Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

[the]

Laine has to be one of the most disrespected close to PPG players in NHL history. If he did all the things people expected of him, he would be a 12-14 million player in the new cap era. He went into a shit show and turned around a lackluster and frustrating power play in a heartbeat. But suddenly those goals are just gimmicks, unsustainable shots from a player who is so one-dimensional that he was given the spot just to contribute.

Before Laine, this team had nothing to do with the playoffs. On the contrary, we were drooling over all the potential centres in the draft. And now that we're in the mix - well, isn't it obvious that he has nothing to contribute in the tighter playoff hockey? Probably a healthy scratch before Game 3.

Man, we celebrate when Josh Anderson is projected to have a 26-point season. In his fifth season, Bergevin's gamble is finally paying off. Meanwhile, we discredit almost everything Laine does.

Well said. Beautiful post.

 

[Marioesque]

And if you think that Laine pp goal are sustainable, I have a flying car to sell you.

It's sustainable, it's his normal. It's always been this lethal when he's on the left side. You just lack context, and you're thinking he was closer to his real shooting percentage in Columbus. Which totally ignores the facts I laid out about the CBJ PP and how he was utilized in it.

 

[JianYang]

Did you see the team Radulov was playing on?

Radulov was the best ufa signing by bergevin and his worst ufa blunder the following year.

 

[Hoochi Papa]

Radulov was the best ufa signing by bergevin and his worst ufa blunder the following year.

That was classic Bergevin. When negotiating with bottom-6, there was always the risk of being concussed by a bag of money thrown to you at the speed of Nolan Ryan's fastball.

If you carried your team, well we got to think this through hot shot. I don't wanna get hasty with a potential flop. Just look at all these red flags Michou spotted. Who do you think you are?

And then he paid 25% extra for being such an ass or lost the player. Or lost the player and replaced him with a bust that cost them their best prospect in a decade. That man was so ass, someone should get him Kramer's ASSMAN prop plates from Seinfeld.

 

[DAChampion]

That was classic Bergevin. When negotiating with bottom-6, there was always the risk of being concussed by a bag of money thrown to you at the speed of Nolan Ryan's fastball.

If you carried your team, well we got to think this through hot shot. I don't wanna get hasty with a potential flop. Just look at all these red flags Michou spotted. Who do you think you are?

And then he paid 25% extra for being such an ass or lost the player. Or lost the player and replaced him with a bust that cost them their best prospect in a decade. That man was so ass, someone should get him Kramer's ASSMAN prop plates from Seinfeld.

I remember the arguments on here that Hemsky and Hudon would replace Radulov's production by committee.

 

[bud12]

It's sustainable, it's his normal. It's always been this lethal when he's on the left side. You just lack context, and you're thinking he was closer to his real shooting percentage in Columbus. Which totally ignores the facts I laid out about the CBJ PP and how he was utilized in it.

No its not. Having 30gpp a year which is the pace of Laine right now isn't sustainable. In the last 5 years, only one was able to do it and it's Draisaitl so be prepared to be dissapointed.

 

[DAChampion]

No its not. Having 30gpp a year which is the pace of Laine right now isn't sustainable. In the last 5 years, only one was able to do it and it's Draisaitl so be prepared to be dissapointed.

30 power play goals a year is unsustainable, but if Laine doesn't reach that he can still reach 20 or 25 which is still good.

Meanwhile, there are two compensating holes for next year:
-- As Laine comes down to Earth on the power play, other players step forward. Slafkovsky and Demidov being the most likely.
-- A healthier Laine performs better at 5on5.

I'm honestly surprised at how other teams have not adapted to Laine on the PP. He seems like he has a good amount of space, like he doesn't need to rush or skate to a different position to shoot.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I'd also take prime Radulov over Laine

There's more to hockey than production

That said I'm sure Laine will have a better season next year , he's a huge part of our success even if its just on the PP

 

[DAChampion]

I looked up @bud12 's statement, it's even more extreme than he says.

 

[Marioesque]

No its not. Having 30gpp a year which is the pace of Laine right now isn't sustainable. In the last 5 years, only one was able to do it and it's Draisaitl so be prepared to be dissapointed.

Ah, the classic mistake of confusing Laine with other shooters.

He's been on such pace before himself, even as a rookie. It hasn't been sustained, over a season because of various reasons, mainly injuries but also some less than opportune PP usage (right D spot).

Laine has rarely had the talent surrounding him that he does now. The PP pace would not be sustainable without Suzuki or Hutson, the ones who are feeding Laine on the left. Without the room they create and the feeds they give, it's not sustainable.

