Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

[Balthazar]

I mean, we all remember how bad Dach looked when he came back right?

He looked bad when he came back? As opposed to now?

 

[HHel]

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

Laine 0 pts in 2 games.

2 games 5 vs 5
Newhook and Dach 2 GF and 3 GA

Laine 0 GF and 0 GA

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He looked bad when he came back? As opposed to now?

Yes.

He’s playing well. The 2nd line has been better than our first on this road trip.

 

[LaineBOOM]

2 games 5 vs 5
Newhook and Dach 2 GF and 3 GA

Laine 0 GF and 0 GA

So it seems Laine is excelling defensively away from Newhook and Dach. A very promising sign! If Laine can be 0 GF and 0 GA on 5 v 5 for a full season, and lets say can score 30 apples on the PP he will definitely be worth every penny.

 

[schwang26]

2 games 5 vs 5
Newhook and Dach 2 GF and 3 GA

Laine 0 GF and 0 GA

He’s playing with Evans and Armia. They’re our best defensive forwards and forecheckers. Laine has NOT contributed to that at all.

 

[Marioesque]

He’s playing with Evans and Armia. They’re our best defensive forwards and forecheckers. Laine has NOT contributed to that at all.

He also hasn't contributed to the 2nd line losing their matchups and being on the minus, while he's in the 4th line.

The second line is still defensively atrocious, that didn't improve by moving Laine.

Newhook is finally playing at his full ability, that's where the offensive buzz has come from but he's still not a very productive forward either. His ceiling is this.

 

[WeThreeKings]

He also hasn't contributed to the 2nd line losing their matchups and being on the minus, while he's in the 4th line.

The second line is still defensively atrocious, that didn't improve by moving Laine.

Newhook is finally playing at his full ability, that's where the offensive buzz has come from but he's still not a very productive forward either. His ceiling is this.

People were putting the blame for Laine's struggles on Dach and Newhook. Yet, those two immediately started producing again when Laine was removed from their line, and Laine didn't enjoy any productivity boost.

It shows what the eye test was showing, that Laine wasn't working on that line and it wasn't Dach/Newhook who were the problem offensively on that line. It was, in fact, Laine's penchant for turnovers and poor puck touches on the cycle.

Bringing Laine down in the bottom 6 while he finds his form, conditioning, confidence and play is the right tactic right now.

 

[vayrynen]

If Laine can be 0 GF and 0 GA on 5 v 5 for a full season, and lets say can score 30 apples on the PP he will definitely be worth every penny.

That would be something. His record is 20 PPG per season, and second-best brought 15 goals. The third best is this season as Laine hasn't reached two figures in other seasons.

 

[LaineBOOM]

That would be something. His record is 20 PPG per season, and second-best brought 15 goals. The third best is this season as Laine hasn't reached two figures in other seasons.

Has he ever played 0 minutes of 5 v 5 for the whole season, and the full PP of each PP with the energy he saves from playing no 5 v 5.

I guaraantee he would have the 0 GF, 0 GA, and 30 PP goals for that season.

Is that worth more than 2-3 million though. Maybe he would take it when he is 37 and if he is allowed to do whatever he wants while sitting on the bench.