LW Patrik Laine - Tappara, Liiga (2016 Draft) IX

[Leehh]

This kid has some serious character issues.

Hopefully the guy clues in considering how elite of a talent he really is.

See the most recent thing he said about austin?

So being outspoken, honest, having healthy self-confidence, ambitious and being laid back means one has character issues? Damn you politically correct people with your feelings and safe spaces never dissappoint me

 

[Divine]

Poll is up

 

[Fairview]

[/B]

You're going to be really, really, really disappointed by Laine. He's basically like Ovechkin, except worse at everything (shot is worse, skating is significantly worse, physical play is not even close, defensive ability is worse), etc. This is me comparing him to draft day Ovechkin, not current Ovechkin.

I'm also seeing why Toronto was his hardest interview. I can't see Lou/Babcock/Hunter standing for the sense of entitlement that Laine seems to have.

What I see is a number of Toronto fans trying desperately to put down a prospect , that even if they want their team to select him the can't admit it, they know that their team will select AM. Toronto needs a center. Instead of being focussed on the player they know their management will select, they spend time on this thread attacking a player that they claim is not worthy of #1 and have no interest in selecting.
Why waste your time on this player, unless like alot of us, you feel that deep down picking AM over PL could come back to haunt you.
Leafs are in a no win position here. They select AM and it turns out he is the best out of this draft then, no big deal. He was ranked #1 and turned out #1, BUT if PL turns out better, then it will be looked at as another in a long long list of Leaf failures. With the Leafs history, I would be a little nervous too, if I were a fan.
As far as the high powered big thinking Toronto management team, maybe it would be wise to see if they can turn the mess around before claiming that they are all knowing

 

[LeafFever]

Laine needs to relax with the comments. It's ok to have confidence, but he's looking obnoxious and immature now.

 

[TMLife*]

[/B]

What I see is a number of Toronto fans trying desperately to put down a prospect , that even if they want their team to select him the can't admit it, they know that their team will select AM. Toronto needs a center. Instead of being focussed on the player they know their management will select, they spend time on this thread attacking a player that they claim is not worthy of #1 and have no interest in selecting.
Why waste your time on this player, unless like alot of us, you feel that deep down picking AM over PL could come back to haunt you.
Leafs are in a no win position here. They select AM and it turns out he is the best out of this draft then, no big deal. He was ranked #1 and turned out #1, BUT if PL turns out better, then it will be looked at as another in a long long list of Leaf failures. With the Leafs history, I would be a little nervous too, if I were a fan.
As far as the high powered big thinking Toronto management team, maybe it would be wise to see if they can turn the mess around before claiming that they are all knowing

We're the ones talking hockey at least...

 

[IFK]

We're talking about the 17 year old that was third on his KHL team in points and led his team in goals, right?

They were same age (or Ovi few months younger) season 2002-2003 Ovi has 40 games and 15 points. And no, it wasn't KHL then, it wasn't even close, it was jusr Russian league and that time FEL was much higher level league than Russian league. KHL just start 2008-2009 and first year it wasn't much better than SEL or FEL.

 

[JetsFan815]

Looks like Laine rustled some jimmies today

 

[Fairview]

It's solid reasoning, let's say both Laine/Ovechkin are in a slump where they both contribute no points for x amount of games. Who's more valuable to the team? The guy that can skate, play physical, block shots and play a grinding role, or the guy that can...what can Laine do better than Ovechkin again?

Wait...are you talking about the Ovechkin that plays for the Caps? That is not the guy you just decribed...

When the going gets tough, Ovechkin gets...LOST..Grinder? blocks shots?? You are joking.

Oh, and in the recent WHC, with a home crowd etc.. How much did the great Ovechkin contribute to his team? they held a spot open for him on that roster, did not work out too well.

 

[LeafsNation149]

Nothing in particular. As I said a lot of leafs fans come here to say he is toxic and has big ego. Thats because he said that he is better than Matthews and is the best player in the draft. Also seems like Leafs fans are rustled because he compared himself to Ovie and Matthews to Toews.

Maybe you are afraid that he will turn out to be better?

