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

[Gsus]

Let's say anything under 20 is a disappointment. 20-30 goals would be something you'd expect. 30+ would be great. That's in my meter.

Assuming he plays those TOP6 minutes with Scheifele or Little/Perreault.

 

[QnebO]

Let's say anything under 20 is a disappointment. 20-30 goals would be something you'd expect. 30+ would be great. That's in my meter.

I give him "benefit of the doubt" (I dont know what the heck that means but I think it is used in situations like this) in this one. It will be his first season in the NHL, I think good thing will be if he can deserve top 6 spot in the big league for first season. It is what I expect and it's pretty high expection to Finnish 18 YO kid going to NA.

That said, Laine is one of those players who could, if all goes well, start scoring big time like 30 right away, even though he will still be raw in his first season.

 

[Gsus]

It is what I expect and it's pretty high expection to Finnish 18 YO kid going to NA.

That said, Laine is one of those players who could, if all goes well, start scoring big time like 30 right away, even though he will still be raw in his first season.

It would be great if he made the lineup and TOP 6 right away but the expectations should not stop there's since we've got the best goal scorer in Finnish history since Selänne.

It's gonna be interesting for sure when he has that first NHL game and the PP opportunities come. When he hits the back of the net with a one-timer it'll be probably a moment/feeling like "Oh he's gonna score the 30 for sure". That would be a moment where you know that this hype has been for real. I think I'm gonna have that moment in a few months.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

I give him "benefit of the doubt" (I dont know what the heck that means but I think it is used in situations like this) in this one. It will be his first season in the NHL, I think good thing will be if he can deserve top 6 spot in the big league for first season. It is what I expect and it's pretty high expection to Finnish 18 YO kid going to NA.

That said, Laine is one of those players who could, if all goes well, start scoring big time like 30 right away, even though he will still be raw in his first season.

Agree. It is getting increasingly tough for young kids to produce big numbers. Especially a kid coming out from Finland. There's going to be a big learning curve for Laine as he's going to have to change his style a bit. How he responds nobody really knows. But if he can make the adjustment, keep up with the speed AND score 30 goals in the process... that would be something else.

Im going to keep the expectations very low and say he needs some time in the AHL, not necessarily the full season but some. Jets want to make the playoffs and if Laine is struggling at the start then they will want him to play in the A. I know a lot of people won't agree with me, but i'd rather let him surprise me than disappoint me.

There's a lot of things in his game that i think will give him problems (getting the shot of quicker, footspeed, d-men who can actually outmuscle him and due to his size that's not something he's used to, etc.) but the guy was born to play hockey and the way he adapts to new challenges is very encouraging.

My eyes are set for him to break through in his 3rd NA season. Anything before that is a big plus.

EDIT: it's also very interesting to see what happens when things will not go his way and he faces a lot of criticism from the media. I mean, this year has been pretty much perfect and he's getting praised left and right, which makes it easy for him to be his confident self. We haven't really seen him facing big time adversity... All in all Patrik Laine is a very curious case, i can't really say how good he'll become. But the possibility of him becoming a 40 goalscorer is real and gotta love his "im getting it done" attitude. Very tough to see him not reach at least close to his ceiling.

 

[QnebO]

I say no AHL to laine. He is borderline 1st overall pick. I have seen so much of his games I'm cerntain he will be impact enough right away in the NHL, even as raw player. But being top socrer of NHL league is very hard. I think laine will be there... in his prime. But the first season is bit different. He isn't ready even physically to dominate NHL right now. Summer will help but i'd say he will start being closer to his prime in his early 20's at earliest.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

I say no AHL to laine. He is borderline 1st overall pick. I have seen so much of his games I'm cerntain he will be impact enough right away in the NHL, even as raw player. But being top socrer of NHL league is very hard. I think laine will be there... in his prime. But the first season is bit different. He isn't ready even physically to dominate NHL right now. Summer will help but i'd say he will start being closer to his prime in his early 20's at earliest.

I agree.

