Not getting stuck playing on a line with Gally or Anderson would be a great start
Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition
- Thread starter Lshap
- Start date
Not getting stuck playing on a line with Gally or Anderson would be a great start
Acquired WITH a 2nd round pick, 16 goals in 36 games playing a not very productive line and Habs fans still find a way to complain.
Smdh
We don't deserve shit
Smdh
We don't deserve shit
Acquired WITH a 2nd round pick, 16 goals in 36 games playing a not very productive line and Habs fans still find a way to complain.
Smdh
We don't deserve shit
We can complain about his effort sometimes, but yeah, his production are top notch and he play better since the break of 4 nations.
I'm very confident that he will be even better with a Demidov type of guy with him!
If someone give me a 2nd Round pick and another player for absolutely nothing, can that player have, at the very least, a decent Corsi FFS!Acquired WITH a 2nd round pick, 16 goals in 36 games playing a not very productive line and Habs fans still find a way to complain.
Smdh
We don't deserve shit
He’s ain’t perfect , but laine is part of the reasons Hutson is a top producing defenseman .
Going to jump into the thick of this, with an acknowledgement of being a fan.
Laine when drafted was seen by at least one Finnish commentator as being the most defensively responsible forward since Koivu. I couldn't understand that for a long time (Barkov was there in between) but it makes sense. He is not great at defending (sometimes even bad) but he does genuinely try. He is not defensively talented but he makes the responsible moves.
He is mostly in the correct spot covering the correct opponent. He can try to get a little fancy instead of flipping out the puck.
And ofc we acknowledge that he would not be in the league without that ability to shoot the puck
Laine when drafted was seen by at least one Finnish commentator as being the most defensively responsible forward since Koivu. I couldn't understand that for a long time (Barkov was there in between) but it makes sense. He is not great at defending (sometimes even bad) but he does genuinely try. He is not defensively talented but he makes the responsible moves.
He is mostly in the correct spot covering the correct opponent. He can try to get a little fancy instead of flipping out the puck.
And ofc we acknowledge that he would not be in the league without that ability to shoot the puck
would you consider a guy who has a point on over 80% of the 5v5 goals scored when he's on the ice, is point per game game on a team where the next best guy is like 0.75 P/GP (2021-22) and has the best 5v5 GF/GA in the team a "guy who drives the play"? That's literally Patrik Laine in Columbus through the 111 games he played through 21-22 & 22-23 seasons, but I guess what happens in Columbus stays in Columbus.
I always shit on players when their effort is .. well, shit. But credit where it’s due, Laine is not a liability in the past few games defensively and he produces offensively. He is still slow as f*** tho.
Next year he will play with Demidov and a brand new 2C(hopefully). If he does his work defensively, he can let Demidov carry the puck and just worry about sniping it.
I want the person to be happy, I want him to be willing to put in the effort. He seems to be a good lad.
He shown us both side of the medal and I just hope that he love the game enough to put in the effort 4 out of 5games.
I also hope that we can make the playoffs to see if he step it up a notch or continues to be a coin flip.
Next year he will play with Demidov and a brand new 2C(hopefully). If he does his work defensively, he can let Demidov carry the puck and just worry about sniping it.
I want the person to be happy, I want him to be willing to put in the effort. He seems to be a good lad.
He shown us both side of the medal and I just hope that he love the game enough to put in the effort 4 out of 5games.
I also hope that we can make the playoffs to see if he step it up a notch or continues to be a coin flip.
Acquired WITH a 2nd round pick, 16 goals in 36 games playing a not very productive line and Habs fans still find a way to complain.
Smdh
We don't deserve shit
The most hilarious part is he's put up a 36 goal pace... since 96-97 the only times a Hab has put up over 35 goals in a season was Pacioretty in 13-14 and 14-15.
For a fan base who's team has lacked goal scorers for 3 f***ing decades you'd think they'd appreciate anyone who can put the puck in the net.
The most hilarious part is he's put up a 36 goal pace... since 96-97 the only times a Hab has put up over 35 goals in a season was Pacioretty in 13-14 and 14-15.
For a fan base who's team hasn't had any legit goal scorers in 3 f***ing decades you'd think they'd appreciate anyone who can put the puck in the net.
He's appreciated.
He also has warts and parts of his play that isn't good that he has to own.
I think it's fair to evaluate him appropriately and not put his shortcomings on Dach, Beck, Roy, Newhook or anyone else he played with 5 on 5 when he wasn't pulling his weight offensively and defensively.
The hope is that with a full off-season that we can see a more complete Laine, not the immobile PP cannon user that he is this season, because if we get anything close to that, that's big news for the team.
