LW Patrik Laine - Tappara, FEL (2016 Draft)
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Hokinaittii
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The good thing is he has addressed his biggest weakness before the season was defence but after seeing all the CHL/Liiga games from Tappara this year, I'd say he doesn't seem to be that out of position usually. Only thing he really could improve is the first few steps of his skating so he won't get left behind if he's defending against quick skater. And of course even though he has big frame and likes to give out checks, I'd say he lacks some muscle to really have that impact power in his checks but that's to be expected for 17 years old, I guess.
But luckily his weaknesses are something you can always improve as you get older and gain more muscles etc. but being able to score like that is something you can't train, at least not that easily. I think this is a big factor for the scouts to consider.
By the way, it was nice to see Laine wanting the puck more yesterday after his goal, clapped his stick on the ice couple of times in the last minutes as Tappara was rushing into the zone. The fact is Laine is Tappara's biggest threat offensively so they really should play the puck more for him if possible. Sometimes Tappara's defenders just throw the puck to another winger who seems to be even worse position than Laine which is quite disappointing.
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Reality check
Are you guys serious? Claiming Laine is going 1st overall is bit of overhyping at this point.
I feel, that this is going to be another highly discussed case, if it is not already... Some posters are writing here like he is a lock on 1st overall and when the draft day comes, he'll be selected somewhere in 10-15 and boys here feel, he had dropped and are wondering why he dropped.
While reading these posts I get a feeling, I am reading headlines of some crappy papers.
He is not fast, but more like under average skater at international level.
Laine has clear weaknesses and while Grönman compared his shot to Kai Nurminens, I would say Laine is bigger and better version of Kai Nurminen.
There is no canadian guy going first in this draft, but USA kid Matthews will be the 1st overall. Matthews is comparable player to Jack Eichel or Mike Modano and they are just better guys, than Laine. Nationality has nothing to do with it.
Laine is not even the best finn in this draft, while Puljujärvi and Juolevi are ahead of him in my list.
But this nationality crap, is what you use as an excuse, when the overhyping proves to be overhyping on the draft day.
And there is NO WAY Laine could be a first liner in the NHL a year from now. You claim, that he could get from Mestis third liner to an NHL topliner in 18 months? If so, Mestis teams would be NHL quality right away.
So you guys would like to have a raw kid in the team, who is just adjusting in to pro hockey... Surely things will change during the season, but if there is really no guys available with better offencive tools and with better consistency at that level, we can give up all hope with the national team.
There are still guys like Toni Rajala ahead of him as goalscorers and their overall game hasn't been good enough for the national team. You guys think, Laine could beat them with his overall game this season?
I would also claim, that selecting Donskoi, Kemppainen and Hartikainen to last springs worlds was not of favoring old guys. All of them had their deput at that level. Barkov also had his first worlds.
So Laine should have in the WC team already in the last spring? Would you have chosen Laine over Aaltonen for example?
Was there a better centermen availble to replace Kontiola or Immonen? Kontiola and Immonen have both won the scoring title recently. Unfornately Immonen had to play with no brainer wingers in defencive role this year and people thought, it was his fault, he couldn't score...
I dont think, that Laine would be able to score much points at springs worlds. The team will play defencively anyway and he would lack in all around game compared to others.
Laine just cemented his status as the 1st overall come the the draft day. The game is over, guys. If it ever was not. - Disperse!
Are you guys serious? Claiming Laine is going 1st overall is bit of overhyping at this point.
I feel, that this is going to be another highly discussed case, if it is not already... Some posters are writing here like he is a lock on 1st overall and when the draft day comes, he'll be selected somewhere in 10-15 and boys here feel, he had dropped and are wondering why he dropped.
While reading these posts I get a feeling, I am reading headlines of some crappy papers.
He is not fast, but more like under average skater at international level.
Laine has clear weaknesses and while Grönman compared his shot to Kai Nurminens, I would say Laine is bigger and better version of Kai Nurminen.
There is no canadian guy going first in this draft, but USA kid Matthews will be the 1st overall. Matthews is comparable player to Jack Eichel or Mike Modano and they are just better guys, than Laine. Nationality has nothing to do with it.
Laine is not even the best finn in this draft, while Puljujärvi and Juolevi are ahead of him in my list.
