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You can definitely see how his acceleration could use some work, not to say it's bad but it is around average. That said he makes really good use of his strength and reach to overcome his acceleration limitations. You can see he frequently will adjust his positioning to separate the puck from the defender chasing him. He clearly has good awareness on the ice, well aware of his teammates'/oppositions' locations and where to find some room.
Unbelievable how much Laine gets flack that he's not Pulju level skater. When you are one of your pro teams best skaters at age 17, you are a hell of a skater.
And considering Laine can pull off those moves at age 17 after winning the puck for his team at the defensive end and skating against a ready trap in one of the best pro leagues with one of the tightest defensive systems, he is going to make noise in the NHL soon enough. I'm not the least worried about his skating. It's very good already.
I don't think it's skating in general that he gets flack for, mostly it is his acceleration that isn't great. It's not bad, but it's his first few steps that are not particularly great. His agility isn't amazing either, but I would attribute that more to him being something like 6'4"+. Again his agility isn't terrible, but comparing his skating to Matthews and Puljujärvi it is clearly not at the same level.
This is an awesome video. Really impressive how well he takes the puck in stride. Also love that in the only dump in I noticed, he was the first one to get it back. Anyone know if there are any of these zone entry videos for other draft eligible?
Redwingsfan
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- Jul 15, 2006
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Lets get back to Laine.
If anyone wants to continue talking soccer, go here: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/forumdisplay.php?f=166
If anyone wants to continue talking soccer, go here: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/forumdisplay.php?f=166
He still accelerates well enough to gain separation from the skaters he goes against. In pro leagues at age 17. Particularly great, probably not, but still top end of his draft class.
I would love to know as well. You get a much better view of a player that you can't watch regularly by watching these type of videos of him than a collection of highlights. Highlights are great, but they only show a very minor part of the player's overall ability.
Do or Die
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- Jun 28, 2011
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Laine already has that frame - will add more upper body strength.... and also has the long arms - he already protects the puck well, and can stick handle and pass effectively.
His scoring instincts and shooting? Forget about it.
The deal is to picture what this "kid" will look like at say, age 21.....he could be real special....
In the meantime, the Jets just can put this guy at the left circle on PP...and uptick the power play, big time....
His scoring instincts and shooting? Forget about it.
The deal is to picture what this "kid" will look like at say, age 21.....he could be real special....
In the meantime, the Jets just can put this guy at the left circle on PP...and uptick the power play, big time....
Haven't seen Puljujärvi make zone entries like that. How many aspects are there to skating? Are the first 0.5 seconds truly so important? What's especially ridiculous is that this is considered some big weakness, even if it's not as good as those two's.
Here is a play that begins with Laine fallen down on the ice:
https://streamable.com/wobq
How poorly does he manage to join the play despite even having to stand up first?
The Winter Soldier
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- Apr 4, 2011
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It is rather silly that people keep commenting on his skating when there are so many videos of him being a rather good skater that are so easy to find. Even for those that did not see him play at the WJC/Liiga/WHC.
Gsus
MVP
I have actually bought the skating thing from here. But looking at those clips again, his acceleration isn't actually that bad. I think it's more of his agility which has something to do with his size, I think it's more that. But ofc acceleration could use some help, but he's not atrocious skater like some have said here. His stop speed is great, you can see him basically just flying by the defenders.
Thanks for ijuka to bringing the clips, greatly appreciated!
I never said his skating is poor by any means, I think he has some real nice top speed and actually a very smooth glide. In fact I'd say his glide makes his acceleration appear slower than it actually is. I think he's a pretty good skater, he has a great top end and is quite strong on his skates. But let's not kid ourselves here, he doesn't have great acceleration.
Gsus
MVP
One thing I missed, is that his leg work isn't that fast (ofc typical for a big guy) and it sure bluffs the eye watching. He is still going fast.
??? His zone entries are good, never said the opposite. Whether Puljujärvi is better or worse at zone entries was never the comparison, merely the player's acceleration. I like Laine a lot and think he's great but there's nothing wrong with saying there are things he could improve, otherwise it would be a specious view point.
People raise concerns about his skating as regard to how his skating will transition to the NHL. He's a good skater on European ice where the extra space lets players utilize their top speed more frequently, but in the NHL he will not get nearly the same amount of time and space to reach top speed. He'll need better acceleration.
It was more that there are other aspects to skating than acceleration and hearing that Puljujärvi is a "far better skater" is misleading in my opinion, even though he definitely is better.
It's in my opinion not a weakness just like I wouldn't call Puljujärvi's shot a weakness simply because it's worse than Laine's and Matthews's.
Gsus
MVP
Sure he will, no question about it. It's that it's not so bad right now.
I think he could manage with his current skating in the NHL, but for reaching even near his ceiling it's critical that he improves in physical areas.
Which is why I never referred to his skating in a general sense.
That's nice, never said it was a weakness myself.
You seem to read words that were never written...
The Winter Soldier
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From my perspective, it isn't a major concern. You may ask why do I think this? Because I do not see this part of his game that will make or break whether he will become a great player in the NHL.
To give an example acceleration matters for a player like Kessel. He relies on his skating to be the player he is. Laine does not. Also, if Laine puts in the work as a JT or Barkov did, I can see this this part of his game easily improved.
He's a very good skater already, that may become an even better one in the near future.
Of course there is things he could improve, everyone has, but there is nothing in his game or skating that effect badly his next season in NHL, his ceiling is sky high. He is amazing good already and amazing good tight situation - he can turn his skating to absolutely great glide with his big frame and stick with excellent stick handling it's very hard to try to stop him and he can turn to that glide back to skating and that he is good, he is very good skater when he gets speed. Not best but at least just as good than like Perry or Benn who are big framed too. He can and will be better for everything and when he is 20-21 years old, i just cant imagination how good he will then, how hard is to stop him and how good he is make goals and also he is already excellent passer and playmaker and he will be better that too.
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Actually it's not big different his home ice Tappara and NHL ice and also because there is wider o-zones he will need 3 kick and he is o-zone and that area he is deadly, no matter where he is. He is also very good in tight situations.
Like watching Jamie Benn highlights, he is not better or faster skater than Laine, IMO like wise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSM6EdHAFTI
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In most coaching systems I know of, the wingers generally either receive the puck in speed or don't receive it until later on when the center passes it to them upon three-lane zone entry, again in speed. Laine would be designed for a system that passes him the puck in speed(After some passing around by the defensemen and the center to take care of forecheckers) and has him handle the zone entry. Note that one of my big criticisms for Kari Jalonen is that his offensive systems are trash and don't allow for good zone entries. This was painfully obvious in the gold medal game. Canada's middle ice game was a pretty basic defense that a three-lane offensive system can deal with at least evenly, but Jalonen has none and so there was no offensive game to speak of. Compare to the u-20s whose coach has a good 3-lane zone entry offensive system and Finland and Laine of course were plowing right through any defensive system.
What seems common in NHL is that there's no 5-man whole team defense in the middle of the rink but it's usually attacks along the lines of 2 on 2, 1 on 2, 2 on 3 and the likes. With that context in mind, that actually gives Laine more room and more opportunities for 1v1s, which logically would mean that he would thrive better in an NHL style of a game. Of course, the system used is dependent on the team and the coach.
What seems common in NHL is that there's no 5-man whole team defense in the middle of the rink but it's usually attacks along the lines of 2 on 2, 1 on 2, 2 on 3 and the likes. With that context in mind, that actually gives Laine more room and more opportunities for 1v1s, which logically would mean that he would thrive better in an NHL style of a game. Of course, the system used is dependent on the team and the coach.
teravaineSAROS
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