I expect that to happen.
If Montreal could somehow get the Laine who played for Columbus for those 2 seasons, along with the PP production he has now under Montreal's system (with Hutson feeding him), he'd be an insanely valuable player.
That's a big if, of course, but I'd say it's worth keeping him just to see if that happens. Montreal have already been one of the better teams in the league since Laine started playing for them, just imagine if Laine starts performing 5on5.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the world's largest ocean plastic accumulation, located between Hawaii and California. Spanning 1.6 million square kilometers, it consists of plastics ranging from large fishing nets to tiny microplastics.
Formed by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, it's not a solid "island" but a concentration of approximately 1.8 trillion plastic pieces weighing 80,000 metric tons. These plastics harm marine life through ingestion and entanglement and fishermen around the area are alarmed about their increasingly empty nets.
Researchers claim it is the biggest pile of floating trash in the world, but a small number of hockey fans insist that the title belongs to ice hockey player Patrik Laine. A clear difference between the two is that while the Garbage Patch empties nets in the ocean, Laine somehow keeps filling them with pucks.
Formed by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, it's not a solid "island" but a concentration of approximately 1.8 trillion plastic pieces weighing 80,000 metric tons. These plastics harm marine life through ingestion and entanglement and fishermen around the area are alarmed about their increasingly empty nets.
Researchers claim it is the biggest pile of floating trash in the world, but a small number of hockey fans insist that the title belongs to ice hockey player Patrik Laine. A clear difference between the two is that while the Garbage Patch empties nets in the ocean, Laine somehow keeps filling them with pucks.
I know people say he's one dimensional, but I find his puck handling to be buttery smooth. He's also a good passer and he tends to create a lot of space due to both being huge and having the defense always focus on him when he's on the ice.
NHLers know who can embarrass them and a lot of them saw him make a fool out of us when he played for Columbus.
NHLers know who can embarrass them and a lot of them saw him make a fool out of us when he played for Columbus.
A couple times on the Sick Podcast, McGuire has talked about how he and I believe Scotty Bowman agreed that you build your teams with a certain set of players and go from there.
One of those is a specialists. PP/PK. Laine could be that guy.
Also, people take shots at Gallagher for being bald... Laine's hairline has receeded like crazy.
One of those is a specialists. PP/PK. Laine could be that guy.
Also, people take shots at Gallagher for being bald... Laine's hairline has receeded like crazy.
I don’t get it either. He’s much more than a one-trick poney. His passing skills were on full display during the 4 Nations tournament. There’s a reason why Babcock wanted to try him at Center in Columbus. Laine’s size and playmaking abilities didn’t go unnoticed.
Kent should re-sign him now. Laine has been out of hockey for almost a season, has a knee injury, and yet - no matter how flawed a part of his game is - he's one of the main reasons the Canadiens are respectable and fighting for a playoff spot.
It is possible that things could go wrong. That's a risk anyone has to take with Laine. But he really seems to love being a Hab. Considering how rough his early career was (being bullied by Wheeler, etc.), being part of a healthy locker room must have gravitas. And that's why I don't think he's going to chase the maximum free agent salary. He'll never be an all-around 200-foot player, and at times he'll be maddening to watch. But Habs fans shouldn't overlook what he's already done. And with Demidov and a season off from his knee injury, you can expect him to be an even better player next year.
Extend him now for 6.5-7.5 for 4 years. A respectable offer for a rare, if somewhat imperfect, talent. Of all the fan bases, we should know that 30+ goal scorers don't just fall into your lap. This team was dogshit before Laine arrived and he's been a big part of two streaks when Canadiens were the best team in the whole NHL. In the middle of these streaks he was coasting and lost, no one is denying it. That's why he won't be paid eight figure salary. He'll never be the superstar everyone expected him to be. But he does deserve a contract extension and he gives this team a better chance to win.
We are finally spoiled with a borderline top-10 1C, a skilled 40 goal pocket rocket, Calder trophy winning power play QB defenseman and a magician who could be more skilled than all three combined. But there's always a room for goal scoring enigma who must've met a devil at the crossroads for his wrister. If somebody needs to carry him from time to time, we'll get him a gym rat 2C.
It is possible that things could go wrong. That's a risk anyone has to take with Laine. But he really seems to love being a Hab. Considering how rough his early career was (being bullied by Wheeler, etc.), being part of a healthy locker room must have gravitas. And that's why I don't think he's going to chase the maximum free agent salary. He'll never be an all-around 200-foot player, and at times he'll be maddening to watch. But Habs fans shouldn't overlook what he's already done. And with Demidov and a season off from his knee injury, you can expect him to be an even better player next year.