I honestly don't understand what some people are saying. I personally think Laine is amazing, but I think Matthews is better, nothing wrong with that. Many people are acting like Leafs have already drafted Matthews, when in reality, there is a chance Laine gets drafted by them. If Leafs management felt Laine will be better they will take him, if not they take Matthews. Again this has nothing do with Leafs fans.

 

[Fairview]

I honestly don't understand what some people are saying. I personally think Laine is amazing, but I think Matthews is better, nothing wrong with that. Many people are acting like Leafs have already drafted Matthews, when in reality, there is a chance Laine gets drafted by them. If Leafs management felt Laine will be better they will take him, if not they take Matthews. Again this has nothing do with Leafs fans.

I agree. If all the posts on here were like yours, things would be fine. Both players are very good prospects and will help whichever team happens to select them.

 

[rehf]

Laine needs to relax with the comments. It's ok to have confidence, but he's looking obnoxious and immature now.

I don't think so - he's just incredibly confident of his abilities. Need more players like that vs PR rehearsed spiel.

 

[Gsus]

I don't get it how Laine is immature now and stuff. What has he ever done to you people?

And it's another thing to read the comments on paper or from here, but to hear it from himself you can see that he is not immature. If you had actually seen more of his interviews he's quite the opposite.

Player has good confidence in him and he's immature and all the other negative words what you could think of? I was actually facepalming over a Leaf fan in Twitter (hey you) when he bashed on Laine in all different ways. Not to be rude or anything, but I'm more than happy that he's going to Winnipeg.

 

[Fairview]

I don't get it how Laine is immature now and stuff. What has he ever done to you people?

And it's another thing to read the comments on paper or from here, but to hear it from himself you can see that he is not immature. If you had actually seen more of his interviews he's quite the opposite.

Player has good confidence in him and he's immature and all the other negative words what you could think of? I was actually facepalming over a Leaf fan in Twitter (hey you) when he bashed on Laine in all different ways. Not to be rude or anything, but I'm more than happy that he's going to Winnipeg.

There's a lot of energy exerted by select Leaf fans attacking Laine. If they are truly happy selecting AM then why bother? I am certain that most Jet fans will be VERY VERY happy to select Laine. There are some that suggest that the Jets might select JP instead of PL, yet I am not aware of Jet fans attacking JP or PLD or whomever. I don't care about the lower rated prospects. I want the Leafs to draft AM and hope that the Jets take Laine. AM is good but Laine fits the Jets much better than AM.

 

[93LEAFS]

There's a lot of energy exerted by select Leaf fans attacking Laine. If they are truly happy selecting AM then why bother? I am certain that most Jet fans will be VERY VERY happy to select Laine. There are some that suggest that the Jets might select JP instead of PL, yet I am not aware of Jet fans attacking JP or PLD or whomever. I don't care about the lower rated prospects. I want the Leafs to draft AM and hope that the Jets take Laine. AM is good but Laine fits the Jets much better than AM.

Again, the first two people to bash his personality today, weren't Leafs fans. I don't think saying he isn't as good a prospect as Ovechkin was in bashing someone, its expressing a valid viewpoint.

Edit: There don't look like Leafs fans to me

This kid has some serious character issues.

Hopefully the guy clues in considering how elite of a talent he really is.

See the most recent thing he said about austin?

Per Gino Reda, Laine "just told me he'd compare Matthews and himself to Toews and Oveckin. Says will take him 5 yrs to be like Ovie"

Really? Comparing himself to one of the game's all time best snipers? I get being confident and he is also overcompensating a bit because of an inferiority complex type thing with Matthews being the best prospect...but it's getting a little silly with statements like this.

Same kid that went off on his coach when he was younger.

Although my team doesn't get a shot at either of these two guys I already preferred Matthews based on the hockey aspect but character-wise it's not looking good for Laine at all. Especially compared to a guy like Matthews.

Also re: his comparison is ironic because while not the intent of his comparison, I hope he realizes Toews has won the cup multiple times and Ovechkin can't get past the 2nd round.

The amount of bashing a fan base gets here is ridiculous, considering other fans are contributing to it.

