LW Patrik Laine - Tappara, Liiga (2016, 2nd, WPG) XII

[GGSmitty]

Laine becoming as good as Ovi like most Finnish/Jets fans on here say is far more far fetched than Matthews becoming Malkin with Selke defense.

I personally don't like the comparison to OvI, other than his one-timer on the powerplay. His 5 v 5 game is very different, Laine does not have Ovi's power and explosiveness. Ovi is a generational talent and I think it is not fair to make that comparison. People just see the one-timer highlights, and in that sense I think they are very comparible.

 

[Whileee]

I personally don't like the comparison to OvI, other than his one-timer on the powerplay. His 5 v 5 game is very different, Laine does not have Ovi's power and explosiveness. Ovi is a generational talent and I think it is not fair to make that comparison. People just see the one-timer highlights, and in that sense I think they are very comparible.

I agree with this. Other than his shot his style is very different than Ovi's.

 

[QnebO]

He had "Some of the greatest progression during a summer ever" last year and that was a 5 week training program. This one's going to be longer.

Good point. Though the better shape you are the more workout it needs to get even better.

 

[moropanov]

Ovechkin should not be talked about when compared to Laine. Laine actually play's hockey unlike Ovechkin who is just standing waiting for shots and floating around... Ovechkin is cancer to his team /unit.

 

[Huokaus]

Laine becoming as good as Ovi like most Finnish/Jets fans on here say is far more far fetched than Matthews becoming Malkin with Selke defense.

Please don't. It's the very loud minority (with a few trolls I believe) that thinks so. I've definitely seen more Finns trying to calm down the insane hype (while still being optimistic) that just very small portion of posters are generating by posting a lot in every Finnish prospect -related topic.

 

[Plural]

Laine becoming as good as Ovi like most Finnish/Jets fans on here say is far more far fetched than Matthews becoming Malkin with Selke defense.

Nope. Being Malkin with Selke level defence would effectively make Matthews the best player since Lemieux. There is absolutely no way that happens.

I don't think Laine will come that close to Ovechkin either.

 

[93LEAFS]

Nope. Being Malkin with Selke level defence would effectively make Matthews the best player since Lemieux. There is absolutely no way that happens.

I don't think Laine will come that close to Ovechkin either.

No, it'd basically make him peak Fedorov, who from around 92 to 95 was arguably the most dominant all around player in the league, the thing is he didn't sustain that level long enough to be a top 25 player of all time. As for both threads, there is ridiculous hyperbole in both, and to paint one side as more reasonable than the other is ridiculous.

The best comparable I've heard for Matthews if he reaches his peak is Tavares with better skating which was said by Benning on TSN radio and it should be noted, that Matthews uses the same on ice trainer Tavares does.

Laine is unique and I can't see anyone who he looks exactly like. His positioning and shooting reminds me of Brett Hull, but he is more willing to carry the puck and create. As for who compares the Malkin, I don't think either really do, and the closest thing to Malkin would probably be some Matthews/Eichel hybred. Eichel's explosive ability and elusiveness in open ice, combined with Matthews ability to create space and puck control in the offensive zone.

 

[Plural]

I don't think that's quite accurate. Since Malkin at his best was a clear step ahead of Feds in offensive department. But nevertheless, Fedorov has a really good case for the best single season peak since 1994. So, being bit better offensively and similar defensively would put Matthews ahead of that. IE, best player since Lemieux.

Also, Feds was at his offensive peak for one season only.

 

[93LEAFS]

I don't think that's quite accurate. Since Malkin at his best was a step ahead of Feds in offensive department. But nevertheless, Fedorov has a really good case for the best single season peak since 1994. So, being bit better offensively and similar defensively would put Matthews ahead of that. IE, best player since Lemieux.

Also, Feds was at his offensive peak for one season only.

Agree to disagree, I think peak Fedorov (aka 93-94) was on par with Malkin as he would of won the Art Ross if there wasn't this guy Gretzky playing. Post that he seemed to move to a more two way role, whereas there were multiple power house lines at the time (Selanne-Kariya, Pitts line and Colorado). Either way, if we saw someone with a realistic chance of being Malkin with Selke level D, they would go ahead of McDavid or Crosby in a draft.

