Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

  • Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it. Click Here for Updates
Want crazy data? Patrik Laine, back from lower body injury, apparently slow moving and has not played much. Top speed this season: 21:45. Vs only anointed generational player pre-draft since McDavid, Connor Bedard: top speed this season: 21:44. :huh:
 
  • Haha
Reactions: HHel
Want crazy data? Patrik Laine, back from lower body injury, apparently slow moving and has not played much. Top speed this season: 21:45. Vs only anointed generational player pre-draft since McDavid, Connor Bedard: top speed this season: 21:44. :huh:
giraffe-run.gif
 
Want crazy data? Patrik Laine, back from lower body injury, apparently slow moving and has not played much. Top speed this season: 21:45. Vs only anointed generational player pre-draft since McDavid, Connor Bedard: top speed this season: 21:44. :huh:
So Connor Bedard is slower than Laine with knee injury, that's interesting. But If I got the NHL Edge stats right, that speed is below league average for forwards, which is 22.07 mph. The top speed for McDavid is 23.97, so more than 2 mph higher or about 10% higher.

What is funny is that Laine is approaching league average on Shots on Goal (49 vs. 55.7) while having played only 18 games, just over 1/3 of the total for most of the skaters. And of course he is already on 77 percentile on goals (12 vs. average 7).
 
So Connor Bedard is slower than Laine with knee injury, that's interesting. But If I got the NHL Edge stats right, that speed is below league average for forwards, which is 22.07 mph. The top speed for McDavid is 23.97, so more than 2 mph higher or about 10% higher.

What is funny is that Laine is approaching league average on Shots on Goal (49 vs. 55.7) while having played only 18 games, just over 1/3 of the total for most of the skaters. And of course he is already on 77 percentile on goals (12 vs. average 7).
He’s a special talent.
 
When I tell you that he had incredibly great chemistry with Jenner as a center in CBJ will you believe me?

Laine has problems with acceleration not with skating. If he is in move, skated very well if he was health. But acceleration will never be ideal, the reason is type of his body.



.
Yes I agree that Jenner was much better than Kirby Dash is right now. Dash has a good argument for being the absolute worst center that Laine has played with. In the 22 games since Laine returned (Laine only played 18 of them) Dash has just 1 assist, that's right 1 assist. And Laine still leads all Canadiens players in goals after his return: NHL Stats
The only good center that Laine has played with was Scheifele back in Winnipeg. But because Scheifele and Wheeler didn't want to do all the heavy lifting in order to keep Laine scoring, they went to Maurice and started complaining. And then Laine was stuck with a declining Bryan Little and the rest is history...

The Canadiens are playing the Lighting tonight. This would be a good time to reward Laine after the overtime goal last game by putting him on the first line with Suzuki. That way they could keep him motivated and hopefully keep him scoring. Laine has only scored 2 goals against Tampa in 18 career games so he needs all the help he can get against them.

He’s ain’t worth 9-10mil either .

5y at Suzuki aa is the highest I would go
Your opinion doesn't count. You're just pissed off because Laine took your spot on the powerplay...
 
Yes I agree that Jenner was much better than Kirby Dash is right now. Dash has a good argument for being the absolute worst center that Laine has played with. In the 22 games since Laine returned (Laine only played 18 of them) Dash has just 1 assist, that's right 1 assist. And Laine still leads all Canadiens players in goals after his return: NHL Stats
The only good center that Laine has played with was Scheifele back in Winnipeg. But because Scheifele and Wheeler didn't want to do all the heavy lifting in order to keep Laine scoring, they went to Maurice and started complaining. And then Laine was stuck with a declining Bryan Little and the rest is history...

The Canadiens are playing the Lighting tonight. This would be a good time to reward Laine after the overtime goal last game by putting him on the first line with Suzuki. That way they could keep him motivated and hopefully keep him scoring. Laine has only scored 2 goals against Tampa in 18 career games so he needs all the help he can get against them.


Your opinion doesn't count. You're just pissed off because Laine took your spot on the powerplay...
They should just dump Newhook away and try for example Beck in that position. Dach & Laine are starting to connect but Newhook disconnects it at this moment.
 
Unless something goes completely sideways in the next season and a half I’ll be absolutely flabbergasted if Montreal doesn’t do everything in their power to lock him up with this core

Say he wants 10x8

If you tell him to gtfo, who do you replace him with?
Ufa wingers this summer:
Tarasenko 2x4.75
Buchnevich 6x8
Skinner 1x3
Toffoli 4x6
Jake debrusk 7x5.5
Couple centers chandler stephenson 7x 6.25, lindholm 7x 7.75 (30 years old)

All of those guys are 4-5m cheaper but none of them move the needle like patrik

I don’t care if it’s looked at as a bad contract, bobrovsky was a bad contract till he dragged them to the finals then won the cup for them.

Do not let elite talent go
He’d have to show more than what he’s doing now to warrant that kind of money. The PP goals are there but that’s all he does.

Let’s see how he plays for the rest of the season. He’s recovering from a nasty injury and that’s probably a big factor. But outside the PP right now, he doesn’t offer a whole lot. Certainly not enough for ten mil.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fuonki
It's been.. puzzling to watch honestly

We are complaining about 'goals' now lol
'Yeah but all he does is 'score' tho..'

