Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

[Lafleurs Guy]

The dreaded MTL nightlife was going to ruin him, it was a disaster waiting to happen, someone with his condition would be eaten alive in Montreal, etc.

This is not what people said would happen. It may have been voiced as a concern but again those are two different things.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I wouldn't mind seeing him taking a shift with Nick & Cole for a few shifts during the game in different situations. This isn't saying he deserves a promotion or Slaf deserves a demotion, and not talking about changing the lines. It just would be interesting to see our most offensive players on the same line in situations where we need a goal.

Slaf is playing better and I’d be really reluctant to disrupt that. I think Slaf is a much more important asset and we need to do what we can to help him.

Dach has been really good on the second. It’s not like Laine doesn’t have help there.

Newhook? Man…. He’s played better than his points show but at some point you need to produce. I thought he’d be able to put up decent points on the second but that hasn’t happened. You can blame some of that on him being stuck with Dach and a hurt Slaf but that was a while ago. I expected more from him. Long term, I felt he could be a good offensive third liner but he’s been really disappointing. He needs to pick it up or he won’t be here long term. There’s just too much talent trying to break through.

Speaking of which, it sucks that Roy is hurt. Would’ve been a perfect time to bring him up.

 

[habdynasty]

4 major injuries in the same knee. Better trade him.

 

[Team_Spirit]

He's not Pierre Dagenais terrible takes in here.

Laine-Dach-Demidov

Dump Laine and we will have to watch Gally/Andy in the top6 again

 

[HuGort]

Im one of the biggest Laine fans and even I am unsure on whether he will ever find back to what he has earlier been. And Im not talking about the Columbus-years, even though he was close to point per game it was not the Laine we used to see. Just some flashes of him here and there. It mostly a Laine who tried to play a complete game but was losing the fun in it.

The positives Ive seen this season:
- PP-BOOMs, nifty passes, some nice dangles, some nice puck protection, some nice defensive plays.

The negatives Ive seen this season:
- Losing the puck all around the ice, waiting too long with his shots alllowing opponents to steal the puck, playing ok defensively but in a very inactive manner.

Do the positives outweigh the negatives? Maybe, for the right price. But if he is this injury prone and imo vulnerable to becoming even streakier than before.. Im sorry to say that he is not the type of 8 million dollar guy that suits this team in the long run.

That many injuries usually curtails a career

 

[Hacketts]

Slaf is playing better and I’d be really reluctant to disrupt that. I think Slaf is a much more important asset and we need to do what we can to help him.

Dach has been really good on the second. It’s not like Laine doesn’t have help there.

Newhook? Man…. He’s played better than his points show but at some point you need to produce. I thought he’d be able to put up decent points on the second but that hasn’t happened. You can blame some of that on him being stuck with Dach and a hurt Slaf but that was a while ago. I expected more from him. Long term, I felt he could be a good offensive third liner but he’s been really disappointing. He needs to pick it up or he won’t be here long term. There’s just too much talent trying to break through.

Speaking of which, it sucks that Roy is hurt. Would’ve been a perfect time to bring him up.

I'm talking about loading the line up for the odd shift, I'm not talking about changing the lines. Slaf would survive being separated from his parents for a brief period of time.

 

[sampollock]

That many injuries usually curtails a career

like Guhle?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I'm talking about loading the line up for the odd shift, I'm not talking about changing the lines. Slaf would survive being separated from his parents for a brief period of time.

I guess. But what would be the point in that? They play on the PP anyway.

 

[Hacketts]

I guess. But what would be the point in that? They play on the PP anyway.

Because those are our 3 best offensive players, and given the right context there are certain games situations where it would be beneficial to load up on that line.

I would be interested to know what the line could create.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Because those are our 3 best offensive players, and given the right context there are certain games situations where it would be beneficial to load up on that line.

I would be interested to know what the line could create.

I’m not sure that this version of Laine is a better offensive player than Slaf is. He’s got a killer shot but that’s it. Again though, I suspect that’s because he’s hurt.

 

[Hacketts]

I’m not sure that this version of Laine is a better offensive player than Slaf is. He’s got a killer shot but that’s it. Again though, I suspect that’s because he’s hurt.

That's not necessarily true. His last couple games have been nothing to write home about, but he was creating more for his linemates and was getting scoring chances. He was more then just his shot.

It's an experiment worth trying at some point.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Cool. Show us the posts.

The reality is that Columbus needed to dump him and we didn't need to take him. Speaking for myself, I wanted us to just stick with the kids and use it as an evaluation year. I did not want us to pay anything to get this guy. But taking him for free? Sure. Shortly before the deal I said we should do something like Harris and get back a 2nd to take him. That's exactly what happened.

I can't remember a single poster who thought this was a bad deal.

Fill your boots.

 

[bud12]

Because those are our 3 best offensive players, and given the right context there are certain games situations where it would be beneficial to load up on that line.

I would be interested to know what the line could create.

Laine suck at 5v5. He's one of the worse player in the team the way he play right now. No way he should take Slaf spot

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Fill your boots.

If you're going to call something, back it up.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

That's not necessarily true. His last couple games have been nothing to write home about, but he was creating more for his linemates and was getting scoring chances. He was more then just his shot.

