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

[Plural]

Laine played the entire Liiga season on LW.

If you want the line combinations in writing, the official Tappara Twitter account has provided that information for us:

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=117300575&postcount=230


This information was in the last OP.

The Liiga website identifies Laine as a LW.

http://liiga.fi/pelaajat/30001639/laine-patrik



The only time all season that Laine played RW was at the Worlds . . . and it was a decision that all of us questioned.

Yeah. It's kind of weird how he is listed as RW. I mean, doesn't sound too professional when the #2 ranked european prospect is listed in wrong position. The very least, you would expect them to know the position of the prospects.

 

[Plural]

It was so weird to see Laine forced to RW, considering Jokinen has proven track record for playing RW. The difference on Laine's game when he got to play in the left wing was clear as sky. There literally was no reason to hold him in RW.

 

[ijuka]

So let's get a bit more in depth. Something Laine really likes to do on the left wing when 1v1 vs the defenseman is to pull the puck very far back and use his body along with his reach to keep the puck out of the reach of the defenseman. His stick is extremely long even for his height and his reach is some of the longest in the world. After that, he can(The very basics):

1. Threaten a shot. Considering how good of a shot Laine has and how quick the release is, this is a serious threat at this range(Slightly past the blue line).

2. Threaten a pass towards the middle. Can also hang on for a moment and grab a defenseman with this.

3. Deke to the backhand, mostly through his legs. He has very good control with this and catches the puck on his backhand very swiftly. This motion is nearly a 4 meter swing in total and especially if the defenseman is preparing to block / prevent a shot, this has a real chance of working out even if Laine can't accelerate off it as well as he might want to.


While there are options for rightie RWs, Laine of course isn't very familiar with that at all and likely hasn't practiced it in the slightest. He looked clueless every time he challenged from the right. Compare this to Liiga and WJCs where he had a total of tens of dekes and rushes to the net, even if none of those resulted in a goal. The only times he got these in WCs is from the left side, after drifting there. Being on the left wing also allows for better shots off this as well as better one timer opportunities. Then there's the game sense factor and being able to be in the right place at the right time due to experience and "feeling" that he likely doesn't have for a position he doesn't play.


Especially as this isn't just in the printed listings, they've even actually said "the right winger Patrik Laine" on video.

 

[JA]

 

[Plural]

Yeah, it's obvious that Laine is more dangerous on the left wing. He's still a good offensive winger in right wing, but he loses nearly half of his creativeness and his shot is not as ready there.

He's going to get stronger when he matures, so his size and reach added with strong body will be great for protecting the puck, thus eliminating some of the need for explosiveness. His first two (or so) seasons will probably see him struggling a bit, since his explosiveness is probably not on par yet and his body is not strong enough. As time goes by, he's going to be able to use his strength and reach more to his advantage.

 

[ijuka]

His max speed at least is already excellent and his skating is powerful. He also has a solid technique and a very powerful glide. It really is the acceleration and swift braking and reversing and such. All the explosive things. However, with focused training and considering how incredibly much Laine improved last summer with focused training, I'm confident. More confident than most would consider sane! With explosive acceleration, them deke possibilities with Laine's hands~

 

[kelsier]

Oh yeah, there's no way of telling what KJ had in mind when he slotted Laine on the RW. Jokinen is far more experienced player and has far more experience playing on both wings. Laine's offensive arsenal was cut off in half in the WHC. Also using Jokinen as the primary playmaker in the PP? I'm not sure which one was worse. Adding the position alone and considering what Laine was able to accomplish in the Championships makes his achievements even more impressive. I really hope in the World Cup Marjamäki has more eye on these details and is able to make the necessary changes. If they want to keep Barkov and Laine together, I wouldn't mind a bit if they replaced Jokinen with Donskoi, who's probably better in pretty much everything right about now. Then slot Laine into left wing where he belongs. Teräväinen would make an excellent addition also into that PP slot.

It seems people cannot make out the difference between hyping 18 year old kid and setting up expectations for his first NHL season. I'm not expecting a 30 goal season. Laine has tons of things to develope and he is nowhere close to a player what he will become when all is said and done (those were also his own words). Just because some consider him the most talented player in the draft, doesn't mean he's automatically going to be a surefire Calder winner. 18 year old Laine isn't going to make the same impact as 20 year old Ovechkin. It's not so hard to put things into perspective.