...
Not a complaint. Goals are the most valuable thing a player can contribute. He’s been wildly successful in that area - PP goals or not. But that’s all he really offers at the moment. Once we get into 5 on 5 he’s been invisible. And that’s understandable considering the injury he’s recovering from.

My biggest worry with this guy before we signed him were the injuries. Particularly the shoulder one. That’s clearly not been a problem. His shot is best in league. Now we have to see how he recovers from his most recent one. I suspect it’s hindering him a fair bit.
 
They should just dump Newhook away and try for example Beck in that position. Dach & Laine are starting to connect but Newhook disconnects it at this moment.
Roy was about to be called up and he got hurt. That’s a shame because I’ve wanted to see what he could do all year. As for Newhook, he’s either destined for the third line wing or will be dealt. He’s playing better than his numbers show but at some point you have to produce. He’s got to have a better second half. If not, I can see us moving on.

Regardless, there’s little chance of him in the top six next year.
 
His play at 5 vs 5 isn't optimal at the moment. But saying that he’s been invisible and useless on 5 vs 5 is something. Yes, there has been "bad" games for him for sure. But he has set Newhook like ten times to prime scoring position with no success.

edit:
Give me a break, 5M guy.

Laine is 0.43 GPG and 0.81 PPG player in his career.
Suzuki signed his contract at 22-23 and he was before that 0.23 GPG and 0.68 PPG player and had played 85% games in that moment.
Caufield signed his contract at 23-24 and he was before that 0.41 GPG and 0.68 PPG and had played 50% games in that moment.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Andy
He’d have to show more than what he’s doing now to warrant that kind of money. The PP goals are there but that’s all he does.

Let’s see how he plays for the rest of the season. He’s recovering from a nasty injury and that’s probably a big factor. But outside the PP right now, he doesn’t offer a whole lot. Certainly not enough for ten mil.
Exactly this. People keep focusing on the goals, which is all well and good, but his results outside the PP are as of right now just god awful. He's by far our worst 5v5 player to the point where he is a clear negative presence on the ice, causing the team to to take less shots and allow more shots against than without him.
Calling him a "superstar" seems egregious to, since in my mind superstars are supposed to make everyone around them better, while Laine is the opposite of that. As of right now he's essentially a 3rd line PP specialist who is nearly useless outside that role. I have hope that he'll only get better from here, but if not I'd rather not commit to a long term contract with him.

I love this Hockeyviz's visualisation of Laine as it really shows perfectly what kind of a player Laine can be at his best. On the left is everything dragging him down; poor 5v5 numbers, below average passing, not a good transition player. But on the right you have one of the best shots in the NHL. A guy who despite all his flaws can score at a ridiculous rate by just shooting the puck from the same spot over and over again.
laine.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: Paddyjack
They should just dump Newhook away and try for example Beck in that position. Dach & Laine are starting to connect but Newhook disconnects it at this moment.
Two years left on the Newhook contract at 2.9M. He's playing 2nd line minutes on his way towards a whopping 21 points (14 goals, though, but he should have 50+ with all the gimme open net goals he fans on) and a worse than -20 +/- differential.

Not a fan of this player that creates too little not often enough and fails to convert enough chances. Defensively, he's meh, at best, if not an actual liability.

Not great on the forecheck, despite the speed.

I don't really see a role with the Habs for Newhook going forward because he isn't a prototypical bottom-6 player and does not produce enough offensively, or provide enough defensive acumen or physical play to play a top-6 role barring a slew of injuries.

2,9M better spent elsewhere and definitely not a candidate for a contract extension three years from now.

Maybe Newhook can be passed off in a package deal at some point before the end of his contract. Otherwise, he needs to carve out a role for himself in the meantime to stay relevant. Lots of speed with the puck that doesn't materialize in anything; concretely, not enough offense, dismal D and no contribution to keeping the puck in the O-zone long enough to wear out opponents.

If the Habs are fortunate enough, they could find a two-way player with offensive abilities like Bear available at their draft ranking, a player that would bring the physical, forechecking ability Newhook lacks and the converting skills to play up and down in the lineup, either as an occasional 2nd line player to change things up, or as a disturbing 3rd line player that would be difficult to play against for opponents.

Newhook would quickly become redundant, especially if Laine signs an extension with the Habs. Caufield, Slafkovsky, Laine, Demidov, Heineman, Hage and a player like Bear selected in 2025 would all likely surpass Newhook on the depth chart. With one remaining spot on the 4th line -- a role not suited for Newhook -- he would not fit in the roster.

If Hughes were to trade for a veteran C like ROR to insulate Dach's continued progression as a 2nd line C, the C-line could well become the following for the next two seasons:

Suzuki
Caufield
ROR
Beck

We could trade Evans for another first round pick and hopefully use that trade capital, along with the two mid-round first-rounders from us and CAL to move up into the top-10 and surgically add a final player to impact the lineup.

Quality over quantity where the darts should be shot at the board from one foot away instead of a mile out.
 
I agree with people above regarding in 5vs5 play, he is not doing well in that regard. But similar to Dach, the guy comes back with a knee injury plus a long period of inactivity prior to that and we have to give him some slack about it.
 
There's just not enough of a runway to make any decision on an extension right now. He's played the same number of games this year as he did all of last year and yes, looks slow. Made a post above regarding that but that's to be expected.

I suspect there will be no decisions made until next year (and probably not until mid next year), which I think is the right call. Demidov coming over and probably playing with Patty/Slaf moving down/something will factor in as well.
 

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad