Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

[Trabdy2]

Laine's effectiveness at even strength is very limited, effectively to what he can do when he has the puck. He had a couple of good carrying sequences last night, but not much else to speak of. Overall we're going to need to find a way to help him build more dimensions in his game if we see him as a player who is going to contribute next year and long term (if we re-sign him).

 

[Guy Larose]

Lost erection after one weekend (if we compare duration of honeymoon to duration of season, and if we consider erection in ice-hockey context to be "playing as well as one should").

And again I point out that I am one of the biggest Laine fans, but the current state of his play is like being slapped in the face with a whale penis.

Been slapped in the face with one have you? Please tell us how that feels

 

[RC51]

Laine was brought in to MTL with open arms. A perfect place to rehab his reputation. Laine must try hard every game because of his contract. Just play as hard as you can and see just what you can still do. If it turns out you can't or won't keep up with the Habs overall speed then Lanie must accept his value has gone down,
He might still be worth 5-6 mil per to a team as a PP expert only. If Lanie still demands 8.5-10 mil per for his next contract he wont get it and his mental health will take a big hit again ( not good ) The KEY is to try hard every game and let the chips fall where they may. Play your best honest game every game and NOBODY is mad at you.

 

[badfish]

The teams identity is supposedly built on playing fast and hockey IQ. The playing fast isn't skating fast, it's making fast decisions with and without the puck. I haven't saw that yet from PL. He clearly has some world class attributes but if he doesn't fit the vision for what the team is trying to play as is it realistic that he will stick around regardless of salary?

 

[DAChampion]

The teams identity is supposedly built on playing fast and hockey IQ. The playing fast isn't skating fast, it's making fast decisions with and without the puck. I haven't saw that yet from PL. He clearly has some world class attributes but if he doesn't fit the vision for what the team is trying to play as is it realistic that he will stick around regardless of salary?

Remember what a fail it was when the team lost Radulov and Markov?

A vision can't be ironclad as you have to build a team with the players available. The only thing that should matter with Laine is if he's good enough to improve the team. They have another year to figure that out.

 

[Marioesque]

Oh man I can just feel that many hade that prediction/guess/assumption after seeing the line changes happen and are now getting the confirmation for it.

And I cant deny it. Newhook imo looked extremely good, he will be a valuable player if he can keep it up.

Newhook and Dach sucked before Laine got to MTL. Without him. So he wasn't the reason they weren't doing well.

 

[LaineBOOM]

Newhook and Dach sucked before Laine got to MTL. Without him. So he wasn't the reason they weren't doing well.

Ye they sucked before and after, Dach still to me just seems like dead weight, but Newhook has lately surprised me positively. People say he is just going fast and producing nothing but with the right guys he would do some damage.

Laine is like an opposite of Newhook, in almost every way. But imo the same can be said about him as I said above about Newhook: with the right guys Laine will do damage and a lot of it. It is just so freaking annoying to watch his game until that.

 

[nippanappa]

Tried to analyse Laine today. To me it seems like he was trying but his condition don't allow him to be successful atm. His first stride is so slow he can't get to loose pucks and he can't use his body to protect the puck. Ends up losing many battles.

Rough times. Hope he can build his physical aspects to next season. He's never been a true defensive warrior there but I think he's more rusty than usual.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I mean, we all remember how bad Dach looked when he came back right? I have to think this guy needs more time. Glad they have him in the bottom six.

 

[the]

This team is as good as how well Laine is playing. It's that simple. We need some good players on our second line.

I don't know what's wrong with him but it's night and day between when he's in a hot streak and a cold streak.

We need to get him going again.

 

[Vapaatunnus]

I think his knee is still bad and he is totally out of shape. 1,5 years without playing and no practice so it is not even surprising.

 

[SlafySZN]

This team is as good as how well Laine is playing. It's that simple. We need some good players on our second line.

I don't know what's wrong with him but it's night and day between when he's in a hot streak and a cold streak.

We need to get him going again.

His hot streak was on the PP, though.

The 2nd line looks better with Anderson’s energy on it right now.

 

[26Mats]

Ye they sucked before and after, Dach still to me just seems like dead weight, but Newhook has lately surprised me positively. People say he is just going fast and producing nothing but with the right guys he would do some damage.

Laine is like an opposite of Newhook, in almost every way. But imo the same can be said about him as I said above about Newhook: with the right guys Laine will do damage and a lot of it. It is just so freaking annoying to watch his game until that.

