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

[QnebO]

Gotta love this kid. There is too little attitude like this.

"I didin't even regonize who the guy is."

 

[Tiger24]

Some one should make video of all Laine playoff goals. Or all goals. He is sniping them all basically. Many times creating the chance by himself, too.

Here is all playoffs goals:

 

[fr9dd9]

Here is all playoffs goals:

What Laine is doing right now is kinda similar to what Peter Forsberg did with Modo hockey in SEL season 1993-94 (carrying hes team in playoff) only difference is that Peter Forsberg had already been drafted 2 years ago by that time and yeah Forsberg had a little better PPG but still, What Laine is doing is just insane, fkn insane!

 

[kunekune]

What Laine is doing right now is kinda similar to what Peter Forsberg did with Modo hockey in SEL season 1993-94 (carrying hes team in playoff) only difference is that Peter Forsberg had already been drafted 2 years ago by that time and yeah Forsberg had a little better PPG but still, What Laine is doing is just insane, fkn insane!

Yeah, a lot people, especially NA folks, are forgetting that what Laine is doing right now is something we have never seen from draft eligible player in whole Europe. Ovechkin couldnt do what Laine is doing, Sundin couldnt do it, Kovie couldn't do it. AUSTON MATTHEWS couldn't do it. Nobody in whole Europe has never done what Laine is doing right now.

It's hard to compare these achievements with the best NA prospects because Laine is playing against men and NA prospects play against kids. Those are 2 completely different worlds.

 

[Mestaruus]

And it's hard to blame Tapola either, especially in regards to Laine. That kid seems to take giant strides not by month or year, but by day. I mean, I've talked about those young player deficiencies that have still been visible in his game. But when I watched him yesterday... there were none. I mean, he's been great throughout these entire playoffs, but I was literally a mouth agape yesterday. He did even those little things right, each and every one of them. It was as if he'd grown a year in the span of three days. Sure, he had new linemates, and their effect should not be belittled, but it was nothing short of sensational regardless.

It was crazy. Suddenly Laine was playmaking like Aho. I knew the skills were there but it was still crazy to watch it unfold and it wasn't just that pass to Kuusela's goal. HIFK got schooled.

That change in their PP was simple but genius. Laine and Kuusela switching roles. No more easy shut down on Laine on the left side. They always have to be worried Laine will shoot from right side of the rink and that opens more space to pass to Kuusela who shoots from the right, so smooth one timer threat still exists.

 

[fr9dd9]

To everyone that think its ******** and whatever to say that Laine reminds of Lemieux, there is apperantly couple of scouts that have basicly the same opinion.

http://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospects-blog/mckeens-2016-top-30-nhl-draft-rankings-apr-2016/

This is what Mckeens article says about Laine (It was posted like 13 days ago so I guess some of you have already read it)

"It’s been said many times that Auston Matthews is the “consensus first pick” since last summer, but therein lies the rub.

Scouts, pundits and fans anointed him as the top guy last summer – and in many cases seemingly decided that he would be the top guy in the rankings no matter what.

Well there is a “matter what”…a Finnish fellow named Patrik Laine that has more than a couple of scouts reminiscing about a fellow named Mario Lemieux. It was apparent at the U-20…was noticeable down the stretch in the SM-liiga regular season, and even more apparent during the playoffs – this kid is scary good, and the closest thing comparable to Mario since…..Mario.

“He looks like Mario when he’s carrying the puck,” noted one top scout during the U-20, and he wasn’t alone in that assertion. When asked for a comparison, Teemu Selanne brought up Lemieux as well, and McKeen’s chief amateur scout Grant McCagg was making the correlation between the two even before there were others echoing it…he first made the suggestion early on in the World juniors, and he hasn’t changed his mind. If anything it has only been reconfirmed.

“I can’t honestly recall scouting a forward over 6-4 with a skill set as similar to Mario’s as Laine’s,” says McCagg. “The way he creates space when he has the puck, his hands, his release, his shot, his vision…maybe he’s not quite at Mario’s level…but he’s not that far off. He’s a tier above Rick Nash at the same age…and as we know both Nash and Mario were first overall picks. I have a hard time thinking anyone should be drafted ahead of him even if I really like Matthews a lot…I see a future 50-goal NHL scorer, maybe a 60-goal guy. I don’t see that same upside with Matthews.”

