Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

[sampollock]

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.

That's why they should put them on the first line try them out

 

[VT]

Well, if MSL tells Evans there is a word pass and Laine doesn't play in front of the net as a power forward we will see a goal.

 

[japhi27returns]

You guys still thinking 7x8 still or is my 5M looking more reasonable now?

Suspect he looks much better with a full off season but my god he is a nothing burger at ES.

I really want him succeed, for the team, and him personally. Gut wrenching knowing how much this must weight on him.

Would be an amazing comeback story. But having a hard time picturing how this turns around. His body language is unbelievably bad.

 

[le_sean]

You guys still thinking 7x8 still or is my 5M looking more reasonable now?

Suspect he looks much better with a full off season but my god he is a nothing burger at ES.

I really want him succeed, for the team, and him personally. Gut wrenching knowing how much this must weight on him.

Would be an amazing comeback story. But having a hard time picturing how this turns around. His body language is unbelievably bad.

I’m thinking that zero extension negotiations should take place. You see what he gives you next season after training this summer and playing with Demidov. There’s no point in committing to him now.

 

[DAChampion]

You guys still thinking 7x8 still or is my 5M looking more reasonable now?

An extension for Laine, if deserved, can wait until January 2026.

 

[japhi27returns]

My expectations for Laine were set in accordance to my diagnostic of his leg injury and this is why I'm not as upset and revolted as some of you are right now.

I expected a PP trigger man and major suckage 5 on 5, and this is exactly what we got.

Now if they could only figure out a way to move the box so that the guy who is cheating on him during the PP is forced to get off his dick, that would be dandy.

This board has always been guilty of ignoring bad context and setting expectations high for no reason and then getting angry when those expectations aren't met. But I can't save y'all.

The context, in this case, is a guy that plays 60 games a year and puts up 50 points in those 60 games.

My expectations have not been met, I didn’t expect a PP wizard, because he hasn’t been one, but thought he’d be at least competent at even strength.

At this point he isn’t even the player he was in CBJ, where he got run out of, so understandable if people are disappointed. For 8M I’d like a guy that can do something at ES.

An extension for Laine, if deserved, can wait until January 2026.

Someone tell Drebin, he was absolutely sure I was a lunatic for wanting a cheap deal, if any deal at all.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

The context, in this case, is a guy that plays 60 games a year and puts up 50 points in those 60 games.

My expectations have not been met, I didn’t expect a PP wizard, because he hasn’t been one, but thought he’d be at least competent at even strength.

At this point he isn’t even the player he was in CBJ, where he got run out of, so understandable if people are disappointed. For 8M I’d like a guy that can do something at ES.

Yeah but he’s not healthy. Let’s see what he can do when he is. The man has talent but that knee has been operated on a few times now…

 

[japhi27returns]

An extension for Laine, if deserved, can wait until January 2026.

Yup, exactly where I was at when he was on fire, still same place.

Yeah but he’s not healthy. Let’s see what he can do when he is. The man has talent but that knee has been operated on a few times now…

He says he is healthy. But agree that an off season will be good. But here is the thing, very likely he misses 20-30 games next year as well. I’m starting to believe hockey is a burden for him but thats just conjecture.

 

[BullLund]

How many forwards do they have? I can't imagine Finland are keen on giving this version of Patrik Laine much ice time. Lots of noise and it will get louder if Marty ever decides to take him off PP1.

Finnish coaches can get results out of any half-ass hockey player. He'll probably play protected minutes on offense and PP.

I wouldn't worry about it too much even if he has been playing like crap. At this point we are accustomed to putting just about any beer leaguer on ice and contending for gold. You just have to play to their strengths, whatever that is.

 

[nippanappa]

Damn... it's tough to see him struggling so much.

He was the guy that made me a bigger hockey fan than I ever could imagine, in 2016. He has a talent to scoring that is very unique, and he has shown earlier to be also useful player at 5-on-5. I still think he can find it in Montreal, even though it looks rough atm.

Healthy rest of the season and a proper summer training and I believe the old Patrik is back next season!

 

[Apoplectic Habs Fan]

Essentially MTL had a two yr audition for what Laine is at a cost of money

We have seen some very good and very bad

His current level of play there is no way you can extend him

His overall effectiveness is just not there

Will a training camp help that, i think its wait and see but feels like its going to be too much work to around his deficiencies

 

[Farmboy Patty]

I think you're onto something. If Laine can move high an take a guy with him, that can easily create a numerical advantage down low and allow a cross crease pass. The problem is that our guys seem to lose every ounce of their skill in those situations.

It’s such a weird thing when it seems that high skill top players suddenly lose their creativity that is on clear in the flow of the game when there is a power play. My simpleton theory is that in most cases (coaches) they have been given unnecessarily rigid frames to work within, and if you don’t play accordingly you might get off that unit. Every single hockey player wants to be on that unit.