Reason i think he could end up in the A is, if he struggles from the get-go and it looks like he's not going to put up +50 points, the Jets have better top 6 players and they might want to save one RFA year. For kid from Europe the AHL actually does something, even if he's an elite player there.

It's one of those things, he'd be a victim of his role. Offensive forwards generally have the toughest time to crack the lineup, as you have to outplay someone else in the top 6 and there's some pretty good players in NHL teams top 6's.

Then again, the Jets could potentially roll 3 offensive lines, so there's that.

 

[Gabranth]

I've never seen Laine score on backhand. Is that one of his weaknesses?

Back when Barkov still played in Liiga there was already multiple highlights of him scoring Datsyuk-like dekes and the Forsberg goal on shootout. The guy is a crazy good stickhandler. I haven't seen Laine pull off any fancy moves on shootout.

 

[cotopaxi]

I've never seen Laine score on backhand. Is that one of his weaknesses?

Back when Barkov still played in Liiga there was already multiple highlights of him scoring Datsyuk-like dekes and the Forsberg goal on shootout. The guy is a crazy good stickhandler. I haven't seen Laine pull off any fancy moves on shootout.

Well at least his backhand passes are really good. He is pretty rarely in a position though where a backhand shot would be good.

 

[Gabranth]

Well at least his backhand passes are really good. He is pretty rarely in a position though where a backhand shot would be good.

I think it could be useful since he likes to drive the net so much. He can barely finish after driving the net. Something to work on.

 

[kunekune]

Back when Barkov still played in Liiga there was already multiple highlights of him scoring Datsyuk-like dekes and the Forsberg goal on shootout. The guy is a crazy good stickhandler. I haven't seen Laine pull off any fancy moves on shootout.

Laine scored 3/4 of his regular season shootouts.

Tappara played overtimes(3on3) with 3 forwards so their games rarely went into shootouts.

 

[Gabranth]

Laine scored 3/4 of his regular season shootouts.

Tappara played overtimes(3on3) with 3 forwards so their games rarely went into shootouts.

However, I haven't seen any shootout goals by him. Maybe one, but it wasn't anything impressive. Unless you got some highlights, I'll say Barkov was much better stickhandler at 18.

https://youtu.be/5iSl3esllJI?t=8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcNh_Q_HrY8

Few shootout goals there, guy already had magical hands at 18.

 

[JA]

However, I haven't seen any shootout goals by him. Maybe one, but it wasn't anything impressive. Unless you got some highlights, I'll say Barkov was much better stickhandler at 18.

https://youtu.be/5iSl3esllJI?t=8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcNh_Q_HrY8

Few shootout goals there, guy already had magical hands at 18.

2:40 - all three of his shootout goals:



Laine's hands are more impressive when he is stickhandling through traffic or trying to get around someone so he can fire off a laser -- very quick and fluid. He has a lengthy reach too, which makes it very easy for him to protect the puck. You'll find those highlights throughout the video, particularly after 7:30.

 

[HockeyHistorian]

Laine has elite stickhandling. It's almost at a Kane/Gaudreau level.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Let's say anything under 20 is a disappointment. 20-30 goals would be something you'd expect. 30+ would be great. That's in my meter.

Assuming he plays those TOP6 minutes with Scheifele or Little/Perreault.

30 might be tough because there will be a serious adjustment period. The NHL game is different and that counts for Matthews too.

I could see him hit 20 with good PP time and a fantastic 2nd half of the season.

 

[Gabranth]

30 might be tough because there will be a serious adjustment period. The NHL game is different and that counts for Matthews too.

I could see him hit 20 with good PP time and a fantastic 2nd half of the season.

Probably, but don't expect the Finns to accept that. It's gonna take him a few seasons to really get going, also his skating is still a question mark.

Laine has elite stickhandling. It's almost at a Kane/Gaudreau level.

Sure, that's why he never burys the puck when he is close to the net.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

And that hietanen i would put home tickets to hes back pockets, wtf guy havent scored in like 3 years and still trying to shoot himself, and always hits the first dman. Hope he understands to just always pass to laine in the future.

