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All i've heard of him saying is he should go #1 (multiple times), but today all I've heard is he said he had a better shot and was a better goal scorer. Nothing too outrageous, he definitely has a bit of an ego and doesn't hold his tongue, but nothing too extreme.
FinPanda
Barkov Stanley cup champ!
He believes in himself, nothing wrong with that lol. Character issues?
He won't go first whatever he says though.
He won't go first whatever he says though.
BB88
Registered User
- Jan 19, 2015
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What I've seen in Finnish interviews he's been complementing Matthews, and the level of play he has been able to play against men.
Don't know how serious he is with all of his comments as he usually likes to make jokes during interviews and have few laughs, he does the same with Pulju too.
Gsus
MVP
The way the canucks fan described it sounded like Laine would've threaten Matthews' family or smth.
Neither of those sounds incorrect to me. What's the character issue, again? Personally, I've always said what I think and can't stand people lying just to be polite.
Yeah, I think exactly the same way. And if I would have the shot that Laine has, I would for sure say that I have a better shot than Matthews. Nothing wrong with that, as it is the truth.
FinPanda
Barkov Stanley cup champ!
He remind anyone else of Kovalev? I see a lot of similarities. Both big, strong wingers with unbelievable shots. Really similar style shooters too, both loved that true wrist shot, with the slower release but ridiculous power and accuracy (vs. the more pure snap shots that most guys take today). Both have/had filthy hands, high hockey IQs, great puck protection with their large frames, and strong but not overly explosive/quick skating.
I think Kovalev had slightly better skating, and slightly better hands, while Laine is bigger, more physical, and has a better motor/higher intensity. Could end up better than Kovalev for that reason - consistent intensity was Kovalev's biggest weakness, and it's not a problem at all for Laine. Still, when I watch Laine play, I'm reminded more of Kovalev than anyone else, so many stylistic similarities, and their shots are nearly identical. I certainly see Kovalev much more than Ovechkin or Hull, don't get those comparisons at all besides them both being goal scoring wingers.
I think Kovalev had slightly better skating, and slightly better hands, while Laine is bigger, more physical, and has a better motor/higher intensity. Could end up better than Kovalev for that reason - consistent intensity was Kovalev's biggest weakness, and it's not a problem at all for Laine. Still, when I watch Laine play, I'm reminded more of Kovalev than anyone else, so many stylistic similarities, and their shots are nearly identical. I certainly see Kovalev much more than Ovechkin or Hull, don't get those comparisons at all besides them both being goal scoring wingers.
Snap shot is a different shot type from wrister and Laine has it too. Usually it's utilized for rebounds, one timer when not very well prepared and when you need to get the shot off immediately. Wrister takes a moment and you can't one touch a wrister even off of deking.
By the way, I believe you're underestimating Laine's hands.
By the way, I believe you're underestimating Laine's hands.
You're underestimating Kovalev's hands. Not many players in the history of hockey has better hands than Kovalev.
Yeah, Kovalev and Laine both had/have nice snappers too, but for both of them their bread and butter is that unreal, pure wrist shot from ~20-50 feet out. As for hands, Laine's hands are excellent, but I think Kovalev's were even better, he had some of the best hands I've seen.
I do think Laine has a solid chance to become better than Kovalev - he's bigger (Kovalev was big too, ~6'2" and 225 lbs, but Laine is 6'4" and will probably weigh more once he fills out), more physical, and most importantly a more firey competitor. In terms of style and skill sets, though, I think they're very, very similar.
Very strong kid, not easy to do that with such long arms, at 18 years old!
TheLeastOfTheBunch
Franchise Centre
Made that comparison before. At his height Kovalev was a true magician with the puck, and Laine is a pretty decent dangler in that mold as well.
Laine does have that "Russian swagger" to him.
What was that? Comparing him to Toews? Is that not lofty enough for Auston comparison?
With that form benching is much harder, even. If you bend your back and kick with your feet properly you can lift so much more even if you don't actually become physically stronger at all.
It's possible I'm underestimating Kovalev's hands.
Laine made tens of plays where he effortlessly deked past a defenseman and got a scoring chance and a shot at close range range 1v1 with the goalie, but I believe he got a total of zero goals and assists off all of those. If he learns to convert that stuff...
It's possible I'm underestimating Kovalev's hands.
Laine made tens of plays where he effortlessly deked past a defenseman and got a scoring chance and a shot at close range range 1v1 with the goalie, but I believe he got a total of zero goals and assists off all of those. If he learns to convert that stuff...
Romang67
BitterSwede
Let's put it this way. Unless you think that Kovalev has top 5 hands in NHL history, you're underrating his hands, IMO.
Kovalev's hands were absolutely ridiculous. It was more his skating and effort level that were questionable at times. I don't think Laine is great at readjusting once he gets passed a defender to get great shot off, its my main problem (along with the vision) when people try to compare his puck control to Mario, who was a god at getting past defenders then re-adjusting inclose.
But I think that much of that has to do with Laine's skating. If he could get the room to more comfortably challenge the goalie or get a better shot off...
Stuff like at 6:39-6:44 here is absolutely ridiculous:
I'm a huge fan of Laine, but for sure Kovalev's hands have now been underestimated. Kovalev truly had some of the best hands in hockey ever. In the same class with the absolute bests like Lemieux and Bure. Gretzky in his own way had magnificent hands, but Lemieux, Bure and Kovalev were so flashy with their dekes that to me they are the three all time best dekers in hockey. Gretzky and Datsyuk come right after them. Just do yourselves a favor and go check from YouTube the highlight reels of any of these guys. Just absolutely amazing hands!
Laine is definitely not in the class of any of these guys with his hands. But he has huge potential with this area also, and I don't see it impossible that he could be one of the best dekers in hockey. But he definitely has still a lot of work to do to get there.
Normal for people who's first language isn't English, that's what I'd want to hear from him. Ppl. with English as a second language are very straight forward and aren't "PR ready".
Shot is probably best since Stamkos so there's that lol.
I agree. Political correctness is both different and less important in many other places than North America. What stands out here may be relatively tactful in other parts of the world. Laine is conducting himself very well for his age.
Context (paraphrasing):
Reporter: What did you say when teams asked you to compare yourself and Matthews?
Laine: He's better than me at some things and I'm better than him at some things.
Reporter: Which things are you better at?
Laine: Shooting and scoring goals.
....
Reaction on hf: omg did u hear what he said about austen ????
Don't get me wrong, I think Laine's hands are truly special too. If you look at my earlier posts, I think Kovalev has some of the better hands ever, and called them just slightly better than Laine's. Reasonably similar style with lots of their dekes too, I think, and their shots are SO similar. If Laine can become a bigger, more competitive, more physical Kovalev, he'd be an absolute hell of a player, Kovalev was quite the star even with significant issues around a consistent compete level.
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