 

[Huokaus]

Yeah, just reading about his comments easily gives the wrong idea as you can't see his body language and delivery. I don't think he feels entitled or anything, he's just confident. He's a showman in his own weird Finnish way, and I like it. It's very Finnish to be honest instead of pleasing everyone and being overly PC (while also being jovial/humorous at the same time). I think the "I'll be like Ovi in 5 years" could have been a subtle self-deprecating jab at his own confidence and the crapstorm it seems to be causing.

That being said, I think he's starting to go just a bit overboard with this confidence thing. Thinking that he's the best player of the draft? Fair enough, he's close enough to Matthews to make that claim. I'm not sure what exactly did he say, but if he actually claimed he will be equal to Ovechkin in 5 years, that's a bit too much - claiming to have potential to be there and claiming to actually be there is a big difference.

 

[MardyBum]

Laine needs to relax with the comments. It's ok to have confidence, but he's looking obnoxious and immature now.

No, he doesn't. He looks like 90% of NHL players, but he has the balls to say it, when you usually have to wait for success for the them to be vocal.

If it was Matthews saying it you'd spin it as a positive for confidence and ability to deal with the Toronto potato media.

Garbage.

 

[Ducks Nation*]

No, he doesn't. He looks like 90% of NHL players, but he has the balls to say it, when you usually have to wait for success for the them to be vocal.

If it was Matthews saying it you'd spin it as a positive for confidence and ability to deal with the Toronto potato media.

Garbage.

He doesn't sound cocky to me, he sounds more like a serial killer the way he talks and acts

 

[JustABlackhawksFan]

Big Buff is gonna throw this kid's tracksuit in the shower.

 

[Kadri43*]

So being outspoken, honest, having healthy self-confidence, ambitious and being laid back means one has character issues? Damn you politically correct people with your feelings and safe spaces never dissappoint me

Couldn't have said it better myself. PC, trigger warnings, safe spaces and micro aggressions are the worst.

I want the Leafs to select Matthews because I think he is a better hockey player but Laine's confidence and willingness to say what's on his mind should be treated as a good thing, not a bad thing. I respect him more and want him to succeed because he is an actual person instead of the politically correct robots that everyone loves.

 

[Jyrki Lumme]

Yawn, deluded kid setting himself up for failure. I feel bad for him.

 

[Fairview]

Yeah, just reading about his comments easily gives the wrong idea as you can't see his body language and delivery. I don't think he feels entitled or anything, he's just confident. He's a showman in his own weird Finnish way, and I like it. It's very Finnish to be honest instead of pleasing everyone and being overly PC (while also being jovial/humorous at the same time). I think the "I'll be like Ovi in 5 years" could have been a subtle self-deprecating jab at his own confidence and the crapstorm it seems to be causing.

That being said, I think he's starting to go just a bit overboard with this confidence thing. Thinking that he's the best player of the draft? Fair enough, he's close enough to Matthews to make that claim. I'm not sure what exactly did he say, but if he actually claimed he will be equal to Ovechkin in 5 years, that's a bit too much - claiming to have potential to be there and claiming to actually be there is a big difference.

I think it is just sports talk. In the fall, all the teams claim their goal is to make the playoffs. No one says well we are just happy to be a team in the NHL even though with our current skill set we will be happy to finish last. We want our teams to strive to be the best they can be. As Canadians we expect the players representing Canada to say they are going for gold and expect to win. We don't attack them for making bold statements.

 

[Leehh]

Couldn't have said it better myself. PC, trigger warnings, safe spaces and micro aggressions are the worst.

I want the Leafs to select Matthews because I think he is a better hockey player but Laine's confidence and willingness to say what's on his mind should be treated as a good thing, not a bad thing. I respect him more and want him to succeed because he is an actual person instead of the politically correct robots that everyone loves.

Yep it just shows he has his own will, unlike all those people who have lost their ability to think and act themselves, which is refreshing to see. It's actually scary to think that Stallone's movie ( Demolition Man ) from -93 is becoming the reality.

 

[BB88]

Yawn, deluded kid setting himself up for failure. I feel bad for him.

So drive is a bad thing?

 

[JA]

Yawn, deluded kid setting himself up for failure. I feel bad for him.

. . . or Patrik knows exactly what he is capable of.

His words and tone sound familiar.

