that are always useful.

 

[majormajor]

If Harris were an all-around player he would produce some offense. So far he's pure defense.

And Danforth, when he's on, will score goals, run around and hit, drive good defensive results, win faceoffs, etc... I think Harris is a defensive defenseman, of the non physical variety, I don't think he'll be a swiss army knife. Bean was also soft but his D results were never as good as Harris' D results. So I'm excited to add him.

 

[VT]

If Harris were an all-around player he would produce some offense. So far he's pure defense.

And Danforth, when he's on, will score goals, run around and hit, drive good defensive results, win faceoffs, etc... I think Harris is a defensive defenseman, of the non physical variety, I don't think he'll be a swiss army knife. Bean was also soft but his D results were never as good as Harris' D results. So I'm excited to add him.

Can't remember where anymore, but it was written somewhere that his offense is pretty underrated. So we'll see.
Beane has been injured a lot, it's hard to evaluate him. But his attacking skills are good. In defense ... Too bad he wasn't stronger, or at least didn't start using his skill on defense like Boqvist started to do.

Speaking of those who left after the season, I have a feeling Laine, Texier, Boqvist and Bean will all play great this season, especially Laine and Boqvist.

 

[NotWendell]

This is rough. Laine could use something to go his way.

 

[JacketFanInFL]

This is rough. Laine could use something to go his way.

Yikes. Not going to speculate on the exact injury, wish him the best.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

This is rough. Laine could use something to go his way.

The Leafs player has a wide stance and barely moves his knee. Laine's stance is just as wide and he initiated the contact. If the Leafs player didn't move his knee at all, he would be the one with the knee injury.

 

[Farmboy Patty]

The Leafs player has a wide stance and barely moves his knee. Laine's stance is just as wide and he initiated the contact. If the Leafs player didn't move his knee at all, he would be the one with the knee injury.

The Leaf scrub who will never make it to the NHL was getting walked and stuck his knee out. Text book kneeing. Disgusting.

 

[MoeBartoli]

Apparently Laine left the arena with a knee brace and on crutches. Terrible to see him deal with another injury.

 

[KJ Dangler]

That looks to be an ACL and Possibly Mcl injury as well. Reminds me of Nick Chubb for the browns last year . Personally I didn’t see the Toronto player do anything wrong .

 

[NotWendell]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840174320150368275

 

[NotCommitted]

To me that looks the kind of thing that happens in a fast sport when a rusty guy faces a guy who's out of his league.

What makes the injury even worse is I think Laine blew that knee badly as a teenager and missed a full off season for it, he also had a smaller op on it before his rookie season. I remember he missed practice or something for pain in his left knee during his time in Columbus and said back then he was a bit concerned because it was a knee that has been operated on "several times" or something like that... That looks really bad, hopefully for once it's not as bad as it looks, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was career ending.

I'm not usually very doom and gloom but I just can't believe how this season is turning out before it even started. He's no longer with the Jackets, but for me his new start was something to follow but apparently he just can't catch a break.

 

[KJ Dangler]

The other thing to point out with the Laine injury, his width of his stance is way outside his shoulder width.. sucks to see in a preseason game but don’t see anything malicious . On 32 thoughts today , they say there is a mindset in nhl players that an AHL or not established players it’s his responsibility to make sure Laine is not injured . The new cohost pushed back and said this could be a guy trying to get called up and if he lets Laine walk him , the coaching staff lose confidence in that defenseman , and what is he supposed to do , let up on play and let Laine walk by him ?

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

What makes the injury even worse is I think Laine blew that knee badly as a teenager and missed a full off season for it, he also had a smaller op on it before his rookie season. I remember he missed practice or something for pain in his left knee during his time in Columbus and said back then he was a bit concerned because it was a knee that has been operated on "several times" or something like that... That looks really bad, hopefully for once it's not as bad as it looks, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was career ending.

I'm not usually very doom and gloom but I just can't believe how this season is turning out before it even started. He's no longer with the Jackets, but for me his new start was something to follow but apparently he just can't catch a break.

Yeap, in the same boat here. I was pretty excited for this hockey season and talked myself into being able to follow Montreal games, but then the Gaudreaus died. Laine's fairly promising early play kinda helped get some of the excitement back, but now that looks like it's gone for the season too, and maybe career. So in a span of one month my feelings have gone totally down.

Really crap season already.

 

[koteka]

The other thing to point out with the Laine injury, his width of his stance is way outside his shoulder width.

This is where I have landed. If you are cutting between two guys you can’t have your legs that far apart.

Also, after watching Laine get injured a bunch, why would you design a play where Laine has the puck and enters the offensive zone? You have a healthy and refocused Laine - have him find his spot and then feed him one timers.

 

[Youngguns1380]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840837332225953833

 

[MoeBartoli]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840837332225953833

Mark me Sad.

 

[NotCommitted]

If that's an actual NHLer Laine is facing there I don't think that injury happens. If that's Laine in proper gameshape and not coming off a 8-month hiatus I don't think that happens. Seems like he's not doing a good job reading time and space in this situation.

I don't think kneeing by Pare was intentional but then again he didn't seem to have any intent, other than try to "do something" too late in a last ditch effort to "not look bad". There was probably going to be some contact anyway because Laine is coming with a wide stance and seems too late in starting to pull his left leg in. But why that contact turns into a serious knee injury for one guy is because Pare sticks his knee out at the last moment seemingly lacking any awareness. But I don't think the kneeing is excused by lack of obvious intent, he made a very irresponsible move in that situation, he should know better. To me it's not that dissimilar to elbowing someone in the face "bracing for a hit" or something.

Mark me Sad.

If he's ONLY out for the calendar year 2024 that would be about the best news you can reasonably hope for though. I mean it still sucks of course but that's a world of difference to missing the whole season.