Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

[VT]

I’ve been following Laine since the WJC 2016 and he’s his own worst critic. People who say otherwise either make shit up or don’t know better. That interview was 100% aimed at his own performance and nothing else.

The only way for him to succeed is to put him with an elite center that can feed him the puck. He played his best hockey with Scheifele and Wheeler. In a situation like that he’ll score 50 goals when healthy. Put him with a player like Dach and the current player is what you get. Scratching him or limiting his minutes will only have the opposite effect and he’ll struggle even more.

With all that being said, I can see him playing through the 25-26 season but then I believe he’ll retire. He looks miserable both on and off the ice. He’s clearly not finding any joy in the game and most likely still struggling with his mental health.

His best hovkey was in Columbus in 2021/22 and especially 2022/23 when his centers were Jenner and Roslovic. Especially Jenner. Very good in 5v5, in defense, play without the puck. And if not concussion and psychical problems, he would not be worse in 2023/24 season.

One of the few positive performances out of Finland today. So far.

Putting aside the "smart" pass on the PP, Patrik is playing very well, he is one of the best players. But they have terrible defense, he can't get the puck out quickly, he has problems under pressure.

 

[26Mats]

Play him with Evans and Armia for a while.

Or play Slaf in the Heineman role with Evsns and Armia. Then play Laine with Cole and Nick.

 

[the]

I thought he had a solid game. Except for that blunder on the PP everything else was fine. He stood out and gave a decent effort.

However, he needs to figure out a way to shoot more or create those opportunities for himself. His lack of grade A chances are killing him. He won't score with only 1 shot per game.

 

[HuGort]

...Laine is who he is...all we can hope is that he picks it up a bit next year when he's fully healthy and scores enough to nab us something half decent at next year's Deadline...

What? You mean we not locking Laine up to big long term contract?

 

[Marioesque]

I thought he had a solid game. Except for that blunder on the PP everything else was fine. He stood out and gave a decent effort.

Finnish tabloid always gives their ratings in lions or sheep, only two players got 1 lion in yesterdays game and Laine was one of them. Rest of the players got varying numbers of sheep.

 

[NotCommitted]

Finnish tabloid always gives their ratings in lions or sheep, only two players got 1 lion in yesterdays game and Laine was one of them. Rest of the players got varying numbers of sheep.

I think giving him a lion was for effort and "relative to expectations" thing, no way anyone else in the top-6 is judged positive playing the game he did. Which under the circumstances I guess is fair enough, but I wouldn't take it to mean he had particularly good game. He was clearly trying hard and didn't suck seemed the bar he had to clear for that one.

I was left feeling he just hasn't played enough hockey for the past year, I don't think it's the physical stuff really holding him back. I mean might be it's not optimal and that would just highlight any struggles he has with his game.

 

[Skip Bayless]

My man is cooked.

But no reason he shouldn't take at least 5 one Ts each PP.

 

[Marioesque]

I think giving him a lion was for effort and "relative to expectations" thing, no way anyone else in the top-6 is judged positive playing the game he did. Which under the circumstances I guess is fair enough, but I wouldn't take it to mean he had particularly good game. He was clearly trying hard and didn't suck seemed the bar he had to clear for that one.

I was left feeling he just hasn't played enough hockey for the past year, I don't think it's the physical stuff really holding him back. I mean might be it's not optimal and that would just highlight any struggles he has with his game.

He cleared a bar that Rantanen, Barkov, Lehkonen, Aho and Hintz didn't. I agree it wasn't a great game by anyone but Laine belonged.