Extend him now for 6.5-7.5 for 4 years. A respectable offer for a rare, if somewhat imperfect, talent. Of all the fan bases, we should know that 30+ goal scorers don't just fall into your lap. This team was dogshit before Laine arrived and he's been a big part of two streaks when Canadiens were the best team in the whole NHL. In the middle of these streaks he was coasting and lost, no one is denying it. That's why he won't be paid eight figure salary. He'll never be the superstar everyone expected him to be. But he does deserve a contract extension and he gives this team a better chance to win.
We are finally spoiled with a borderline top-10 1C, a skilled 40 goal pocket rocket, Calder trophy winning power play QB defenseman and a magician who could be more skilled than all three combined. But there's always a room for goal scoring enigma who must've met a devil at the crossroads for his wrister. If somebody needs to carry him from time to time, we'll get him a gym rat 2C.
I think people confuse constructive criticism with complaint. And I think some people are being overly defensive.Acquired WITH a 2nd round pick, 16 goals in 36 games playing a not very productive line and Habs fans still find a way to complain.
Smdh
We don't deserve shit
It’s accurate to say he’s been poor 5 on 5. That doesn’t mean he sucks or shouldn’t have made th deal. And it’s to be expected after the layoff.
But nobody is going to complain about the production. His PP more than makes up for it. It was a great trade. And there’s lots of room for him to improve.
Yeah that's a really big if. He's never had a "complete" season even offensively, where BOTH 5v5 and PP production would be there during the same year. Like during those CBJ years where has great 5v5 (he was producing at a clip which would've made him a ~top10-top20 player in the league for 5v5 points if projected to over 82 games) he got barely any PP goals.
I'm not holding my breath he ever has that season where it all clicks somehow, but at the same time it needs to be said Laine can be very good 5v5 and has shown it in the league starting his rookie year already - top20 for even strength points despite missing 9 games with a concussion. For what it's worth, he's usually had among the best 5v5 goal differentials in his teams, apart from a couple real stinker seasons.
So if he can keep producing anything like this on the PP and get his 5v5 game back to level it has been about half the time of his career, he'd be a great player for Montreal. I wouldn't dismiss his ability 5v5 just yet, though unlike what they tell to kids in Finland, if you injure a body part it usually doesn't get stronger...
If Laine had Hutson feeding him in Columbus, the PP production would've been there. Back then, Columbus's power play, with or without Laine, just didn't work for whatever reason. Nothing worked.
I really think this kid, Hutson, is perfect for Laine because unlike the previous "set-up men", he understands that you don't just give up on the Laine option because he misses the net a couple of times. Look at the amount of volume Ovechkin throws at the net, eventually they always go in. It's the same with Laine (arguably with even better accuracy). But usually Laine would miss or fumble the puck 1 or 2 times and the team would give up on him. Hutson just keeps feeding him. If you give him enough touches, he'll score. That's what goal scorers do.
The situation with the knee is definitely the biggest concern with him. If he can't prove that he can play a full season next year, his value goes down greatly.
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I would say that we have passed the threshold from where one dimensional pp specialists who are egregious defensive liabilities and have the personality of a wet sock are that useful but I do know what you are saying and these types of players usually get blacklisted by contending teams and end up peddling their narrow scope of elite abilities to bottom feeders who just need a placeholder to fill certain roles.
MSL was recently very open about Laine's lack of interest in both playing defence or applying himself in practice to get better at it. This of course runs in direct opposition to a certain sycophant's cherry picked stats but I will defer to MSL on this one as well as every coach who has ever had to endure his lazy play and poor attitude.
I was really hoping that Marty would bring out a more responsible and happy version of Laine but he looks every bit the person that we have seen for years now.
Maybe he is just back in a dark place due to him dealing with a potentially nagging injury and having to be accountable for his overall poor play. I refuse to endorse this line of reasoning as a legitimate excuse but I aslo will not rule it out. We will know more next season if he is still here after the summer, and I would like nothing more than to be entirely wrong.
Is he an egregious defensive liability though? How many goals has his line conceded in the past 10 games, maybe one in the Oilers game?
Not saying he's a defensive wizard or anything, but he's "surviving" his 5on5 minutes. The main issue is not that the 2nd line is leaking goals against, but the fact that they're not really producing anything either. They're just there. Not a whole lot of pluses or minuses either way.
For Team Finland he was a net positive player even though the team, quite frankly, didn't do too well in that tournament. Again, it wasn't his line leaking goals. While players like Aho and Rantanen ended up on the negative side, Barkov and Laine were our only positive players.
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