Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

[Lafleurs Guy]

I'm beginning to wonder if Laine will ever be able to cut down on the turnovers. The thing is, I want him to play theough his mistakes amd see if he can't come out on the other side being able to create more offense.

Whereas with Newhook, I see a ton of turnovers when we have possession in the offensive zone. So I see him as mainly a bottom six counter striker who needs to simplify his game on the offensive zone to avoid the turnovers. Maybe just turn amd throw it on net when in doubt.

Laine has finishing ability and Newhook not so much.

I’m hoping Laine improves down the stretch and I expect him to be better next season

 

[Pat Riot]

If we are being honest for a guy who missed so many games in the past seasons, Laine is playing above expectation. If we project his production right now on a 82 games pace. We are talking of a 40 goals and 20 assists for a 60 points season with not so good line mates. Laine with Demidov next season will be a lethal duo. I hope we can extend him on a fair contract. Laine and Caufield are in the top 10 snipers in the league. To have 2 players like that on our top 6 is quite a luxury

 

[zzoo]

Can we name a player slower than Laine ? Uhm..... Hal Gill.
No, I meant a forward. Uhm...uhm... Jason Allison.
No, I meant a Habs forward. Uhm...uhm...uhm...George Laraque.
No, I meant a decent Habs forward. Uhm...uhm...uhm...uhm...David Desharnais.
No. Desharnais is faster.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

People will complain that Laine has defensive weakness and not always commit at 100%. Are the same people will complain about Montreal score no goals. I know it's fun to have a player like suzuki. All around. Good physicality, Good defensively, good offensively, good leadership. But those guys are rare. Laine remains a top 6 player. It always depend how he is going to ask as money. I would sign him every day. I liked Micheal Ryder aNd Kovalev back in the days. Even if some night they were not playing at all.

We didn't won anything with them. The best team possible, the team who will win the SC doesn't have a player like him on his roster. I can accept some lazyness defensivly for an offensive player but Laine is the worst player I ever seen stopping to skate when he have to cover a player on his way to score. If at 26 he never understood the vary basic of 200 feet game, he will never learn. If we think we need desperatly that specific offensive player we are dead wrong. There are tons of better overall players in the nhl and we just have to be patient to get some.

 

[salbutera]

Go get Rantanen if Canes make him available: the Finn BFFs will be dynamite w Beck in between them providing defensive sheltering

 

[BullLund]

I'm beginning to wonder if Laine will ever be able to cut down on the turnovers. The thing is, I want him to play theough his mistakes amd see if he can't come out on the other side being able to create more offense.

Whereas with Newhook, I see a ton of turnovers when we have possession in the offensive zone. So I see him as mainly a bottom six counter striker who needs to simplify his game on the offensive zone to avoid the turnovers. Maybe just turn amd throw it on net when in doubt.

Laine is a high risk high reward type of player so turnovers will always be a part of it. But with better legs and conditioning he'll probably increase the success rate of those plays.

There will still be moments when fans will cuss him out for a missed pass and a turnover, but if he succeeds enough times, he'll be a net positive to the team. Just like the game vs Ottawa where he screwed up a bunch, but ultimately contributed enough to where you can overlook the failures.

At his best, he was the kind of guy you wanted to put on ice when you were chasing a lead, not necessarily so much when you were trying to protect one. For Team Finland, he has always been the guy that we've used to brute force a goal, which is why we had him play a 5 minute shift at the end of the game vs Canada, and it nearly worked despite trailing by three goals. Play him for every second of PP and when trailing by a couple of goals, that's been his best use.

If he can get back in shape to play a full game, he does have the type of value that few players can bring to a team. Next year will probably determine his situation.

 

[yianik]

We have Laine for a full season after this one if we want, and by then we should have Demidov in the top 6, and hopefully Dach or Player X being a good 2C. So see what happens. Laine is pure wildcard at this point but hopefully he figures things out and can deliver a good consistent game by early next year anyway. .

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

I’m saying that since December, when you look at Dach and Newhook together without Laine, their possession numbers go up significantly.

Before that both are dreadfull, but that’s Dach’s fault not Newhook’s.

Both Laine and Dach are bad with puck posession, decision making (worse with Laine), speed skating and motivation/hockey IQ. Can we blame both of them? Can we say let's get rid of both and try something else?

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

We have Laine for a full season after this one if we want, and by then we should have Demidov in the top 6, and hopefully Dach or Player X being a good 2C. So see what happens. Laine is pure wildcard at this point but hopefully he figures things out and can deliver a good consistent game by early next year anyway. .

