Ovechkin vs Laine comparison.

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Here are the differences between both:
Ovi: More physical, craftier, better skater, a lot more dynamic, handles the spotlight better, better playmaker
Laine: Huge team player, has more strength in his shot, isn't the one to drive the rush; more to join in, better one-timer

I probably forgot a few, but this is just me proving even though I'm a Jets fan that I am a very unbiased person.

 

[Carlzner]

Fixed it for ya.

Is this supposed to be a chirp? The guy is almost 33 and still the best goal scorer in the world. Of course the other aspects of his prime game are going to slow down at that age.

 

[Plural]

@Plural

Comparing Laine's and Ovi's even strength points seems very much appropriate and necessary when evaluating their rookie years, as the 2005/06 scoring was PP-inflated to a crazy extent.

On the other hand, the total point finish seems a strange argument when one of the guys played in fewer games and enjoyed significantly smaller ice time.

It's appropriate, it just doesn't have that much value when the overall production is not even remotely close. It's true that PP did inflate the numbers. That's why I prefer to use league wide scoring finishes (or alternatively PPG finishes if player misses games) rather than raw numbers.

Good point about Laine missing games. Although you don't get points in games you miss, so it's more of a negative to be injured than anything. But it's good to look at per game numbers for Laine in this case. He was 22nd (or 21st if we remove Stamkos who only played 17 games but that's up to debate) in PPG which I consider to be on the verge of elite player. So extremely good. As I said, probably one of the best ever rookie campaigns that didn't land a Calder. Ovechkin on the other hand, was 5th. That's still a massive difference. If their rookie seasons would have been even remotely comparable, Laine would need to sit around 5-8 in league wide PPG. He was nowhere close.

Laine was close to Ovechkin on ES (arguably ahead considering he lost games, but then again he had vastly better team that scored more goals during the season) but Ovechkin was lightyears ahead of Laine on PP. So, overall their rookie seasons are not at all close. One was 1st team All-Star, top-3 in goals and points, 6th in Hart, etc. Ovechkin was third best forward in the world that season. Laine was probably around 20.

 

[Plural]

At 5v5 yeah. Not sure what that has to do with anything though. It was also still lower than Laine's as a rookie

Nothing, I wasn't making a jab or anything. Just asking cause I knew you would know.

 

[Keduzin]

Dude, No one is bashing Laine.

I am a Jets fan, and I agree, Ovi was and is the better overall player.

This is not a bash on Laine, this is an opinion - A subjective opinion, but so is picking Laine.

I might change my mind, but as of right now, I just remember being more impressed with Ovi, than Laine.

Finnish players sure are getting pumped these days in every thread it seems.

Maybe take off the:

If I am not completely mistaken you are one of those who in their minds think Ehlers is a better player than Laine ?

 

[Plural]

Here are the differences between both:
Ovi: More physical, craftier, better skater, a lot more dynamic, handles the spotlight better, better playmaker
Laine: Huge team player, has more strength in his shot, isn't the one to drive the rush; more to join in, better one-timer

I probably forgot a few, but this is just me proving even though I'm a Jets fan that I am a very unbiased person.

Every single coach and team-mate of Ovechkin have always said he's 100% team player. The myth that he's selfish and only thinks about his totals should have died a long time a go. It's based on nothing more than his desire to score goals.

 

[Keduzin]

No one is bashing Laine, we all agree he is s great goal scorer, but that's where it ends (so far). Ovi brings so much more than just goals, that is the point many are making.

This (so far) is exactly what some of the posters are missing. There are so many here claiming that Laine will never reach the level of Ovechkin. He might not in the end but there for sure is good chance he will the way he is progressing and developing.

 

[grieves]

Why do you refuse to watch a single video

Are you [mod] serious? I have watched Ovi's rookie season highlights.

 

[Plural]

This (so far) is exactly what some of the posters are missing. There are so many here claiming that Laine will never reach the level of Ovechkin. He might not in the end but there for sure is good chance he will the way he is progressing and developing.