Bure raring to go: Predicts 50 goals, expects $1 million: [1* Edition]
Gallagher, Tony. The Province [Vancouver, B.C] 18 Sep 1991: A45.

Pavel Bure is a confident young man learning the ways of North America very quickly.

The superb Soviet hockey prospect said Tuesday he's keen to join the Vancouver Canucks as quickly as possible. He believes he can score 50 goals in the NHL, he wants to be paid in the neighbourhood of $1 million to do it and he insists he's a winger. He doesn't want to play centre.

...

Speaking through an interpreter although his English is passable, Bure says he met Jymi, his wife of less than a week, at the Goodwill Games in Seattle last year and this in part prompted his desire to speed up the trip to North America.

...

Bure of course is awaiting an NHL clearance to sign with Vancouver, pending the legality of his current contract with his Soviet team. Both the Canucks and Bure's California agent Ron Salcer expect this indication from the league very soon.

Bure denied rumors he would prefer to play with the Los Angeles Kings, knowing the interview was for Vancouver consumption.

"I'm keen to play with the team that drafted me," said Bure. "I know Igor Larionov well. I watched him on television since 1976 and then I got to meet him when I came to the national team.

"I wouldn't mind to play with him. He is a great passer and he knows my style. I am a right winger and I can play on left side, too. But I am not a centre. Of course those decisions are made by the coach and don't concern me."

Bure says he has a friendship with Sergei Fedorov, his former roommate on the Soviet national team.

"I know Sergei and (Alexander) Mogilny well, but I have not spoken to them since I took this decision. Maybe I will meet up with them soon."

Bure is not worried about his size - 176 pounds - because of his quickness and he thinks North American rinks will increase his chances to score.

"I rely on quickness and in Europe there is more ice, you are farther from the net. Over here, you can be shooting anywhere over the blue line. I don't want to make too many predictions, but I will want to score at least 50 goals every season."

That sort of confidence is great to hear from a Canucks point of view, though apparently it's going to cost some money for his services.

"Of course I have an agent and these are his matters, but $1 million may be a fair price. I trust him. I will accept his advice."

...

Bure was asked if he knew of anyone in the hockey world who was quicker on skates. He thought for about 15 seconds and answered: "I don't know of anyone. I think I'm the fastest in the world."

For Pavel Bure, the hype was real. We all know the story of his first NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Bure a sound investment: [1* Edition]
Gilchrist, Kent. The Province [Vancouver, B.C] 07 Nov 1991: B4.

Stated simply, Pavel Bure is a bargain.

Roll that around the palate for a while! It's based on one NHL game in which the newest Vancouver Canuck got three shots on goal, no goals, no assists and no points.

Without ever playing, he stirred the imagination like no Canuck player before him. Here was the team's management trying to figure out when to play him and how to pay him.

Voila! Somebody looks at the schedule and sees Winnipeg Jets as the club's next home game. About 12,000 - mostly season ticket holders - are expected.

"Hey," says this management-type clicking the tri-light to full glare, "maybe if we announce Bure is playing, a few more people will buy some tickets."

Bingo! A 16,123 standing-room-only crowd. That translates to an added gross revenue of about $80,000 just on the seats. It doesn't count added revenue from the club's souvenir shop or any other sources of revenue the club has such as program sales.

All of that because of a 20-year-old, tow-headed Russian kid, who looks as if he has yet to introduce his face to a Gillette, but can sell out a building based on three practices.

And he didn't disappoint. If anything, expectations - his and ours - were too conservative.

First of all, he sold the last 4,000 or so seats, and then he levitated those bodies and the 12,000 others who were going to be there anyway right out of those seats again, at least three times in the second period alone.

It had to be spiritual. I mean, how often does a hockey crowd give a player an ovation at the start of a shift?

And Canucks' fans have never, ever been so instantly gratified.

...

Vancouver went through Pavel-mania. Patrik-mania has arrived in Finland, and soon will touch down in Winnipeg. They have the same rock star qualities; their names even begin and end the same way.

Patrik now has to deliver on his promises.

 

[McMatthews]

Laine is still a kid. People need to chill.

He will tone it down a bit as he matures and it won't be an issue.

He's still an incredible hockey talent.