Why he would work his "thing" here and not the other teams before? Why Monreal would be the Compostela Path to change by miracle the bad habits player into a perfect player? Montreal have something miraculous in the water?

 

[Pat Riot]

Why he would work his "thing" here and not the other teams before? Why Monreal would be the Compostela Path to change by miracle the bad habits player into a perfect player? Montreal have something miraculous in the water?

You cant have a team with all perfect players, thats just not possible. Laine can be a very good player if hes paired with good playmaker with speed and good defensive awareness. You dont have many 40 goals scorers in the league. I hope we offer him an extension.

And why you have 2 of the biggest POS in your avatar?

 

[DAChampion]

We didn't won anything with them. The best team possible, the team who will win the SC doesn't have a player like him on his roster. I can accept some lazyness defensivly for an offensive player but Laine is the worst player I ever seen stopping to skate when he have to cover a player on his way to score. If at 26 he never understood the vary basic of 200 feet game, he will never learn. If we think we need desperatly that specific offensive player we are dead wrong. There are tons of better overall players in the nhl and we just have to be patient to get some.

It is a fool's errand to build a Stanley Cup contender by emulating the previous Stanley Cup contenders. They're all unique.

Just build the best damn team.

 

[Scriptor]

Why he would work his "thing" here and not the other teams before? Why Monreal would be the Compostela Path to change by miracle the bad habits player into a perfect player? Montreal have something miraculous in the water?

 

[HHel]

Why he would work his "thing" here and not the other teams before? Why Monreal would be the Compostela Path to change by miracle the bad habits player into a perfect player? Montreal have something miraculous in the water?

And you don't know what you are talking about. He played first two seasons in Winnipeg fairly well as a youngster. Then had a back problems. Then two seasons in middle in Columbus was his best overall hockey.

He doesn't have to best forechecker or best 200ft player or fastest player in rink. When he is fully healty, he is ok in all those areas. And if he has solid 200ft center and good playmaker in his line, he is the guy who help you win games and that is what every cup winning team wants.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Both Laine and Dach are bad with puck posession, decision making (worse with Laine), speed skating and motivation/hockey IQ. Can we blame both of them? Can we say let's get rid of both and try something else?

No.

Dach’s numbers were bad and then improved. Why? Because he got healthier.

Now Laine’s numbers suck. Why? Because he’s coming off injury. They very likely will improve as the season continues and both players will be better next year.

There’s absolutely no need to rush out and get rid of either of these players. However, I do think it’s pretty clear we need to supplement them with other options.

 

[HHel]

No.

Dach’s numbers were bad and then improved. Why? Because he got healthier.

Now Laine’s numbers suck. Why? Because he’s coming off injury. They very likely will improve as the season continues and both players will be better next year.

There’s absolutely no need to rush out and get rid of either of these players. However, I do think it’s pretty clear we need to supplement them with other options.

Don't get me wrong, but is the posession numbers only thing what matters?

Dach after his hot period from
Jan 16 till now has (15 gp) 0+3 (0+1 PP) and Laine has 4+6 (2+3PP).

Yes, Laine hasn't played well 5vs5. But is Dach playing well if he plays in 2nd line and his production is like that?

 

[yianik]

Why he would work his "thing" here and not the other teams before? Why Monreal would be the Compostela Path to change by miracle the bad habits player into a perfect player? Montreal have something miraculous in the water?

I guess its like this. He is under contract for a year more after this one. Do we trade him now ? For what ? What benefit is there to trading him right now ?

So if there is no particular benefit of trading him right now or the near future, what do we do but just hope he gets his act together , especially if we have nothing better ?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Don't get me wrong, but is the posession numbers only thing what matters?

Dach after his hot period from
Jan 16 till now has (15 gp) 0+3 (0+1 PP) and Laine has 4+6 (2+3PP)

He started playing better in December. He want rewarded for it but finally broke out on December 28th. Since then he’s paced for around 50 points. Not great but not bad.

Yes, Laine hasn't played well 5vs5. But is Dach playing well if he plays in 2nd line and his production is like that?

Dach’s 5 on 5 possession and points numbers since that time are much better than Laine’s.

I expect Laine’s will improve just as Dach’s did. But if we’re backwards looking, Dach has been much better at even strength.

Pp is a completely different story. Laine has been insanely good with that shot.