It's probably because his game is so much different from peak Ovechkin that people are having hard time figuring out how he could reach that level. I mean, he certainly could do it. But the way he looked last season, it didn't look at all that he would be playing on peak Ovechkin level the next season.

To be completely honest, I'm not sure I see Laine being the best offensive player in the world (or at least 2nd best) either. I hope he gets there, but I wouldn't bet any money on it.

Then again, I remember when Ovechkin just had his rookie (or sophomore can't remember) season this board was pretty much 50/50 about which would be the better player going forward, Ovechkin or Kovalchuk. Now we know which was the right choice, but back then there were a lot of people thinking Kovy would be the better player.

After few years, a minority of posters on this forum will look really stupid or majority of posters on this board will look really stupid. Nobody knows yet which will happen.

 

[Brock Radunske]

Laine is going to go down as one of the great shooters or his generation.
The difference for me is when my team plays them, I get nervous when I see Laine posting up at the top of the circle waiting for a pass, where as I get nervous any time Ovi is near the puck (o/neutral/d zones)

 

[Brock Radunske]

Then again, I remember when Ovechkin just had his rookie (or sophomore can't remember) season this board was pretty much 50/50 about which would be the better player going forward, Ovechkin or Kovalchuk. Now we know which was the right choice, but back then there were a lot of people thinking Kovy would be the better player.

I think that was a fair debate at the time. Because of the way he left the NHL and then obviously got old, people forget how dominate Kovy was. He was basically unstoppable but never really had a decent team around him until New Jersey

 

[Plural]

I think that was a fair debate at the time. Because of the way he left the NHL and then obviously got old, people forget how dominate Kovy was. He was basically unstoppable but never really had a decent team around him until New Jersey

It was fair debate. But it ended up being completely one-sided in few years and nobody saw that coming.

 

[Carlzner]

Laine is going to go down as one of the great shooters or his generation.
The difference for me is when my team plays them, I get nervous when I see Laine posting up at the top of the circle waiting for a pass, where as I get nervous any time Ovi is near the puck (o/neutral/d zones)

This is why I keep telling these Fins tow atch some old Ovi videos. Every time he touched he puck something incredible could happen. Fans would (and still) start to get out of their seats just from him carrying the puck.

Laine isn’t close to that.

 

[Auston Marlander]

This (so far) is exactly what some of the posters are missing. There are so many here claiming that Laine will never reach the level of Ovechkin. He might not in the end but there for sure is good chance he will the way he is progressing and developing.

Laine might learn to skate a bit better, but the odds of him being able to skate like Ovi are very slim. Same with the physicality and the assist levels.

There is always a chance, but if it were my money I wouldn't put it down on Laine yo match Ovis game.

 

[Sam Spade]

Fixed it for ya.

You're not watching.

 

[AstrophysicalJet]

If I am not completely mistaken you are one of those who in their minds think Ehlers is a better player than Laine ?

You are completely mistaken...

I am one of the posters however, that does not agree with everything some of you guys write about Laine vs Ehlers, and that sometimes converts into me apparently saying Ehlers is better - And once I corrected a poster for saying Ehlers has a low IQ, you I believe it was. Maybe in your mind that also equates to me saying Ehlers is better than Laine?

That btw, has nothing to do with this thread tho..

Way to divert the attention there buddy

 

[Keduzin]

You are completely mistaken...

I am one of the posters however, that does not agree with everything some of you guys write about Laine vs Ehlers, and that sometimes converts into me apparently saying Ehlers is better - And once I corrected a poster for saying Ehlers has a low IQ, you I believe it was. Maybe in your mind that also equates to me saying Ehlers is better than Laine?

That btw, has nothing to do with this thread tho..

Way to divert the attention there buddy

Ok, sorry about that , was somebody else.

And you are right, that does not belong in this thread

 

[Devil Dancer]

better one-timer

Are you saying you think Laine has a better one-timer than Ovie?

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Are you saying you think Laine has a better one-timer than Ovie?

Yup.

 

[Alf the dwarf]

This is why I keep telling these Fins tow atch some old Ovi videos. Every time he touched he puck something incredible could happen. Fans would (and still) start to get out of their seats just from him carrying the puck.