Laine has been sensational for Tappara during the playoffs, almost singlehandedly leading his team to two recent wins with back-to-back two-goal efforts versus Karpat and his chief Finnish competition in the draft in Jesse Puljujarvi. He has scored seven goals in nine playoffs games, two more than anyone else, yet he is still only 17 years old. By comparison, the last Finnish prospect to go top five in the draft, Aleksander Barkov, was held without a goal in the playoffs during his draft year. Just like he did in the U-20 and unlike Matthews, Laine is coming up big when it counts the most.

He has repeated this shooting ability all season long….one of the best releases and shots in recent memory..and that translates well to any league, especially if they shrink the size of goalie equipment. Add in his puckhandling abilities, , vision and soft hands…he projects to be a big-time producer at the NHL level for many years."

 

[jarnov]

Yeah, a lot people, especially NA folks, are forgetting that what Laine is doing right now is something we have never seen from draft eligible player in whole Europe. Ovechkin couldnt do what Laine is doing, Sundin couldnt do it, Kovie couldn't do it. AUSTON MATTHEWS couldn't do it. Nobody in whole Europe has never done what Laine is doing right now.

Kari Lehtonen did it too although goalies are of course another story.

Laine is hands down best Tappara player right now.

 

[StPatrik]

Laine's center Lajunen on an interview just now: "kiekkoo vaan Patelle, niin kyllä se siitä" ("just get the puck to Pate (Laine) and everything turns out well").

 

[sooni]

Hifk vs Laine part.5

 

[TheLeastOfTheBunch]

The Matthews vs Laine debate is going to be incredible during the WCs. Hope both guys rip it up to make it interesting

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Laine just made a play where he took the puck away from someone in his own defensive zone, used some nice skill to juke him out, and then started an odd man rush up ice that his teammate should've scored from. Who said he doesn't play any defense?

 

[JJTT]

Laine just made a play where he took the puck away from someone in his own defensive zone, used some nice skill to juke him out, and then started an odd man rush up ice that his teammate should've scored from. Who said he doesn't play any defense?

Nobody? He I don't think anybody who has watched him thinks he is bad defensively.

 

[Booster*]

Very tight game today. Laine flashing some skills, but this is a grinder´s game.

 

[BB88]

Nobody? He I don't think anybody who has watched him thinks he is bad defensively.

Lot of non Finnish posters have the thought for some reason that he is non physical and bad defensively.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He went to the locker room. What happened? I didn't notice anything on his last shift that would make me think he's injured.

 

[agent082]

Tappara scores on 6-5 powerplay

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

The only reason I hope Tapparas wins is because I want to see Laine in WHC. And because I don't like Hifk.

 

[BB88]

The only reason I hope Tapparas wins is because I want to see Laine in WHC. And because I don't like Hifk.

I'm hoping Tappara wins with Laine being in big role and that gets him to take his game to next level, these games can have a huge impact to young players, just look at Aho last year.

I'm not a fan of either of these teams and Laine is the reason I keep watching these.

 

[Ghost Bear]

Tappara scores on 6-5 powerplay

This.

 

[AndyA]

Nobody? He I don't think anybody who has watched him thinks he is bad defensively.

He is not bad, but own-zone defense is definitely not one of his strongest assets. Best part of his defensive game is forechecking.

 

[Mestaruus]

The Matthews vs Laine debate is going to be incredible during the WCs. Hope both guys rip it up to make it interesting

And to remind you, Finland plays vs USA's men's team twice. May 3rd is a practise match and another one inside WHC tournament. There will be some Laine vs Matthews talk when both play in same games .

 

[agent082]

Jarvinen has looked better last couple of games when he hasn't have to play with Laine.

 

[BB88]

Jarvinen has looked better last couple of games when he hasn't have to play with Laine.

Tapparas 1st line has the pressure and full attention from HIFK, that gives the other lines a bit more breathing space.

 

[HeavyHitter99]

How'd he do today?

 

[Prins Filip]

How'd he do today?

Decent, couple flashes but nothing spectacular. The game was played with horrible prison rules with too-many-men being the only penalties called. Not the best situation for a young and skilled player in men's league.