 

[Plural]

Agree to disagree, I think peak Fedorov (aka 93-94) was on par with Malkin as he would of won the Art Ross if there wasn't this guy Gretzky playing. Post that he seemed to move to a more two way role, whereas there were multiple power house lines at the time (Selanne-Kariya, Pitts line and Colorado). Either way, if we saw someone with a realistic chance of being Malkin with Selke level D, they would go ahead of McDavid or Crosby in a draft.

Yeah, it's in the eye of the beholder. We agree that Malkin+Selke equals generational prospect. Even if the objective look at the numbers and vs. peers suggests that Malkin was significantly better offensive player than Feds was.

 

[goblin3]

Laine becoming as good as Ovi like most Finnish/Jets fans on here say is far more far fetched than Matthews becoming Malkin with Selke defense.

Maybe not as good as Ovi but Laine has all the potential to score 50 during his career.
Matthews I see as a Barkov with slightly better offense and worse defense.

 

[Gsus]

Laine becoming as good as Ovi like most Finnish/Jets fans on here say is far more far fetched than Matthews becoming Malkin with Selke defense.

Total BS. It's a very few people that think Laine will become Ovechkin. Probably there never will be another Ovechkin.

It's ridiculous that comparing some individual skills mean automatically comparing players to you guys. I've literally laughed my ass of couple of times when the Ovy "comparisons" started since Laine scored beautys with his shot. Leafs fans came to the thread and they were laughing but actually they didn't know what they were reading. Or understand dunno. It's hilarious.

 

[SnapVirus]

Maybe not as good as Ovi but Laine has all the potential to score 50 during his career.
Matthews I see as a Barkov with slightly better offense and worse defense.

This.

 

[Plural]

Matthews I see as a Barkov with slightly better offense and worse defense.

You mean as in how good he will become or style-wise? I don't think Matthews and Barkov play alike.

But in terms of effect on ice, I could see them being somewhat comparable. Although, both are still young and hard to predict.

 

[MardyBum]

Laine becoming as good as Ovi like most Finnish/Jets fans on here say is far more far fetched than Matthews becoming Malkin with Selke defense.

"Most" Finnish/Jets fans? Hyperbole much?

 

[QnebO]

Matthews = as good as malking while being best defensive forward in the league? Alright.. Truly no way he is that good.

 

[BB88]

Laine becoming as good as Ovi like most Finnish/Jets fans on here say is far more far fetched than Matthews becoming Malkin with Selke defense.

Like others have said that's absolutely rubbish.
You have probably 3 Finns here saying something like that, which isn't that bad when you consider this is a hockey crazy country and overall Jets fans have realistic hopes for him, they seem excited as hell but realistic.

 

[kelsier]

Apparently some guy here who's been down-talking Laine pretty regularly thinks Matthews is/will be better than McDavid so there's some shiny new toy syndrome going both ways I guess.

There is a lot of trashing going on and has been for a long time now and the fans step up to defend the kid. Which in turn generates a lot of dialogues that some easily may misinterpret as overhype. While a lot of the hype in this case is warranted though. If you cut off the debates out of the context, I think we'd be starting second or third thread about Laine.

Personally I think Patrik can become something special but I have reservations about his first and early seasons in general. Although with this kid you never know, he's managed to positively surprise me a lot of times in the past.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

I don't even consider Ovi top 15 in the league while I think Laine will be in the future.

 

[ruhroh*]

Maybe not as good as Ovi but Laine has all the potential to score 50 during his career.
Matthews I see as a Barkov with slightly better offense and worse defense.

Uh.. Barkov is much more of a 2-way center.
I keep hearing Matthews is supposed to be this Selke level 2-way beast but so far I haven't seen any evidence of elite defensive abilities.
He seems very much like an offence 1st kind of guy to me.
Oh and Barkov had a much more impressive draft season than Matthews considering FEL is the better league and it was boosted with NHL players that season.

 

[Plural]

I don't even consider Ovi top 15 in the league while I think Laine will be in the future.

At this point, one could make an argument that Ovechkin is not top-15 player. Although, one could more easy make an argument that he is.