I think having two go-to snipers is strategic so they don't only focus on hindering Laine, but that other sniper should be Pulkkinen and not Hietanen.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

Laine has elite stickhandling. It's almost at a Kane/Gaudreau level.

I disagree, unless you mean relative to size maybe. but otherwise he's not as good as them.

 

[thomast]

I disagree, unless you mean relative to size maybe. but otherwise he's not as good as them.

He is not Kane or Gaudreau. He has really soft hands but i don't think he has even better hands than Barkov who has really quick and soft hands. But Laine is no slouch either. His play at WJC finals when he received pass from mid air deflected the puck between his legs without losing stride is one of the sickest plays i've seen in a while. That is some serious skill and puck control. I would say Matthews having similar hands than Barkov. Quick, can stickhandle in small spaces creating time and space for himself. Laine is superb at deking opponent but Matthews isn't much behind. I think Matthews has better set of hands than Laine. I think Laine is harder to contain with his reach, power, size and mentality to score and create offense. Matthews is better skater for sure but Laine has better top end speed. Laine at full speed is one dangerous player. He needs to work on his first steps. I Laine is most raw skater of the top 3. His improvement was outstanding from last year. Next year skating could be clear plus for him. Barkov did it so Laine can do it. Laine is way better skater than Barkov was at his draft year.

 

[Gsus]

30 might be tough because there will be a serious adjustment period. The NHL game is different and that counts for Matthews too.

I could see him hit 20 with good PP time and a fantastic 2nd half of the season.

I agree. 30g is tough but in the reach.

Probably, but don't expect the Finns to accept that. It's gonna take him a few seasons to really get going, also his skating is still a question mark.

Oh I'll accept that. If he plays close to a full season 15 is the minimum. Under that I'd be disappointed. But you never know.

 

[QnebO]

Probably, but don't expect the Finns to accept that. It's gonna take him a few seasons to really get going, also his skating is still a question mark.

Did you read what I just wrote before in this topic about that? So don't generalize me and yourself.. And that other finn, too, who agreed. Maybe it collects points for you in eyes of NA fans or sumthing. But what do you do with the points you get Generalizing us. They're useless, Get real buddy.

 

[Gabranth]

Did you read what I just wrote before in this topic about that? So don't generalize me and yourself.. And that other finn, too, who agreed. Maybe it collects points for you in eyes of NA fans or sumthing. Get real buddy.

I'm just being realistic. Barkov was much more complete when he entered the NHL, yet he struggled. Laine isn't Lemieux no matter how much Finnish commentators hype him.

 

[fredligh]

Can't wait for the game tonight. Finns use to overhype their prospects so much, but this time, i'm on the train

 

[Ippenator]

I've never seen Laine score on backhand. Is that one of his weaknesses?

Back when Barkov still played in Liiga there was already multiple highlights of him scoring Datsyuk-like dekes and the Forsberg goal on shootout. The guy is a crazy good stickhandler. I haven't seen Laine pull off any fancy moves on shootout.

He did score with his backhand at least an overtime winning goal against my favorite team Ilves. But yes, I would say that his backhand, or at least the reluctancy to use it, is one of his weaknesses. I would like to see him develop and use it way more. Would make him an even more versatile scoring threat.

 

[Gabranth]

He did score with his backhand at least an overtime winning goal against my favorite team Ilves. But yes, I would say that his backhand, or at least the reluctancy to use it, is one of his weaknesses. I would like to see him develop and use it way more. Would make him an even more versatile scoring threat.

Only time will tell how good he will be. Lemieux has scored 199 points in a season (?) I don't think anyone will get even close to that in todays hockey. That being said, Laine will be scary if he can also get his backhander to elite level. That along with his drive would be awesome.

 

[Gsus]

Laine isn't Lemieux no matter how much Finnish commentators hype him.

Laine isn't Lemieux but I doubt the commentators even said that or the people here. You can compare players or their skills to a certain player. I think he deserves the hype looking back at late December and to this exact moment where he sits as a tournament scoring leader.