 

[Plural]

To be clear, I think Jokinen is a great player. He has so diverse abilities that he makes all lines in Finnish NT better. It's just that he was utilized in a way that hindered one member of the line. It's like having a screwdriver, saw and swiss army knife in your toolbox and you choose to use the swiss knife to saw a log in half. Technically it works, but it makes no sense.

 

[Halberdier]

To be clear, I think Jokinen is a great player. He has so diverse abilities that he makes all lines in Finnish NT better. It's just that he was utilized in a way that hindered one member of the line. It's like having a screwdriver, saw and swiss army knife in your toolbox and you choose to use the swiss knife to saw a log in half. Technically it works, but it makes no sense.

I agree on this.

Some people love to hate Jokinen even more than they hate Laine now, but I like his play.

At WHC Jokinen made a lot of pretty frustrating decisions to NOT pass the puck to Laine even when Laine was in excellent scoring position. Other than that Jokinen is good player that typically does a lot of "invisible" work out there.

 

[ijuka]

I agree on this.

Some people love to hate Jokinen even more than they hate Laine now, but I like his play.

At WHC Jokinen made a lot of pretty frustrating decisions to NOT pass the puck to Laine even when Laine was in excellent scoring position. Other than that Jokinen is good player that typically does a lot of "invisible" work out there.

https://streamable.com/fh7n

"Pretty frustrating" is a good way of describing it.

 

[Joe MacMillan]

https://streamable.com/fh7n

"Pretty frustrating" is a good way of describing it.

Well in defense of Jokinen, there was maybe a split second window during which the pass would have made sense. For the rest of that sequence either Laine wasn't in a scoring position, Laine's stick was checked by Vatrano, or the passing lane was taken out by #6 on the US team.

Hockey is a fast game. It's easy to crap on players for their decisions through a screen but in reality it isn't nearly as easy as it might look.

 

[JetsFan815]

Interesting that a lot of Swedish/Finnish star players tend to go bald. Perhaps guys like Sundin and Laine have "too much man" in them for their hair follicles to handle

 

[Halberdier]

Well in defense of Jokinen, there was maybe a split second window during which the pass would have made sense. For the rest of that sequence either Laine wasn't in a scoring position, Laine's stick was checked by Vatrano, or the passing lane was taken out by #6 on the US team.

Hockey is a fast game. It's easy to crap on players for their decisions through a screen but in reality it isn't nearly as easy as it might look.

Jokinen's vision is a bit limited, though still good.

There were other situations, where even an amateur would have seen the oppirtunity to pass to Laine, but for an unknown reason Jokinen choose not to. And I certainly think that he did see those himself.

 

[Joe MacMillan]

Jokinen's vision is a bit limited, though still good.

There were other situations, where even an amateur would have seen the oppirtunity to pass to Laine, but for an unknown reason Jokinen choose not to. And I certainly think that he did see those himself.

Sure, a player with better vision and awareness probably would have been able to create a scoring chance on that play. And Jokinen did make some questionable decisions, I agree on that.

All I am saying that, that particular sequence isn't probably the best example of Jokinen's many questionable decisions. He made a judgment call to keep the possession rather than throw a pass to a player who was being covered in front of the net. I can appreciate that.

 

[Ippenator]

Interesting that a lot of Swedish/Finnish star players tend to go bald. Perhaps guys like Sundin and Laine have "too much man" in them for their hair follicles to handle

A lot of them? These three are pretty much the only ones I know at least. Some of the not bald ones: Kurri, Selänne, Lidström, Koivu brothers, Forsberg, Timonen, Numminen, Lumme, Bäckström('s), etc.

Not that it really matters. Most guys look cool with their head completely shaved anyways.

 

[IFK]

I agree on this.

Some people love to hate Jokinen even more than they hate Laine now, but I like his play.

At WHC Jokinen made a lot of pretty frustrating decisions to NOT pass the puck to Laine even when Laine was in excellent scoring position. Other than that Jokinen is good player that typically does a lot of "invisible" work out there.

I don't think many hate Jokinen, it's more than that WC KJ didn't see what everyone else saw. It would not make sense to put Laine in RW and Jokinen to Left cause Jokinen is good almost all position, he can be a center too and if this was also what Jokinen want's it make more awkward. It take half of Laine's skill set away, just like you don't put Ovechkin to RW, some people just play better in other side than other and it was our best or one of the best player in his first WHC in only 18 years old. Also was very odd that Jokinen all the time say Laine that "why you can't pass" like Jokinen didn't himself pass to Laine in many times when he should. I couldn't see Aho, Barkov, Pulju, Koivu or anyone else actually whole Tappara team to say Laine "why don't you pass" cause they know his shot is a different world and he is the guy who you pass and he will pass you if he sees that better opportunity but he can kill goalies in the net with his shot.

