Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

[Mulletman]

Resign Laine 3 years for $6.5 mil per. He is what he is that’s a 30-40 goal scorer when healthy. Had he started the season, he would have had 34 goals by now. Also our powerplay is more dangerous with him for that one timer. Plus he will help Demidov next year.

What world are you living in?! 6.5 a year with the cap going up? Laine has the 3rd most powerplay goals in the league playing half injured and he's tied with Caufield for goals since joining the team: NHL Stats
And that is after St Louis paired him with absolute scrubs on even strenght, while Caufield gets to play with the best center on the team. Laine is by far the best goal scorer on your team. My Leafs will be happy to take Laine and pay him a salary that will make him feel like a real man again. 6.5 a year? Laine will be making almost twice as much playing for my Leafs!

 

[DAChampion]

What world are you living in?! 6.5 a year with the cap going up? Laine has the 3rd most powerplay goals in the league playing half injured and he's tied with Caufield for goals since joining the team: NHL Stats
And that is after St Louis paired him with absolute scrubs on even strenght, while Caufield gets to play with the best center on the team. Laine is by far the best goal scorer on your team. My Leafs will be happy to take Laine and pay him a salary that will make him feel like a real man again. 6.5 a year? Laine will be making almost twice as much playing for my Leafs!

On the other hand, no GM in the league other than Hughes was willing to take on Laine at 7.5 million for free from Columbus.

While I'm sure his stock has likely improved given his power play performance, I don't think he'd be the prime meat of the free agent market. If Laine starts strong next season, I think that 5 years, 7.5 million/year might get it done.

I remember what happened with Radulov. People predicted that he wouldn't be good for the full five years of his contract with Dallas. They were right, but Dallas won the deal because he was good for the first four years.

 

[ExReHabs]

On the other hand, no GM in the league other than Hughes was willing to take on Laine at 7.5 million for free from Columbus.

While I'm sure his stock has likely improved given his power play performance, I don't think he'd be the prime meat of the free agent market. If Laine starts strong next season, I think that 5 years, 7.5 million/year might get it done.

I remember what happened with Radulov. People predicted that he wouldn't be good for the full five years of his contract with Dallas. They were right, but Dallas won the deal because he was good for the first four years.

Small correction: Laine's caphit is 8.7 and his real wage is 9.1 for this and next season.

I don't think there's any point predicting his next deal because his next season will have a massive impact on his future contract. If he remains slow, brittle, and a PP specialist it will be quite disappointing.

 

[bud12]

What world are you living in?! 6.5 a year with the cap going up? Laine has the 3rd most powerplay goals in the league playing half injured and he's tied with Caufield for goals since joining the team: NHL Stats
And that is after St Louis paired him with absolute scrubs on even strenght, while Caufield gets to play with the best center on the team. Laine is by far the best goal scorer on your team. My Leafs will be happy to take Laine and pay him a salary that will make him feel like a real man again. 6.5 a year? Laine will be making almost twice as much playing for my Leafs!

No he's not. Caufield is by far the best goal scorer. Laine is a one trickpony who's only able to score on the pp in the circle dot riding a career year shooting%. Caufield is 10× the player that Laine is and I would be ecstasy if the leaf were dumb enought to offer him 12M a year.

 

[Mulletman]

On the other hand, no GM in the league other than Hughes was willing to take on Laine at 7.5 million for free from Columbus.

While I'm sure his stock has likely improved given his power play performance, I don't think he'd be the prime meat of the free agent market. If Laine starts strong next season, I think that 5 years, 7.5 million/year might get it done.

I remember what happened with Radulov. People predicted that he wouldn't be good for the full five years of his contract with Dallas. They were right, but Dallas won the deal because he was good for the first four years.

Yeah, Columbus really ruined Laine. It's easy to forget how good Laine can be after those years in Columbus. 4 years in Columbus and only 18 powerplay goals combined. There's a chance Laine will have more powerplay goals this year than he had during his whole run in Columbus... And don't compair Laine to Radulov. Laine is a much better player than Radulov.

