Artaud
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- Jul 21, 2012
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His attitude is not a problem but an asset to me. Sort of like with PK Subban, that kind of attitude gives players confidence, drive and clutch. Plus it makes interview more entertaining.
It's not just about the rink size, it's the intensity, speed and physicality that increase dramatically once he steps onto NHL ice. Laine looked lost against the speed of the Canadians at the WHC a couple weeks ago, that was NHL level competition and imagine that in the NHL sized rink. Also the difference in shot blocking is massive which changes the whole dynamics of how goals are scored.
I hate to beat the dead horse on this but Puljujärvi is the better player without the puck and 5-on-5. You can disagree and refer to the small sample size of 7 games to support your claim, but that is how I feel. Saying Laine was dominating almost every shift while Pilju was mostly visible is simply not the truth. The only domination on Laine's part was the unscreened point shots on a struggling goalie that found their way in mostly shortside, that's pretty much it. And Pulju's points weren't just "some points." Two of them were OT winners. And all that while receiving limited ice time and playing with an shoulder and knee injury. He demolished Laine in pts / 60 min over the series but you believe what you will.
I wasn't talking about points at all, but specifically the other things. I'd have said that Laine was dominating Kärpät even if Laine scored 0 points.
And well, we'll just disagree regarding the two players away from the puck.
And well, we'll just disagree regarding the two players away from the puck.
Plural
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- Mar 10, 2011
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But Barkov did have big problems adapting his offensive game in to the NHL. It's completely realistic to think that Laine will take a while to get used to the faster small rink NHL.
He might be star right out of the gates. But if I had to bet, I'd say Pulju and Matthews will have easier time adapting to the NHL. That's not saying anything about who will be the best player though. But the first games will likely see Laine having more problems with the explosive nature of the NHL.
If you are implying he crossed it, please tell me how.
Eichel said he was better than McDavid, so have a lot of other prospects. They want to be the best.
Laine gives it all for his team. He has said he wants to win gold at the WHC, The Olympics and that he wants the cup. He also said after the loss to get silver that he wasn't even concerned with the draft at that moment. He cares.
teravaineSAROS
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- Jul 29, 2015
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Unfairness upon unfairness on Jessi Puljujärvi.
Goes armless, legless and having vomited his guts out to the U18 finale and throws a hatter, just to have his name written wrong on other guys' hype-up like he was a sassy Texan nanny.
seriously what more could you ask from him
teravaineSAROS
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- Jul 29, 2015
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no he didnt? and Canada even had a lot of exceptionally fast players in the team.
Not partaking in the Pulju vs Laine debate because Pulju has too many tools for me to be able to ignore the possibility of him becoming better.
teravaineSAROS
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this, his attitude is a positive asset.
oh no how dare he believe in himself like other superstars do, what a tragedy to say he wants to prove hes the best he should just be submissive on ice from now on
The Winter Soldier
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- Apr 4, 2011
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In fairness to the bolded. Laine was widely lauded for having his best game of the tournament against Canada in the round robin game. I didn't read one post that did not come away being nothing but impressed of Laine that game by how involved he was in the game, how creative he was, and how he stood out to where Canadian players including Perry were trying to knock him off his game.
As for the gold medal game, yes he was more quiet. But there were NHL proven players that were quiet in that game also including Barkov. So perhaps this had more to do with Canada playing a clinical game, rather than rink size or not being able to handle NHL players.
And let's not pretend that he was invisible that game. He had Finland's best scoring chance and several others.
Fair enough, "lost" might be too strong a word but he did look overwhelmed for the majority of the game. Created a turnover after turnover as the Canadians closed in on him and took away any extra time and space. The 3rd period was probably the worst I have ever seen Laine play.
That screamed to me that he'll have some adjustment ahead of him once enters the NHL. Not saying he cannot overcome the challenges, but I reserve judgement at this point until I see him play NHL level competition on a regular basis. The same applies to Puljujärvi as well, although I am more optimistic about his adjustment to the 5-on-5 play in the NHL. No matter how well they have played on big ice, the smaller rink makes the game so different that nothing is set in stone until proven otherwise.
That is true, but I don't think Canada showed nearly the same speed they did in the Gold Medal game.
Let me take a closer look at it... (I'll manually get statistics on his every play with the puck and rate them personally)
Just like Aho. They play big guys now, so if they somehow will play WJC, it will be just very big + to get them that team. Tough i think Laine and Aho when they play NHL don't participate to Finland WJC team in December and i think Puljujärvi is out of that team too, but there is bigger chance to him been in team. But where is Urho Vaakanainen? That team looks very promising.
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Huffer
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- Jul 16, 2010
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