Also, other PP unit has 2 best playmaker Granlund and Aho and that was also big mistake not use your best playmakers in 2 PP unit. Jokinen plays 5 on 5 and PP, PK always game "don't take any risks" and that's why i love him and he can score and pass, he is dream player to coach, but he can't give that kind of pass (and he won't give those pass cause he plays so much not taking risks) but Granlund and Aho can and actually Aho and Laine have same understanding the game that they know where and how other move in the ice.

 

[JA]

A lot of them? These three are pretty much the only ones I know at least. Some of the not bald ones: Kurri, Selänne, Lidström, Koivu brothers, Forsberg, Timonen, Numminen, Lumme, Bäckström('s), etc.

Not that it really matters. Most guys look cool with their head completely shaved anyways.

Olli Jokinen fooled everyone into thinking he was bald.

Then this happened.

 

[X66]

Yeah, it's obvious that Laine is more dangerous on the left wing. He's still a good offensive winger in right wing, but he loses nearly half of his creativeness and his shot is not as ready there.

The question becomes though, can he play his off wing in the nhl, considering he's not an elite or high end skater.

 

[IFK]

The question becomes though, can he play his off wing in the nhl, considering he's not an elite or high end skater.

Of course he can, but it is not his best side. He play WHC in RW and was MVP, best forward and all star team with 12 point in just 18 year old.

 

[Halberdier]

The question becomes though, can he play his off wing in the nhl, considering he's not an elite or high end skater.

The question is not about can he play as an RW or C or LD or RD. Or even as an G, as he played until 12-years-old. Sure he can or could, but why would any sane coach want to do that?

Let's say someone drafts Matthews and then utilizes him as a D. Or someone picks Juolevi and forces him to play C. They are such a good as players so they would manage it up to some level, but that would be just insane.

 

[Edgelord]

The question is not about can he play as an RW or C or LD or RD. Or even as an G, as he played until 12-years-old. Sure he can or could, but why would any sane coach want to do that?

Let's say someone drafts Matthews and then utilizes him as a D. Or someone picks Juolevi and forces him to play C. They are such a good as players so they would manage it up to some level, but that would be just insane.

IMO Laines big test will be how he handles things not coming so easy. In the NHL he is going to have less time and space so he will obv end up frustrated at times. Its how he handles this that will tell me what to expect long term from him.
I don't mean point production wise because with his skill they will obv come I mean maturity wise. Will he take suck attacks etc etc .

 

[The Winter Soldier]

The question becomes though, can he play his off wing in the nhl, considering he's not an elite or high end skater.

Skating is usually questioned on whether a player can play in Europe on a larger ice surface not a smaller ice surface. Given Laine was voted to the WHC allstar team, and was named the best fwd of the tournament and MVP of the playoffs in Liiga. He has proven he can play on both sides of the wing where if skating was a weakness, it would have showed already. Laine is a very good skater already, with a very fluid top end gear. All he needs is to work on his starts like Barkov did.

 

[Neutral Hockey Fan]

James Neal is a good comparable.

Great shot
Mediocre skater
Mediocre defensively
Plays on the wing, not centre
Average playmaker

 

[MardyBum]

Skating is usually questioned on whether a player can play in Europe on a larger ice surface not a smaller ice surface. Given Laine was voted to the WHC allstar team, and was named the best fwd of the tournament and MVP of the playoffs in Liiga. He has proven he can play on both sides of the wing where if skating was a weakness, it would have showed already. Laine is a very good skater already, with a very fluid top end gear. All he needs is to work on his starts like Barkov did.

And with the improvement already shown in a year it won't be long until acceleration isn't an issue.

 

[CashMash]

James Neal is a good comparable.

Great shot
Mediocre skater
Mediocre defensively
Plays on the wing, not centre
Average playmaker

Why are you still here? Go bother some other thread.

The only thing Laine needs is explosiveness.

He is actually quite good at defense. Not masterful or anything, but he gets it done.

The average playmaker part proves that you haven't really watched him play too much, if at all. He has good vision, can dish it and he has a knack for finding the right position.

Why do you have to bring Laine down? Are you this insecure? What do you see that the scouts don't?