 

[Mulletman]

No he's not. Caufield is by far the best goal scorer. Laine is a one trickpony who's only able to score on the pp in the circle dot riding a career year shooting%. Caufield is 10× the player that Laine is and I would be ecstasy if the leaf were dumb enought to offer him 12M a year.

If you put Laine with a center that has somewhat talent for offense then Laine will put up more goals than Caufield. The only center that can set players up on the habs is Suzuki. If you sign a guy like Granlund next season to play with Laine, you'll most likely see a huge increase in Laine's goal production on even strenght...

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

One goal off of league lead for PP goals.

Surprised he doesn’t already have it.

 

[bud12]

If you put Laine with a center that has somewhat talent for offense then Laine will put up more goals than Caufield. The only center that can set players up on the habs is Suzuki. If you sign a guy like Granlund next season to play with Laine, you'll most likely see a huge increase in Laine's goal production on even strenght...

You clearly never watched Laine this year..... if Caufield stayed on Laine spot on the pp, the guy would be near 40G. Laine was given this spot because it's the only place he's remotly utile and even then, if he does something other than shooting the puck, the majority of the time it turn out to be shitty play. He's good at one thing. Shooting the puck from the circle dot on the pp. Only a dumb gm would.give him 12M a year

 

[WeThreeKings]

Yeah, Columbus really ruined Laine. It's easy to forget how good Laine can be after those years in Columbus. 4 years in Columbus and only 18 powerplay goals combined. There's a chance Laine will have more powerplay goals this year than he had during his whole run in Columbus... And don't compair Laine to Radulov. Laine is a much better player than Radulov.

Laine is more talented but Radulov is the better player. I'd take a prime Radulov on my team over and over again. High skill, high compete. He was such a treat the one year we had him.

 

[Mulletman]

You clearly never watched Laine this year..... if Caufield stayed on Laine spot on the pp, the guy would be near 40G. Laine was given this spot because it's the only place he's remotly utile and even then, if he does something other than shooting the puck, the majority of the time it turn out to be shitty play. He's good at one thing. Shooting the puck from the circle dot on the pp. Only a dumb gm would.give him 12M a year

Caufield wasn't good enough to keep his spot on the powerplay. And as long as Laine is on the team he'll be in that spot. If Laine was healthy the whole season, he would pretty much be tied with Caufield in goals even if he was playing with the same jobbers as he is right now, because Caufield would lose most of the 7 powerplay goals he had before Laine came and took his job!

 

[Mulletman]

Laine is more talented but Radulov is the better player. I'd take a prime Radulov on my team over and over again. High skill, high compete. He was such a treat the one year we had him.

Laine has more career points in less games than Radulov, while playing with worse players than Radulov played with 90 % of the time. Radulov was more of a borderline goon with some skill and that's why people liked him.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Laine has more career points in less games than Radulov, while playing with worse players than Radulov played with 90 % of the time. Radulov was more of a borderline goon with some skill and that's why people liked him.

Points isn't everything.. Radulov was a highly skilled grinder, he provided way more impact 5 on 5 than Laine did.

I'd take a prime Radulov on my team any day of the week, while I'm happy to have Laine and his pure offensive talent, it comes at the cost of little defensive engagement and a lot of bad turnovers.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Caufield wasn't good enough to keep his spot on the powerplay. And as long as Laine is on the team he'll be in that spot. If Laine was healthy the whole season, he would pretty much be tied with Caufield in goals even if he was playing with the same jobbers as he is right now, because Caufield would lose most of the 7 powerplay goals he had before Laine came and took his job!

That’s a really warped way of looking at things.

Laine has limitations as a player that others do not. Caufield is far more versatile and can be used in different spots. Laine is good at one thing, blasting from the side. So that’s how they set it up and it works beautifully.

As for contracts, as most have said, I’d like to wait and see for next year. His play has improved a lot in recent weeks. He’s getting better and maybe with a summer of conditioning he’ll bounce back next season at 5 in 5.

This year he’s been the equivalent of a DH in baseball. Great on the PP but offers little else. That could change next year with Denison and a 2nd line center coming. We could wind up with two really good lines.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Points isn't everything.. Radulov was a highly skilled grinder, he provided way more impact 5 on 5 than Laine did.

