New elite center Patrik Laine has a message for all the top centers in the NHL

[Waterbuf]

Beat me to it.

This happens so much.

"Players need to get away from basic answers."

*Player says something that's not a basic answer*

"Does this guy have character issues?"

He wore a wacky purple suit, omg this guy's a flake

 

[Marioesque]

Maybe it’ll work but his play style seems so anti-center to me

It fits him well, he's always been a creative playmaker but he got typecast immediately because of the shot. At C he can move around more without the constant stopping and starting which is taxing for a big guy. He has great vision and passing and draws a lot of D attention because he's such a threat with the puck, that opens more space for others and he can find them.

Defensively he's always been more responsible than his reputation, but it's also gotten better over the years. I don't know if his line has yet allowed a goal while he's been a C?

 

[BonMorrison]

I hope it works out, Laine at centre has moving Thompson to centre potential.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Yeah, that would be hard to do from a computer screen Laine.

Good luck though.

 

[MrHeiskanen]

This guy is such a bum.

 

[BKarchitect]

Could definitely work. Early results are promising.

Laine-Fantilli-Jenner is a huge and versatile line-up down the middle. He’s a great playmaker in addition to having that shot so he’s a real threat anywhere in the zone. Keeps Johnson at wing which I think is where he belongs.

Obviously that trio as your center group has a lot to prove on the ice but I wouldn’t be shocked at all if by the end of the year it’s one of the better center cores in the league. Such a massive step up from Jenner-Roslovic-Sillinger that it must be mind boggling for Jackets fans to see.

 

[Nut Upstrom]

Can't be any worse than icing Boone Jenner as your number one center.
I wish him luck.

 

[pi314]

So he is saying he is only going to kiss a select group of peoples asses?

I'll take a right cheek, one knee pucker.

 

[theVladiator]

What the hell did his coach tell him about playing center?!...

 

[A1LeafNation]

Jackets putting Laine at center, Johnson getting scratched...what's going on in Columbus???

 

[Viqsi]

I think this is going to end terribly ngl. Has laine even played centre at the pro level?

Two games last year (the ones Vincent coached when Larsen was out for personal reasons), in which he looked like he'd have some promise. And most of the preseason, when he looked amazing. Apparently he's been training with Sasha Barkov for years and he's just now starting to show it off. (He's not a Barkov-level defender, though, before anyone tries to run with that strawman...)

There's been a lot of skepticism on HFCBJ through the offseason on whether or not that experiment was worth repeating (he was injured after those two games for the rest of the season so we didn't get to see more), but the preseason performance has got us all cautiously optimistic, and it's earned him that spot on the roster to start.

Crazier things have happened.

 

[Viqsi]

I hope it works out, Laine at centre has moving Thompson to centre potential.

There's been a rumor floating around HFCBJ that Thompson's move is what inspired him to ask the coaches to let him try.

 

[Kranix]

He's big and skilled. Hockey is not complicated. Shoot puck. Get open. Do things.
Somebody else can even take draws for him if he doesn't like faceoffs.

 

[Viqsi]

Jackets putting Laine at center, Johnson getting scratched...what's going on in Columbus???

KJ was apparently, in Vincent's eyes, starting to slack off late in camp. That's what we've heard anyways.

 

[Viqsi]

By the way, for those wondering why we're cautiously optimistic - here's context for "most of the preseason, when he looked amazing":



Obviously needs to work on faceoffs, but that's a practicable skill.

 

[Marioesque]

Last season in his 2 games at C he was also like 2ppg and the craziest thing was the Vegas game that CBJ lost 7-2, Laine had 2 assists and +2 if I remember correctly. Team got destroyed, he didn't.

 

[X66]

If Laine excels at center he’ll actually look like Sundin out there.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Who gives a f*** what he would or wouldn't do? Legit asking.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I haven't gotten around to watching much pre-season hockey but look forward to watching the CBJ this season for sure. I think they are being heavily under rated around the league.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Lol him at center will last about 3 shifts. I can't even believe they are entertaining this idea. He's way too lazy

 

[Viqsi]

Lol him at center will last about 3 shifts. I can't even believe they are entertaining this idea. He's way too lazy

Tell us you haven't actually watched him do it without saying you haven't actually watched him do it. He's so engaged out there when playing that position it's almost hard to recognize him on the ice. It's like that little position change flips a switch in his head or something.

 

[Marioesque]

Who gives a f*** what he would or wouldn't do? Legit asking.

The reporter who asked him about it?

 

[McShogun99]

He's Finnish so he'll probably end up being in Selke talks after a few years at center.

 

[BKarchitect]

Once the Avs move the moose to center, the Finland center project will be complete!

Barkov-Rantanen-Aho-Hintz-Laine

Who plays wing? Who cares. Center power!

 

[Marioesque]

Lol him at center will last about 3 shifts. I can't even believe they are entertaining this idea. He's way too lazy

It's pretty lazy not to read the context where he's already played games at center successfully.