Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

[ReHabs]

He still looks way better than what Dach did earlier this year, give him time. We still need him unless we sign a stud winger for free at a good cap hit.

Laine’s a class or two above Dach, that’s undeniable.

But also Laine is definitely not in game shape. He’s hitting the wall right now which is about where you’d expect a player coming back out of shape to hit the wall. 20ish games.

This happens when you spend nearly two years not thinking about your professional needs as an athlete. I can imagine he does one big summer and comes in next year completely revitalized.

It’s a good thing for both parties that he has another year on his contract. Let’s see how he fares the rest of the season.

 

[Vapaatunnus]

Laine’s a class or two above Dach, that’s undeniable.

But also Laine is definitely not in game shape. He’s hitting the wall right now which is about where you’d expect a player coming back out of shape to hit the wall. 20ish games.

This happens when you spend nearly two years not thinking about your professional needs as an athlete. I can imagine he does one big summer and comes in next year completely revitalized.

It’s a good thing for both parties that he has another year on his contract. Let’s see how he fares the rest of the season.

Yes, after collision with Pare every game is a bonus this year. I think he still plays with knee support?

 

[HuGort]

Laine on pace to do about what I expected. Play about 50ish games this season, 25 goals, injury prone, bad defensively. I doubt I would re-sign him. A lot of redflags on 9 million a season. Injuries have took a toll on him. Then mental illness. Just too much there to risk huge contract.

 

[Pat Riot]

The guy has 18 points in 23 games after missing a year. Hes doesnt have his timing perfectly back yet but hes working on the ice. We should cut the guy some slack. Hes playing better than I expected after all the time away from hockey

 

[Vapaatunnus]

Kirby has 0,25 PPG on even strenght
Patrik 0.30 PPG on even strenght
Newhook has 0,22 PPG on even strength

So it is the whole line which should be complained

 

[tspaka]

I see many people criticize Laine's decision to pass to Dvorak on the 2-on-1. Having followed Laine a long time, it was actually very anticipated - Laine hasn't shot on 2-on-1 situations in years when he is carrying the puck!

This is interesting and even annoying little habit, as I think we all agree he'd be better off shooting the puck.

I started to list his 2-on-1s back in the days of Columbus. I lost early part of it because my phone changed but here's all 2-on-1s from Montreal when he is carrying the puck:


20th Dec vs Detrot (failed deke) - no goal
11th Jan vs Dallas (pass) - no goal
14th Jan vs Utah - (pass) - no goal
30th Jan vs Minnesota - (pass) - no goal

Btw, let me know when you saw the last time he tried to shoot on 2-on-1 when carrying the puck? I challenge that it's years away.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Another really bad game from him. I would expect his play to pick up after the deadline.

 

[bud12]

The guy has 18 points in 23 games after missing a year. Hes doesnt have his timing perfectly back yet but hes working on the ice. We should cut the guy some slack. Hes playing better than I expected after all the time away from hockey

The guy has 5pts at 5v5 in 23 games and only 1g. He's a one trick pony who had pure puck luck with a unsustainable shooting%.

 

[417]

If you haven't experienced what is to be a Habs fan.

Just read this thread from beginning to end.

- unbridled enthusiasm (trade announced)
- crushing loss (injury)
- defeatist conclusions (result of injury andcompeting for playoffs)
- cautious optimism (2–3-month injury timeframe announced)
- built up expectations (back from injury and scores immediately upon his return to the lineup)
- saviour narrative established (Laine keeps scoring at what is an obviously unsustainable pace)
- saviour narrative destroyed (unsustainable pace ends and realization that he's not a perfect player sets in)
- Laine tear down begins (he's a one trick pony, this is why Habs got him for nothing)

Can't wait to read the next chapter lol

 

[Pat Riot]

The guy has 5pts at 5v5 in 23 games and only 1g. He's a one trick pony who had pure puck luck with a unsustainable shooting%.

In 500 games in the NHL we know what kind of player Laine is. Hes an elite sniper, big body. Hes not the best 2 way player and never will be. I think when hes paired with Dach and Demidov next season he will produce at PPG pace. In his career so far he has almost the same numbers of assists as goals so hes not just a one trick pony.

