You have heard of Sami Salo right?
They would be best off keeping him and hope he plays his trade value back up IMO. If he's healthy and lighting it up, and still wants out, mid season their return will be infinitely better.
It's not like he's in any position to make ultamatems right now.
Yes hs even got bit by kyy, how the F do you manage that?
He's not making demands as far as we know?
Laine is a great hockey player in all aspects. He has one aspect that's #1 in the world.
I wish he ends up in a situation where an equally talented hockey player in general (Aho, Barkov, maybe Fantilli) creates enough space on their own to open up shooting opportunities for Laine. He’s the most dangerous shot inside the offensive zone, he's scored from everywhere in it.
That's how you get the best from him. Create room, let him shoot. He has not had that often. When Wheeler was out to start the 16-17 season (rookie) He did score like 3 hat tricks in his first 14 games or something like that.
He's scored 18 goals a month. 5 goals in one game, 5 shots..100% accuracy.
I've been watching hockey for 35 years. There's no better shot, nobody who can do that damage from outside the slot.
They pointed this out when Laine won the playoff MVP at 17 years old in Finnish league. His shooting percentage from outside the slot was as good as other players from the slot.
This has been true in NHL as well. There's no other player with as many snipes from outside the slot than him. Semin had a few goals that are similar to Laines wristers but that's it. Laine's whole reel is just picking corners from distances that nobody else hits regularly.
I once saw this comparison of shooters who scored goals from way far out, 35 feet etc. Brett Burns was #2 with like 8% and Patty was like 17%.
Yeah he has been injured, he can be injured again no doubt. But he's also the best shot in the league, and an overall great player with no glaring weaknesses if you don't consider random injuries as one.
If you guys know how great Seabass Aho is, you'd want to understand that Patty is at least the same level. And the shot is well above.
It's funny how much he has always outperformed his draft rival in head to head matchups. Since 16 to today. There's other OT goals I'm leaving out.
Recent. Look who's legs he shoots between to end the game
Draw your own conclusions. If you have a better shooting montage of someone better at it, please present. I have watched through all the competition in my time and there's none. None.