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LW Patrik Laine - Tappara, FEL (2016 Draft)

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His skating looked pretty decent. Not good by any means but the concern over this was way too big. First steps and acceleration need work, but his top speed and balance looked pretty good considering his age and size.

I would worry more about his defensive game, he had no idea what to do in his own zone.
 
JJTT said:
His skating looked pretty decent. Not good by any means but the concern over this was way too big. First steps and acceleration need work, but his top speed and balance looked pretty good considering his age and size.

I would worry more about his defensive game, he had no idea what to do in his own zone.
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He's slowly improving skating after the injury as expected.

Does anyone have highlights or link to the goal? Couldn't watch the game.
 
Laine will play his first liiga game today. 3th line with Peltola and Marjamäki.
 
I dont know how its possible but last game in CHL and this game early on Laines skating looks much better. Hate to change oppinion every week but he doesnt look too bad out there.
 
I really dont see a huge issue with his skating. The guy is 191cm/95kg and 16years old, give it couple of years and lets talk then. Also he is a player with a long stick (Pierre Mcguire), good reach, excellent shot and soft hands, so even with medicore skating he could be a NHL'er. So much potential there...
 
The skating needs work, but it's not hopeless. He looked a little nervous last night, whiffed on several shots, but made some good plays too.
 
Jean Luc Discard said:
As far as I recall, Barkov was also accused of horrendous skating and still the guy went second in the draft.
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He wasn't half as bad as HF'ers (of whom most propably hadn't really even seen much of him on the skates) regarded him to be. Don't know what people actually expected of Laine after the injury but as said before it obviously take it's toll to recover. He has all the skill in the world though to become elite goal scorer.
 
Is he better than Puljujarvi and how would you rate these two guys? I know he has attitude issues and now visits a psychologist in order to correct them.
 
Gabranth said:
Is he better than Puljujarvi and how would you rate these two guys? I know he has attitude issues and now visits a psychologist in order to correct them.
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Yes, Laine's talent level and physicality are better than Puljujärvi's. However because of skating Puljujärvi is ahead now.
 
Gabranth said:
Is he better than Puljujarvi and how would you rate these two guys? I know he has attitude issues and now visits a psychologist in order to correct them.
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I think the consensus is that Laine has more pure skill and potential, but is less likely to fulfill that potential. Puljujarvi isn't far behind though, and seems like a very level-headed kid that has pretty much everything going for him - that's why he's ranked higher than Laine at the moment.
 
Puljujärvi vs Laine IMO:

Laine:
Shot: A-
Hands: B+
Physicality: B
Skating: D
Defensive game: E
Potential: A

Puljujärvi:
Shot: B
Hands: B-
Physicality: C
Skating: A
Defensive game: C
Potential: A-

I'd draft Puljujärvi over Laine but wouldn't be surprised at all if Laine became the better player.
 
glassbangers said:
Puljujärvi vs Laine IMO:

Laine:
Shot: A-
Hands: B+
Physicality: B
Skating: D
Defensive game: E
Potential: A

Puljujärvi:
Shot: B
Hands: B-
Physicality: C
Skating: A
Defensive game: C
Potential: A-

I'd draft Puljujärvi over Laine but wouldn't be surprised at all if Laine became the better player.
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D? Laine's skating must be god-awful. I'm glad we're getting good prospects thought. 2 big skilled guys in the same draft, now that's something you don't see often.
 
Laine's skating in august was atrocious, it was by far the worst I'd seen by any prospect considered to be a first rounder. However, now it looks okay, meaning that it was probably due to the injury and recuperating from said injury that it looked so awful. But it will have to develop between now and the draft, if he wants to be considered a top10 prospect by draft day.
 
The progress in last games in Laines skating has gotten me more optimistic about the player its really not often 16 year old plays like he does in liiga. Maybe should have listened to Kelsier it takes time to recover from the injury and his speed is much better now. Both Puljujärvi and Laine are big right hand right wingers with skill and great shot. Laine tries to be more of an gamebreaker and plays singular game. Puljujärvi is better rounded and plays well in the system and he just downright flies that right wing. The hype was real in Puljujärvi and now seen it in Laine aswell.
 
Knee injury at developing age is real nasty. People that haven't experienced it first hand do not really grasp this. For bigger individuals it's naturally worse compared to peers with lighter frame. Maybe I have a longer memory than some, but a guy that scores hat trick after hat trick in an international tournament against an older age group has something special going on and one injury isn't going to change that.

What I like about Laine is that he actually watches videos and tries to learn from them. This is what Selänne used to do and the rest, as we all know, is written in the history...

While I agree that Laine may have more raw potential against Puljujärvi I doubt he's gonna close the cap before they are lining up for the draft. I already knew Puljujärvi was going to be star but the first time I watched him this season (in men's league) and saw how much he'd leaped over the summer there was no doubts left. He's got more of "can do it all" than I've personally witnessed before in a 16yo kid. He can play both up and down. Remarkable instincts, size, flies like a bird and also brings elite scoring ability with soft hands. Watch a clip of him netting against Saros on a backhand of his own rebound. Most pro's wouldn't finish that.

If there wasn't for that non-american factor Puljujärvi would be #1 a the moment instead of randomly placed on top5 in most lists. That's not to say that his competition is bad, but still. Laine is a wildcard, can go anywhere from #1-15. Interesting times ahead.
 
Update on Laine:
- Was not chosen on U20 or U18-team either, for obvious reasons.
- Has been better and better in Mestis, last three games 2+1. In the previous game he was 1+0 +3 even though his team (Leki, which BTW sucks) lost 3-6.
- Coach has given some encouraging comments on Laine´s performances, especially with defensive play and skating.
- Laine has admitted in the media that he has deserved the reputation on being a problematic/difficult player. He has had meetings with psychologist during the season and that has really helped him in dealing with the pressure etc.

So, he is a "project" for sure but the direction at the moment is good. Hopefully he can get back to U18 team eventually. U20 and WJC is definately out of reach.
 
I've been having an eye on him as well. Showing improvements on the ice and really seems to pick up where he left off last season. This temporary ban will do wonders for the guy. Need to show where the limits are early on so they'll mature up at early age. No way would the Federation keep the guy off from international ice permanently, given the talent he has. Still, too bad we didn't get to see him at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He'd absolutely destroy that tournament given what he was capable at this age group last year already (might have gone with the U18 group though).
 

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