I know the media push this new narrative that Laine play bad but IMO for a guy who misses that much hockey in the last seasons, hes playing better than I expected.

 

[V13]

If you haven't experienced what is to be a Habs fan.

Just read this thread from beginning to end.

- unbridled enthusiasm (trade announced)
- crushing loss (injury)
- defeatist conclusions (result of injury andcompeting for playoffs)
- cautious optimism (2–3-month injury timeframe announced)
- built up expectations (back from injury and scores immediately upon his return to the lineup)
- saviour narrative established (Laine keeps scoring at what is an obviously unsustainable pace)
- saviour narrative destroyed (unsustainable pace ends and realization that he's not a perfect player sets in)
- Laine tear down begins (he's a one trick pony, this is why Habs got him for nothing)

Can't wait to read the next chapter lol

 

[sampollock]

and the beat goes on

 

[Bruce Granville]

If you haven't experienced what is to be a Habs fan.

Just read this thread from beginning to end.

- unbridled enthusiasm (trade announced)
- crushing loss (injury)
- defeatist conclusions (result of injury andcompeting for playoffs)
- cautious optimism (2–3-month injury timeframe announced)
- built up expectations (back from injury and scores immediately upon his return to the lineup)
- saviour narrative established (Laine keeps scoring at what is an obviously unsustainable pace)
- saviour narrative destroyed (unsustainable pace ends and realization that he's not a perfect player sets in)
- Laine tear down begins (he's a one trick pony, this is why Habs got him for nothing)

Can't wait to read the next chapter lol

Watching the fans‘ reaction to Fleury‘s last game in Montréal yesterday and reading this thread you have to come to the conclusion there are either two fanbases or this is a case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Irl the fans are among the best, at least in North American sports…
Online, though….let‘s just say I don‘t want to get banned.

 

[schwang26]

Dude needs some foot speed. He still looks slow out there.

 

[zzoo]

When Vanek was with us, he was so lazy; and Vanek reminded me of Dagenais. Now, Laine reminds me of lazy Vanek (when he was with us).

 

[Rapala]

Watching the fans‘ reaction to Fleury‘s last game in Montréal yesterday and reading this thread you have to come to the conclusion there are either two fanbases or this is a case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Irl the fans are among the best, at least in North American sports…
Online, though….let‘s just say I don‘t want to get banned.

The simple reality called social media. Even the people with negative takes on line would show respect in person. I know because I turned the game off after the empty net goal which may be looked at as direspectful but had I been at the game there would never have been any overt negative reactions. I have never had the sentimental attachment to Fleury that many here have. But an act of disrespect in public is also disrespecting those who do.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

He missed a full calendar year of hockey and had to come back from a knee injury which could still be impacting him, on top of that he's been on a line with 2 guys who haven't worked together all year so it isn't surprising he's struggled at ES. Even with his inconsistent play, he's 3rd on the team in goals with only 23 games played.

He's going to have ups and downs the rest of the year, I'm more interested to see how he does next year when he has an off-season to recover and will more than likely have a stud in Demidov on his line.

 

[HHel]

Sometimes it's weird reading these comments.

I don't think he played that bad yesterday. The whole team was struggling to create chances. I think 2nd line played well at least in the first period.

Looks like if he doesn’t score he is waste of space and useless. It's allways has been like this.

Players who are speedy and hustle and bounce everywhere are appreciated even they don't do anything scoring wise. They are efficient. But if you are big body and have long stride you are allways slow and lazy. That's how life goes.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Dude needs some foot speed. He still looks slow out there.

He should be our new tank commander as he has a lot of similarities with a tank. His two main attributes is that he's big and has a huge cannon, but is slow as hell.

 

[26Mats]

Another really bad game from him. I would expect his play to pick up after the deadline.

I still saw him make a lot of skilled plays to enter the zone and get his linemates the puck, only to have them do nothing... And he had a couple of good scoring chances. On the whole, not a good game. But the talent is there. I'd prefer he not play with Newhook.

 

[sampollock]

he did suck last night vs wild

PL needs to pick it up too.