Nevertheless, there was a time when Ovechkin was without an argument a top-2 player in the world and with almost bulletproof argument for #1. I know it has become a popular Finnish pro-Laine argument here that Ovechkin never could step up when it mattered. Thus creating a narrative that Laine can be considered better than Ovechkin due to his clutch play. It's a false narrative in many ways. Mainly because Ovechkin at his peak was a marvelous playoff performer, evident by his great numbers and performances.

If Laine becomes a top-15 player in the league I would consider that as a huge success. He has the potential, but it's insanely difficult to stand out as a top-15 player in the toughest league in the world. Any given year there are legitimate Hall of Famers competing against you for that top-15 placement.

I really hope he continues on his insane development curve. I could see Laine topping out as the premier goal-scoring winger in the league. One can hope, right?

 

[ijuka]

Nevertheless, there was a time when Ovechkin was without an argument a top-2 player in the world and with almost bulletproof argument for #1.

Sidney Crosby was in the league so I don't think that Ovechkin ever was the best player in the league. -maybe- during a season or two but that's like saying that Kane is the best player in the league because of this one season.


Ovechkin has a skating advantage over Laine. In fact, Ovechkin was the best skater in the entire league in his prime(But not better than McDavid, even in his prime). This is a fact. However, what I don't understand is that people ignore the advantages Laine actually has over Ovechkin in his gameplay. While Laine has borrowed some attributes from Ovechkin, he has many other things in his game as well. I have seen people often compare him to Lemieux. Now, it is not a guarantee he will become a better goal-scorer or even a better player than Ovechkin in his prime. But I see Laine having potential for having more dimensions in his game.

 

[Plural]

Sidney Crosby was in the league so I don't think that Ovechkin ever was the best player in the league. -maybe- during a season or two but that's like saying that Kane is the best player in the league because of this one season.


Ovechkin has a skating advantage over Laine. In fact, Ovechkin was the best skater in the entire league in his prime(But not better than McDavid, even in his prime). This is a fact. However, what I don't understand is that people ignore the advantages Laine actually has over Ovechkin in his gameplay. While Laine has borrowed some attributes from Ovechkin, he has many other things in his game as well. I have seen people often compare him to Lemieux. Now, it is not a guarantee he will become a better goal-scorer or even a better player than Ovechkin in his prime. But I see Laine having potential for having more dimensions in his game.

Well, he won the Lindsay award three years in a row while leading the league in PPG and GPG each year. Two Hart trophies with overwhelming majority votes and one second place finish. For that three year period, there is a very solid case for Ovechkin. In fact, he's the most popular choice now and was the most popular choice back then.

For the latter part, I agree. Laine is not a carbon-copy of Ovechkin. He's never going to play like prime Ovechkin did. But Laine has tools that Ovechkin did not have. I wouldn't bet a single penny on Laine ever reaching the heights Ovechkin did. But that doesn't mean he can't. At his peak, Ovechkin was a high energy, high offense winger. But we all saw the glaring holes in his game too. He took un-necessary hits, putting himself out of the game. That wasn't always so bad, cause Ovechkin was so great skater. But he sometimes committed to hits when not needed and ended out of the gameplay. He also lacked the effort to backcheck. Those faults were easily overcome by his offensive abilities. Ovehckin was a great playmaker on top of being the best goal-scorer in the league.

The thing is, prospect evolve and we don't yet know how Laine turns out to be. Go check out Ovechkin's scouting reports. There are numerous instances when his defensive effort is praised as a prospect. We all know he didn't turn out as a two-way winger. But that's what the scouts back then saw. A highly engaged winger in all aspect of the game. Superb skating and athleticism.

I think Laine's skating is being underrated at times in this forum. While he's not explosive, he can skate. I'd say that he has a chance to become above average skater. And I really love his reach and ability to shield the puck with his body. Laine adds in some muscle and he might be one of the hardest players to knock off the puck.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

I really hope he continues on his insane development curve. I could see Laine topping out as the premier goal-scoring winger in the league. One can hope, right?

His shot is already, think like, top 5 in the NHL despite not having played a single game in the NHL yet. He may end up being incredibly useful on the PP.

 

[Plural]

His shot is already, think like, top 5 in the NHL despite not having played a single game in the NHL yet. He may end up being incredibly useful on the PP.

Yeah. Definitely a good weapon for Jets PP.