I'm hoping he's either good with Demidov or Suzuki - and gets to play with one of them.

Maybe the right middle six line combos for now are:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Laine - Dach - Armia
Newhook - Evans - Anderson
Gally - Dvo - Beck

Probably should keep Newhook - Dach - Anderson together. But Evans plays well with fast players, and Laine and Dach may have better production with a different 3rd wheel.

 

[WentWughes]

The effort level is outright unacceptable, I hope lack of conditioning is playing a part in it but he has been hard to watch lately.

 

[OneSharpMarble]

Looking like a powerplay specialist and bottom 6 forward. Getting him off the second line has helped that line turn their game around, he is really invisible out there. Maybe next year he will be in better form but I don't have high hopes.

 

[HuGort]

The effort level is outright unacceptable, I hope lack of conditioning is playing a part in it but he has been hard to watch lately.

Laine always been known to coast for long periods of time. I didn't want the trade at time because of caphit. Thought it may interfere with our off season in '25. Getting a 2nd for Harris was sweet though.

 

[vayrynen]

Looking like a powerplay specialist and bottom 6 forward.

No bottom-6 qualities though. Not a powerplay specialist since season 17-18.

During seasons 21-22 & 22-23 Laine is in TOP-50 Scoring per 60 5vs5.

With powerplay scoring per 60 during the same period he is outside TOP-100.

His start with Habs powerplay was a huge hot streak and should be treated as such. Is he as bad 5on5 as he looks currently? No, he's not. Is he as good on powerplay as the stats show for the current season? No, he's not.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Both Newhook and Dach 3 points in 2 games without Laine.

Laine 0 pts in 2 games.

 

[yianik]

We traded Harris for a 2nd and Laine. No regrets that was a great trade for us.

I'm disappointed in Laines game but we aren't contending and his C in Dach has been having his struggles also. Guy has missed alot of time. We have him for another year. If by then he still isn't doing it ,fine we move on. If he's got it together then we extend him or we trade him for a good asset.

What's cool is we have the coaching and support staff , like Nichols, that I have every confidence if Laine doesn't get it together it's because of Laine, not how he is handled.

 

[Habs Halifax]

The teams identity is supposedly built on playing fast and hockey IQ. The playing fast isn't skating fast, it's making fast decisions with and without the puck. I haven't saw that yet from PL. He clearly has some world class attributes but if he doesn't fit the vision for what the team is trying to play as is it realistic that he will stick around regardless of salary?

Here is what is happening. When we had a great Dec/Jan, our team D and goaltending was solid and we were winning games with great confidence/momentum. However, over the last week or 2, our team D and goaltending is back to what it looked like in Oct/Nov and what are we doing? We are attacking guys like Laine, Dach, etc.

Attack the team D and flaws more than player attacks. Yes, they are not performing well but our problem right now is a team D problem. It's the most important thing in the NHL and when you don't have it, it shows. It affects offense and guys like Laine.

We can't be allowing 4 goals or more per game. Trying to win 5-4 games is a stupid strategy

 

[Vachon23]

We traded Harris for a 2nd and Laine. No regrets that was a great trade for us.

I'm disappointed in Laines game but we aren't contending and his C in Dach has been having his struggles also. Guy has missed alot of time. We have him for another year. If by then he still isn't doing it ,fine we move on. If he's got it together then we extend him or we trade him for a good asset.

What's cool is we have the coaching and support staff , like Nichols, that I have every confidence if Laine doesn't get it together it's because of Laine, not how he is handled.

No regrets about the trade

But don’t give him a 5 years + extension

 

[yianik]

No regrets about the trade

But don’t give him a 5 years + extension

For sure the longer he takes to get it together the more careful we have to be on a contract extension.

 

[elmaco]

Switzerland bound, this dude stinks.

 

[CoopersFalls]

While not condoning his recent play, I find it mind-boggling that Dvorak can play horrible for months on end and never see the dog house. Meanwhile Laine seems to have become the poster boy for MsL’s disciplinary actions. Guy has very publicly said he didn’t enjoy hockey anymore until these last couple months. It’s a very fine line. I’m not saying he doesn’t need to be held accountable, but this feels like it’s taking a wrong turn when Laine is playing the 2nd-3rd least minutes on the team.

 

[jellybeans]

No regrets about the trade

But don’t give him a 5 years + extension

He won't be a habs in 2026-2027