It's an experiment worth trying at some point.

I'm not opposed to it. But I'm glad to see Slaf improving as the year goes on. They could always try him with Dach who's suddenly remembered that he's a pretty good hockey player.

 

[Marioesque]

That's not necessarily true. His last couple games have been nothing to write home about, but he was creating more for his linemates and was getting scoring chances. He was more then just his shot.

It's an experiment worth trying at some point.

Yeah they should at least try it in some games. Laine shows up more positively when playing with more talent

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

He's not Pierre Dagenais terrible takes in here.

Laine-Dach-Demidov

Dump Laine and we will have to watch Gally/Andy in the top6 again

I know what you mean but that's not a valuable argument. The goal is not dump Laine and replace with Anderson or Gally, the goal is find an appropriate winger to fit with Dach and Demidov. Or find a true #2 center and Dach becomes the winger. But keeping Laine like if there wasn't any other solution with the vast number of players in the league who could be traded or signed ufa? No, I hope Hughes can do better than that.

Gally and Anderson are there because of long term contracts nobody wants in a trade. Let's not repeat the same mistake with Laine. He have a bullet shot on PP and that's all. The rest of his play is almost mediocre and he could become even worse than that if he loses confidence and as always the sword of damocles: injury prone.

Habs should concentrate on finding complete players who helps the entire line. Teams don't go far with incomplete players with major defensive flaws.

 

[Scriptor]

He's contributed and we got paid to take him. It's been a huge success from that standpoint. And he's recovering from injury. I think it makes sense to wait and see what he can do.

There's no doubting his talent. That shot is world class - better than Caufield's and that's saying a lot. So yeah, I'd love to keep him. For 8 x 8 though with what we've seen? No. Either his play will have to improve (as his health improves) or he'll need to take less money. I don't think Hughes will re-up with him for that amount.

I also don't think that Hughes will re-up Laine for that money and definitely not long term.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

I also don't think that Hughes will re-up Laine for that money and definitely not long term.

If that's the case, I think both parts will agree to take other directions.

 

[tazsub3]

watching him, i still think he just put the surgery till the end of the year and he playing not at 100 pct mobility in the knee.

 

[VT]

Yeah they should at least try it in some games. Laine shows up more positively when playing with more talent

Laine is supposed to make his teammates better, not looking teammates for him. Besides, he played best with Jenner and Nyquist or Chinakhov, not Gaudreau or Voráček. He and Jenner were like two twins. That's why I suggest he play with Dvorak and especially Anderson/Heineman (when he gets healthy). It's possible to try Armia. But not Newhook.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Laine is supposed to make his teammates better, not looking teammates for him. Besides, he played best with Jenner and Nyquist or Chinakhov, not Gaudreau or Voráček. He and Jenner were like two twins. That's why I suggest he play with Dvorak and especially Anderson/Heineman (when he gets healthy). It's possible to try Armia. But not Newhook.

you are crazy if you think Dvorak is the solution

 

[Habs7631]

you are crazy if you think Dvorak is the solution

Dvorak is absolutely the solution. Play Laine with Dvorak and his numbers will crash so hard he'll have no right to ask for any more than 3M.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Yes I think he’s a stopgap, not because of his age but because of his history of missing extended period of time, and even when he plays he’s a one trick pony. I think committing big years+money to a guy like him would be a mistake.

And like I said, his salary structure is just tailor made to fit in a trade for a bigger fish.

This team could become expensive real quick. Suzuki, Caufield, Slaf, Demidov, Hutson, Guhle, Reinbacher, Hage, Beck, potentially Evans, our 2 1st this year in the future, Dobes/Fowler? Maybe a player currently not in the lineup that we’ll trade for.

Laine is not a core piece IMO. Giving significant money+term to a non-core piece is not the way to go forward.

Like a said, I do 3/4 years to give Demidov and Dach someone to play with while one of your youngsters gets ready or we trade for another long term solution.

Either way we’ll see soon enough what they do with him.

I think he will be more than a stop gap.

Many said he was going to fail and labelled him a headcase for struggling mentally after losing his father.


It definitely happened.

100% this stuff was said. By how many? I didn't keep track.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

These boards are Hilarious at times. For Kirby Dach it’s too soon to judge after coming back from injury, he needs time etc. This is the prudent approach, he’s got 10 goals in 50 games and fans are singing his praises lately.

Situation for Laine isn’t that much different as far as playing time and being in game shape goes. No such approach for Patrik though, what you see is what you get. 12 goals in 22 games, not too shabby.

Not a core piece, worst player on his line etc even though he has outproduced them both in quarter of the time. Pretty remarkable some of the takes on here. When he does finally start rounding into form like Dach has started to these takes will look even dumber than they do now.

There were posters here who didn’t want Laine for free even if Columbus retained 100% of his salary. I know, because I was arguing against those types of nonsense posts. I’m not going to do someone else’s work and go dig them up, but they were here. Plenty of the “if he can’t survive his mental issues in Columbus then he won’t stand a chance here” types of posts too. No one had a clue what was bothering him, but it didn’t stop them from labelling him. His father died, I remember when my mother died, I was not the same mentally for quite awhile. Completely normal, this says nothing negative about his character.