But as it is right now, there's absolutely nothing uncharacteristic for Laine in the pace he is scoring on PP. He's been that effective from there since he was like 16 playing against men. And he has gotten better since.

 

[bud12]

Ah, the classic mistake of confusing Laine with other shooters.

He's been on such pace before himself, even as a rookie. It hasn't been sustained, over a season because of various reasons, mainly injuries but also some less than opportune PP usage (right D spot).

Laine has rarely had the talent surrounding him that he does now. The PP pace would not be sustainable without Suzuki or Hutson, the ones who are feeding Laine on the left. Without the room they create and the feeds they give, it's not sustainable.

But as it is right now, there's absolutely nothing uncharacteristic for Laine in the pace he is scoring on PP. He's been that effective from there since he was like 16 playing against men. And he has gotten better since.

The guy have already started to slow down on the pp. Pump the brake my god

 

[Marioesque]

The guy have already started to slow down on the pp. Pump the brake my god

He scored on PP last game..
I think your attention span is like 5 games long?

I'm talking about the body of work throughout the career. You're talking about like last games PP coming up flat.

We're talking about very different things here.

 

[Marioesque]

There was a period of time before the 4 nations break when the PP wasn't going as well, because teams had a guy sit on Laine and the rest of the 4 didn't know how to take advantage of that space.

But they have gotten a lot better at it since and now are creating legit scoring chances when the opponent focuses on Laine. That's what's important, so it can't be shut down by focusing on one guy.

 

[Skip Bayless]

Want to level-up Laine?

Bring in Ehlers. Good friends, good chemistry.

(Plus, a good offseason of training.)

Then you play Demidov with Suz and drop Slaf on the 3rd line?

Demidov- Suz - Caufield
Ehlers - ??? - Lainé
Slaf - Newhook/Dach- Heinebroski

There was a period of time before the 4 nations break when the PP wasn't going as well, because teams had a guy sit on Laine and the rest of the 4 didn't know how to take advantage of that space.

But they have gotten a lot better at it since and now are creating legit scoring chances when the opponent focuses on Laine. That's what's important, so it can't be shut down by focusing on one guy

I still think there is room for improvement. Too much looking for the perfect play not enough volume.

 

[The Last Red]

Laine has about 30 points in about 40 games, without a center, and coming off a serious knee injury. You can say he’s bad at even strength but the dude has produced. I really want to see how he plays next year with Demidov and a better center than Dach before deciding how to proceed in his case.

 

[Adriatic]

I can't wait to see this guy play with other top 6 forwards next season.

 

[Marioesque]

No its not. Having 30gpp a year which is the pace of Laine right now isn't sustainable. In the last 5 years, only one was able to do it and it's Draisaitl so be prepared to be dissapointed.

I am fully aware of this and the historical nature of 30+ pp goals. I have watched the sport for well over 30 years. Since Laine came to NHL he had the best shot in the game.

There's no better shooter current or historical NHL than Laine. It should be easier to accept, if you accept that today's top players are far more trained and competed than 80s and 90s players. The overall ability has increased over years

That's why I think, if he stays healthy for a full season with this (and better with Demidov) PP cast, he is the one to set the record for PP goals.

If you doubt that assessment, understand that Draisaitl has 1 more PP goals in 29!! more games this season, and he gets fed by the consensus best player in the world. If you doubt the historical claim, take an honest good look at youtube reel of first 100 Laine goals, then compare it to any of your top shooters.

From what I have seen in my 30 years of hockey watching, Semin was closest to Laine wrister but not nearly as constant. Kovalchuk had some Laine worthy wristers, just far less, Matthews of current players is closest to those guys on the wrist. Draisaitl is an excellent lefty one timer shooter, but not as good as Laine on either onetimer or wrist.


So that's why I don't think the rarity of 30+ goal seasons is an argument against Laine doing it. He is the best positioned to do so, if he can have a full season. But that's the big if. We might never see him have that full season, who knows.

But if we do see him for a full healthy season with this PP, and I hope we do...there's no reason why the best shot of all time should not break the NHL record.

After considering the above, It's kinda natural expectation, isn't it?

I also had never seen a player score 5 goals in 5 shots in a game before. Or since. There are very few 5 goal in one game players (Tage Thompson and Timo Meyer in recent record), there's only one with 5/5 percentage. Guess who?

 

[mattihp]

Pointswise he isn't even up to a classic Laine hot streak yet. Might be more to come

 

[VT]

Laine's stats in 5v5 in 2022/23 season although had health problems but not so much as in 2023/24.

Summary:

Patrik Laine - Summary - Natural Stat Trick

Teammates:

Patrik Laine - Teammates - On Ice - Natural Stat Trick