But this nationality crap, is what you use as an excuse, when the overhyping proves to be overhyping on the draft day.
And there is NO WAY Laine could be a first liner in the NHL a year from now. You claim, that he could get from Mestis third liner to an NHL topliner in 18 months? If so, Mestis teams would be NHL quality right away.
So you guys would like to have a raw kid in the team, who is just adjusting in to pro hockey... Surely things will change during the season, but if there is really no guys available with better offencive tools and with better consistency at that level, we can give up all hope with the national team.
There are still guys like Toni Rajala ahead of him as goalscorers and their overall game hasn't been good enough for the national team. You guys think, Laine could beat them with his overall game this season?
I would also claim, that selecting Donskoi, Kemppainen and Hartikainen to last springs worlds was not of favoring old guys. All of them had their deput at that level. Barkov also had his first worlds.
So Laine should have in the WC team already in the last spring? Would you have chosen Laine over Aaltonen for example?
Was there a better centermen availble to replace Kontiola or Immonen? Kontiola and Immonen have both won the scoring title recently. Unfornately Immonen had to play with no brainer wingers in defencive role this year and people thought, it was his fault, he couldn't score...
I dont think, that Laine would be able to score much points at springs worlds. The team will play defencively anyway and he would lack in all around game compared to others.
teravaineSAROS
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^ Ah, the good old bitter Finnish pessimism. Whenever I visit the motherland I feel like I'm being provocative for having an optimistic attitude!
You are feeding trolls and sarcastic people. You really stepped into that one lol. hockeygrandpa = complete troll.
For your arguments, what makes you say Laine should be around 10-15 at this point? No matter what's being talked here, in latest lists he's in top-5, on one list he was 3rd OA (forgot name of the ranking provider, there's a thread about it). There's also been talk from professional scouts saying he's one of Matthews' biggest challengers at this point. We can "overhype" or whatever here, and if he goes say 13th overall in the end, he WILL have dropped, no matter how you put it.
kelsier
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Agreed 100%. Didn't have time to reply from work to that yadayada. Laine has the tools to become #1 but the competition is harsh. Still, statement like these: 'There is no canadian guy going first in this draft, but USA kid Matthews will be the 1st overall.' are laughable. There are no definites on a draft year that has barely even started. Pretty much the only two advantages Matthews has over Laine at the moment are skating and position. Laine on the other hand is better shooter and has size that Matthews will never have. With these kids who are still growing, speed doesn't come as fast compared to smaller peers. Not that Auston doesn't have frame but it's not comparable to Laine's.
Also this: 'Laine is not even the best finn in this draft, while Puljujärvi and Juolevi are ahead of him in my list.'
Well it's a matter of personal preference but there already are lists who have Laine on top of both Puljujärvi and Juolevi and right now he's showing more signs to having better complete game than Puljujärvi and a lot of Finns tend to agree.
Laine's season has started up quite nicely and there's no indication that it'd be a fluke. If you actually watch the games you notice he's on top of the game and knows what to do, where to be and how to finish plays. Will he be #1 this year? Who knows. Far too early to tell, but the kid is the real deal and the hype is warranted. Coach's comments, scouting reports and lists are only backing it up. So it's not just about 'Finns overhyping their future'.
Risingwind
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- Feb 26, 2015
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I'm also going to be a bit of a party pooper here, though I'd rather think of it as cooling the expectations down just a notch. The main point being that NHL isn't such an easy league. Remember Pulkkinen? It takes time and effort to develop NHL players.
Laine has shown that he has what it takes to start and take over the top Finnish draft-eligible prospect status from Puljujärvi. I'm not willing to make such a claim just based on a couple games, but it's something to consider amongst the options as time passes. Looking at the 2nd goal highlight clip, I'm not seeing what some of the responses here indicate. The wrister definitely doesn't go over 120kmph, I'd guess it was closer to 100 kmph judging from the time it takes to reach the back of the net from the top of the circle. The viewing angle sucks but from the goalie reaction it looks like it went in from the short side. The defender couldn't have made that much of a screen, at best he blocked sight of the puck with his skate just before the shot and the goalie prematurely committed to thinking it's going to be a pass. Even with a more complete screen that's still the type of shot that a goalie needs to catch at near 100% efficiency when playing professionally. I'll admit that I don't even know who the goalie for KooKoo is, but I think they stated that their goal for this season is to not be the last team in the regular season. It's going to be a tough ride for them at this rate.