Laine isn’t close to that.

I think you haven't still read what this topic is about. It's not about Ovechkins entire NHL career or actually any of it.

 

[Psych0dad]

Are you saying you think Laine has a better one-timer than Ovie?

Is that news to you?

Their shot percentages are far apart and so is their average scoring distance. Both in Laines favor. Laines shooting across the board is better... harder, more accurate...doesn't matter if it's wrist or slap.

Ovechkin shoots a lot more, that's not a shot quality metric.

Have you seen all Laines goals?

 

[shtorm2005]

I think you haven't still read what this topic is about. It's not about Ovechkins entire NHL career or actually any of it.

What is topic about? Laine has better stats in NHL than Ovy in RSL at same age? Only Laine has them better? Didn't look the stats, but my guess that every year there are rookies with better stats than Ovy's 27points in 37 games. All of them were/will be better than Ovy? What makes Laine's situation different?

 

[Alf the dwarf]

What is topic about? Laine has better stats in NHL than Ovy in RSL at same age? Only Laine has them better? Didn't look the stats, but my guess that every year there are rookies with better stats than Ovy's 27points in 37 games. All of them were/will be better than Ovy? What makes Laine's situation different?

It's about production. He's been so far better than ovy statistically and achieved more. That's what we fans do, conpare players. But I haven't pointed out that Laine will become next season 100 pts player like ovy did or becoming better player. Ovechkin took huge leap in production when he came to NHL. But i believe if all goes right Laine is able to break 100 pts from now on aswell, and I might be wrong aswell. It's anyways long long way to compare Ovechkin and Laine as NHL players, that would be nonsense right now because of age and what Ovechkin has achieved in NHL so far. We surely have to wait few years and see if Laine can get even close to Ovechkin statistically before we compare them as NHL goal scorers.

And yes I could have compared Ovechkins production to other players aswell, but it's explained in starting post why I picked up Ovi vs Laine comparison.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

It's about production. He's been so far better than ovy statistically and achieved more. That's what we fans do, conpare players. But I haven't pointed out that Laine will become next season 100 pts player like ovy did or becoming better player. Ovechkin took huge leap in production when he came to NHL. But i believe if all goes right Laine is able to break 100 pts from now on aswell, and I might be wrong aswell. It's anyways long long way to compare Ovechkin and Laine as NHL players, that would be nonsense right now because of age and what Ovechkin has achieved in NHL so far. We surely have to wait few years and see if Laine can get even close to Ovechkin statistically before we compare them as NHL goal scorers.

And yes I could have compared Ovechkins production to other players aswell, but it's explained in starting post why I picked up Ovi vs Laine comparison.

"If all goes right." Let's hear the laundry list of grievances (again) that are preventing Laine's ascent to greatness.

 

[crazy8888]

Every so often a players comes around and people instantly want to compare them to Ovechkin. Ooooh he scored 40 goals at this and that age. NEXT OVECHKIN RIGHT HERE YALL.

Kinda sick and tired of the disrespect Ovechkin gets around here. I guess once he's gone and we only have 1 50 goal scorer every 5 years or so and watch superstars that avoid physical contact like the plague then you guys will miss Ovechkin.

Laine is an incredible player. One of the best young guys out there today. But stop comparing him to a living freaking legend. Anyone who believes that Laines play today is close to the level of play Ovechkin had when he was similar age is either an Ovechkin hater or just simply forgot or did not watch Ovi play 2006-2010. I urge you to watch any game from 06-10. Any regular season game/playoff game. Just watch. Any time Ovechkin was on the ice he was always visible, always doing something, shooting, passing, hitting, flying around, i swear man i dont remember a single shift where he was not noticeable out there. Trucking people left and right, shooting from all kings of angles no one even tried to attempt. Just insane. For all of those 50+ goal seasons and 100+ points seasons there were also hundreds and hundreds of incredible plays that made you jump our of your seat. You just can't grasp all of that by simply watching the highlight reels.
I have watched about 30 Jet games in total the last two seasons including playoffs. I know thats not a large sample size but from what i have seen, if Laine is not scoring i just dont notice him out there.