I'd take a prime Radulov on my team any day of the week, while I'm happy to have Laine and his pure offensive talent, it comes at the cost of little defensive engagement and a lot of bad turnovers.

Laine is really one dimensional. But the one dimension is scoring goals. PP or not, those goals are so valuable.

Him vs Radulov? I’d take Radulov based on what we’ve seen this year. But I’d defer that question until I see what Laine can do next year.

 

[bud12]

Caufield wasn't good enough to keep his spot on the powerplay. And as long as Laine is on the team he'll be in that spot. If Laine was healthy the whole season, he would pretty much be tied with Caufield in goals even if he was playing with the same jobbers as he is right now, because Caufield would lose most of the 7 powerplay goals he had before Laine came and took his job!

Caufield was good enough. The only reason he's not there anymore is because Laine suck everywhere except there unlike Caufield who's a way better player .....the guy is a negative asset on every line he could play like his 5v5 stats show. He simply can't keep up with the pace

 

[JianYang]

Laine is more talented but Radulov is the better player. I'd take a prime Radulov on my team over and over again. High skill, high compete. He was such a treat the one year we had him.

Yeah, radulov is a very apples to oranges comparison. His blend of motor, size, and skill was terrific.

Watching Laine' movement, size, and shot, I get reminded of dagenais. Obviously, Laine is the far more effective player but take away their faces and put a shift of the two players in isolation side by side either at 5 on 5 or on the PP and it would be hard to tell them apart.

 

[DAChampion]

In terms of what we saw on the Habs, Laine is a better player than Radulov for a team whose goal is making the playoffs.

But they're similar in that some fans failed to appreciate them.

 

[Saundies]

I'm still in the camp of that this year has no bearing on whether to keep Laine or not (and I advocated for him being traded here). He's just getting back from a tumultuous period, didn't have a training camp, and hurt one of his lower extremities. He's been a powerplay god and a even strength dud.

Next year, if he can stay healthy, will be the one to evaluate. If he can't stay healthy or it's more of the same, err on the side of caution or cut him loose.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Want to level-up Laine?

Bring in Ehlers. Good friends, good chemistry.

(Plus, a good offseason of training.)

 

[Adriatic]

Caufield was good enough. The only reason he's not there anymore is because Laine suck everywhere except there unlike Caufield who's a way better player .....the guy is a negative asset on every line he could play like his 5v5 stats show. He simply can't keep up with the pace

Caufield may be the better player, but 10 out 10 coaches would put Laine in that spot before Caufield. Caufield needs to be in tight to score, Laine can rip a one-timer from the top of the circle and beat a goalie clean. Other than Ovechkin I can't think of a better player to play the pp on that left circle.

 

[417]

Laine is really one dimensional. But the one dimension is scoring goals. PP or not, those goals are so valuable.

Him vs Radulov? I’d take Radulov based on what we’ve seen this year. But I’d defer that question until I see what Laine can do next year.

I'd take Laine...he almost has as many goals (17) as Radulov had (18) in half of the games played (38 vs 76).

Laine also playing on a bum knee and semi-functional line.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

The league is more high scoring and the teams top players imo are better than what we had back then. I'd rather have Radulov too. Laine is good at what he excels at but pretty flawed player. He's the rich version of Hoffman

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I'd take Laine...he almost has as many goals (17) as Radulov had (18) in half of the games played (38 vs 76).

Laine also playing on a bum knee and semi-functional line.

Did you see the team Radulov was playing on?

 

[ExReHabs]

The league is more high scoring and the teams top players imo are better than what we had back then. I'd rather have Radulov too. Laine is good at what he excels at but pretty flawed player. He's the rich version of Hoffman

Current Laine, yes. Hopefully Laine-sans-knee-brace is not just a deluxe Mike Hoffman.

 

[badfish]

Want to level-up Laine?

Bring in Ehlers. Good friends, good chemistry.

(Plus, a good offseason of training.)

Hasn't really been a good playoff performer ever in his career. Also does he play 2nd line LW moving forward? That spot I think will be occupied by Demidov of Slaf.