To Laine's credit the wrister looks accurate. It doesn't need to be the fastest of the league if he can find enough empty space to score, and that's the main thing that matters in the end. Shoot enough and it'll go in, and he has been shooting enough for anyone's standards. I really like his style in that regard.
If things continue like this for a few months I'll have to start reconsidering how to rank Pulju vs. Laine. If Laine can score 20-25 goals this season he's going to be really difficult to ignore in the top prospect rankings.
Laine has shown that he has what it takes to start and take over the top Finnish draft-eligible prospect status from Puljujärvi. I'm not willing to make such a claim just based on a couple games, but it's something to consider amongst the options as time passes. Looking at the 2nd goal highlight clip, I'm not seeing what some of the responses here indicate. The wrister definitely doesn't go over 120kmph, I'd guess it was closer to 100 kmph judging from the time it takes to reach the back of the net from the top of the circle. The viewing angle sucks but from the goalie reaction it looks like it went in from the short side. The defender couldn't have made that much of a screen, at best he blocked sight of the puck with his skate just before the shot and the goalie prematurely committed to thinking it's going to be a pass. Even with a more complete screen that's still the type of shot that a goalie needs to catch at near 100% efficiency when playing professionally. I'll admit that I don't even know who the goalie for KooKoo is, but I think they stated that their goal for this season is to not be the last team in the regular season. It's going to be a tough ride for them at this rate.
To Laine's credit the wrister looks accurate. It doesn't need to be the fastest of the league if he can find enough empty space to score, and that's the main thing that matters in the end. Shoot enough and it'll go in, and he has been shooting enough for anyone's standards. I really like his style in that regard.
If things continue like this for a few months I'll have to start reconsidering how to rank Pulju vs. Laine. If Laine can score 20-25 goals this season he's going to be really difficult to ignore in the top prospect rankings.
If you feel, that it is pessimism to have three finns in top 15, I dont wonder at all, some people feel you being provocative.
Well, I thought they might be trolls(deliberate), but wanted to bring my opinions by using those posts as something to answer.
I noticed, that there has been many new "finnish" posters around, registered in 2015. Many of them share many similarities wich could even suggest of a one person behind of those all... but this is against the rules, so not more of that.
After the last season it is hard to see Laine challenging Matthews, but after this season things could be different and he might be a very good canditate for 2nd overall. But at this point I dont see, that he could challenge for the 1st.
Laine is rising, but at this point 10-15 wouldn't be out of the question either.
I wouldn't compare Laine to Matthews. Matthews is a potential franchise center and Laine is a potential 1st line scoring winger. You could build a team around Matthews and Laine would be a nice peace in that construction.
I would rather compare Laine to Joel Armia, who was taken at 16 and think the things, where Laine is better than Armia was at that age:
Size: Laine is 6'5 to Armias then 6'3(now 6'4).
Skating: Armia a bit better.
Shot: Laine by far.
Playmaking: Laine.
Passing: Laine.
All around play, professionality: Laine.
Physicality: Laine.
Deking: Armia.
Puck posession: Laine.
Finishing: Armia.
I'd say that it is overhyping, if posters claim he is clear number one and, that only nationality can be drop him from there.
As I said earlier, I dont see Laine challenging Matthews for the first spot, but he could challenge other guys for 2nd overall.
I think Barkov was a better player at this age, than Laine and Barkov went 2nd. Barkov is and was a defencive player and he scored about PPG in Liiga at his draft year. In Laine's case it is more about scoring.
Henkka
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You reallydon't know nothing about scouting, if you think June 2016 draft order is already set in stone at September 2015. Situations will change, all the time. And Laine's stock is on a rise.
teravaineSAROS
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I agree that it's better to compare him with Armia due to Similiar size, position and having played in the same league.
Since I don't know a lot about Armia's time in Liiga: could you elaborate on how Armia's deking and especially finishing (since I always saw Laine as a finisher and Armia as a playmaker) is better than Laine's?
"I'm not a pessimist, now lets compare Laine with Armia." If Laine is pretty much universally ranked around 5th place, then it is quite pessimistic to say that he will go around 10-15. Also scouts don't scout last season, they look at where the players are now. Last season works only as a comparison point to estimate his development curve. I'm not entirely sure who is the troll here.
