Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

[CharleyHorse]

I get he isn't playing the best, but how come other vets are fine to be complete shit and there's nothing done to them ?

Healthy-f***ing scratch Gallagher.

Can't do it to Dvorak as he's seemingly the only one who wins faceoffs.

Matheson earlier could have easily been sat.

Anderson could have been sat last year numerous times.

Dach could have been sat.

Pretty lame by MSL just because he is turning a blind eye to others.

Really? You are going to compare Gallagher's effort on most nights to Laine's effort on many night? That's illegal.

 

[japhi27returns]

Laines play to start the year here was an anomaly. He was shooting 25%.

His play now is a slump, and yes he probably hit the wall. Suspect he will get better as the season progresses, assuming he can stay in the lineup.

The player he is, what we should expect, is the guy he has been. Oft out of the lineup, 55 games 50 points per year. He has been this player since 2019 and is actually underperforming his previous play.

And since Slaf was brought up, I’d bet on him having a better career. Doubt he is on his 3rd team by age 26 with little to no value at his cap hit. Because - friendly reminder - that is where Laine is in his career today and I doubt the 40 points he puts on the board this year changes that.

 

[Vapaatunnus]

You're dead wrong on Dach. He's been driving the net really well. I'm not having it that he's a bad player, that's nonsense.

Dach has been like Newhook lately, running around like a headless chicken with no results.

 

[VT]

Caufield can pass the puck and make plays too, just like Laine. I wouldn't be against trying Laine with Caufield. But I'm looking forward to Demidov coming next year.

Caufield is a sniper more, you must use his qualities. Also you need more good lines, not only one.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Dach has been like Newhook lately, running around like a headless chicken with no results.

It’s the flipside of earlier this season. Dach was dragging his linemates down. Now it’s the opposite.

 

[LaineBOOM]

Any chance he's just gassed?

Too much hernekeitto?

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Haha how the heck does one embed Gifs here??? Literally tried every possible way and that was the best I could do

 

[LaineBOOM]

Nyquist - Jenner - Laine... it was his best line in the CBJ.

and now compare:

Laine - Evans - Armia

I think it is an ideal line. Dach and Newhook are fast players who prefer vertical hockey. Also they have tragical FO, so they need a fast player player with excellent for checking. Laine prefers horizontal hockey and Armia is an intelligent player.

I agree 1000 % and I cant WAIT to see this line in action!!!! Also 2 early games during the weekend so can watch the full games again without compromising my work capability the next day.

 

[26Mats]

Caufield is a sniper more, you must use his qualities. Also you need more good lines, not only one.

True, but at this point I want to get Laine going.

Now that Dach is starting to come back, Newhook-Dach-Slaf may work.

Actually one thing I wanted to do in preseason was have Newhook go back to playing with Gally and Armia, where he had success last year, and then have Dvo play wing with Laine and Dach, and have Dvo take the draws. Yes Dvo. He has more grit along the walk, and I think can make plays with skilled players. He's also of a similar speed as Laine.

But it's good to try Laine with Evan's and Armia.

 

[Scriptor]

2.0

I see the comparison with Hoffman who was a PP specialist with zero defensive awareness, but, to Laine's credit, his shot on the PP is still 5 times the shot Hoffman had.

 

[Habs Halifax]

True, but at this point I want to get Laine going.

Now that Dach is starting to come back, Newhook-Dach-Slaf may work.

Actually one thing I wanted to do in preseason was have Newhook go back to playing with Gally and Armia, where he had success last year, and then have Dvo play wing with Laine and Dach, and have Dvo take the draws. Yes Dvo. He has more grit along the walk, and I think can make plays with skilled players. He's also of a similar speed as Laine.

But it's good to try Laine with Evan's and Armia.

Laine is a bit hard headed. He has to stop trying to be a dangler with the puck. He's not a center. Keep the game simple and work hard. Release that shot whenever you can. That will keep MSL and the fans off your back.

It would help if we had a better 2nd line. Very curious to see what Gorton/Hughes do to fix our 2nd line and with Demidov coming. Demidov at age 19/20 next year is not fixing our 2nd line alone by himself.

 

[Scriptor]

True, but at this point I want to get Laine going.

Now that Dach is starting to come back, Newhook-Dach-Slaf may work.

Actually one thing I wanted to do in preseason was have Newhook go back to playing with Gally and Armia, where he had success last year, and then have Dvo play wing with Laine and Dach, and have Dvo take the draws. Yes Dvo. He has more grit along the walk, and I think can make plays with skilled players. He's also of a similar speed as Laine.

But it's good to try Laine with Evan's and Armia.

With Heinemann still out, it's difficult to alter the lines, IMO. We lack talent.

But, the idea of having an Armia - Evans - Laine line is really interesting, beyond the fact that Armia and Laine can easily communicate together as Finns.

Slafkovsky and Dach had also shown that they had chemistry together before Dach's injury last season.

We're still missing two players to adequately complete two duos; Caufield - Suzuki and Dach Slafkovsky.

Newhook is just not a good enough option for either duo and reuniting Anderson with Dach and Slafkovsky would put too much pressure on the player to produce offensively after defining a new role for himself that he is excelling at this season.

Anderson simply doesn't have the hands or the hockey sense to complete a line with Caufield and Suzuki.

Laine is a bit hard headed. He has to stop trying to be a dangler with the puck. He's not a center. Keep the game simple and work hard. Release that shot whenever you can. That will keep MSL and the fans off your back.

It would help if we had a better 2nd line. Very curious to see what Gorton/Hughes do to fix our 2nd line and with Demidov coming. Demidov at age 19/20 next year is not fixing our 2nd line alone by himself.

Agree that Demidov won't fix everything by himself next season. Montreal needs a 2C other than Dach. If Dach shows that he can actually become a 2C after that, it just becomes a happy problem for the Habs who can then look to showcase an excellent top-9 earlier than expected (than waiting for someone to claim the 3rd line role from Beck, Kapanen or Hage, even)

 

[Habs Halifax]

With Heinemann still out, it's difficult to alter the lines, IMO. We lack talent.

But, the idea of having an Armia - Evans - Laine line is really interesting, beyond the fact that Armia and Laine can easily communicate together as Finns.

Slafkovsky and Dach had also shown that they had chemistry together before Dach's injury last season.

We're still missing two players to adequately complete two duos; Caufield - Suzuki and Dach Slafkovsky.

Newhook is just not a good enough option for either duo and reuniting Anderson with Dach and Slafkovsky would put too much pressure on the player to produce offensively after defining a new role for himself that he is excelling at this season.

Anderson simply doesn't have the hands or the hockey sense to complete a line with Caufield and Suzuki.


Agree that Demidov won't fix everything by himself next season. Montreal needs a 2C other than Dach. If Dach shows that he can actually become a 2C after that, it just becomes a happy problem for the Habs who can then look to showcase an excellent top-9 earlier than expected (than waiting for someone to claim the 3rd line role from Beck, Kapanen or Hage, even)

Dach would be a great RW for Evans on the 3rd line IMO.