WHAAAT!?
I just wrote that as an answer for a guy, who thought Laine should be 1st overall.
My opinion at this point is, that Matthews will be likely a better pick and I cant find the part in my post, of what you claimed I was talking something about allready set draft order...
And yes, at this point I cant see canadian guy going first...
If Matthews goes first, that is because he is seen as a better prospect, not because of nationality.
I think you are trolling here, cause you are putting words to my mouth. I haven't said anything about scouts scouting just the last season...
And there are some lists, that have Laine at 10-15 at this point. And I think, that at this point I would see it aswell realistic Laine going 10-15 in next june. But there is still several month to go.
If a compare Laine to Armia, I would say Laine goes earlier, than 20.
There just didn't seem to be enough "holy **** what a shot" messages, so I thought I'd chip in late.
His stock has been rising since the U18s, and right now I don't see any reason for him not to be considered for the highest draft positions, if he keeps improving like this. The season is still so young, as are the guys competing for the first spots. Laine has a crazy, crazy amount of potential. That kind of knack for goal-scoring makes him look like the hero Finnish hockey needs. Now if only Puljujarvi would also start waking up (or getting a comparable opportunity to play with his strengths)...
His stock has been rising since the U18s, and right now I don't see any reason for him not to be considered for the highest draft positions, if he keeps improving like this. The season is still so young, as are the guys competing for the first spots. Laine has a crazy, crazy amount of potential. That kind of knack for goal-scoring makes him look like the hero Finnish hockey needs. Now if only Puljujarvi would also start waking up (or getting a comparable opportunity to play with his strengths)...
Armia was more of a goalscorer in his rookie liiga season(draft season). In the second season he took the playmaking more in.
And yes Armia was a very lethal finisher.
teravaineSAROS
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FinnishDevil
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OkimLom
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Watching some of the video on Laine, he just screams a bigger, slightly, and I mean slighty, faster Thomas Vanek.
I think he'll be top 10 for sure, because teams will love his size, especially with his release. I still think his skating will be his biggest weakness.
I think he'll be top 10 for sure, because teams will love his size, especially with his release. I still think his skating will be his biggest weakness.
Noma
Registered User
Laine's 1-0 goal from today:
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/647434398090981376/pu/vid/1280x720/mIqF44Fc9712yeSq.mp4
Courtesy of Twitter user @Leinonen24.
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/647434398090981376/pu/vid/1280x720/mIqF44Fc9712yeSq.mp4
Courtesy of Twitter user @Leinonen24.
Jean Luc Discard
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BusQuets
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Kid clearly can't pass the puck. What a selfish player, I doubt if he even gets picked
Welp... 1+1
WHAAAT!?
I just wrote that as an answer for a guy, who thought Laine should be 1st overall.
My opinion at this point is, that Matthews will be likely a better pick and I cant find the part in my post, of what you claimed I was talking something about allready set draft order...
And yes, at this point I cant see canadian guy going first...
If Matthews goes first, that is because he is seen as a better prospect, not because of nationality.
I think you are trolling here, cause you are putting words to my mouth. I haven't said anything about scouts scouting just the last season...
And there are some lists, that have Laine at 10-15 at this point. And I think, that at this point I would see it aswell realistic Laine going 10-15 in next june. But there is still several month to go.
If a compare Laine to Armia, I would say Laine goes earlier, than 20.
Well, if I put words into your mouth, you misinterpret mine. I said scouts don't scout last season, implying that last season really doesn't matter all that much. Whereas you said bluntly "After the last season it is hard to see Laine challenging Matthews." After rereading the whole sentence I think you meant "After last season it WAS hard to see Laine challenging Matthews" which is a bit more sensible. And as far as I know, all of the latest rankings have Laine around top 5. You might think its realistic for him to go 10-15, but at the moment he is solidifying his place in top-5 in the scouts' eyes.
And honestly I'd like to know why do you think Armia has/had better finishing than Laine. IMO Laine is the most lethal finisher Finland has produced in years.
EDIT: And a secondary assist for Laine. 1+1 today, puts him at 5 points in 6 games. That's a rather nice start to the season.
