Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

[OneSharpMarble]

No he isn't. The line was the worst in NHL BEFORE he got in it.

Do you not get that simple fact? Time works that way. They were the worst, probably not worst anymore but still no good.

It has since seen Dach replaced with Roy and Heineman. AHL and rookie.

You have silly expectations if you think one player makes the worst line in the league I to a legit 2nd line.

Slaf was lost in that line too, but somehow can play 1st. Wonder why..

4 ES goals, he shouldn't be in the top 6. Any call up could get 8 goals in a season in the top 6.

 

[Marioesque]

He’s trash at 5v5 dude, sorry

You're trash at player evaluation so no offense taken

 

[Marioesque]

Just not sure why for some posters we have to pretend he is anything but horrible 5 on 5, he was horrible again last night

You need to quantify it somehow and not just claim it. Doesn't work

 

[le_sean]

Again, could he use better linemates? Of course. But when you’re paid $9m per year, you should be the one elevating whoever you’re playing with. And he doesn’t do that.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

You need to quantify it somehow and not just claim it. Doesn't work

I’ve done it many times you just keep ignoring it lmfao

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

4 ES goals, he shouldn't be in the top 6. Any call up could get 8 goals in a season in the top 6.

Who else goes there?

I mean, this is the thing people forget... we still have depth issues. Laine at least has a killer shot. There's just nobody else to put in that spot. Nobody's really right for that spot but at least Laine can shoot the puck. Just leave him there. Next year he'll be healthier and have better linemates. He should improve. If he doesn't then we can re-examine his future here.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Again, could he use better linemates? Of course. But when you’re paid $9m per year, you should be the one elevating whoever you’re playing with. And he doesn’t do that.

That's why we got paid to take him...

I'm just glad his shoulder's okay. I was worried he would have shooting issues. Fortunately that hasn't been a problem at all.

 

[Marioesque]

I’ve done it many times you just keep ignoring it lmfao

You just keep saying it. Repetition doesn't convince me. I see most games myself so I don't need your assessment.

 

[Hacketts]

I agree with you entirely!

Just not sure why for some posters we have to pretend he is anything but horrible 5 on 5, he was horrible again last night

I'm not sure why you have to pretend like you're actually being objective.

Was his 5 on 5 game last night good? No, not at all.
Has his 5 on 5 game been improving the last while? Yes
Has his 5 on 5 game been a concern this season? Yes, most definitely.

You guys love to sit on one side of the argument, and throw shots.

Interesting to see tribalism at play within your own team.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

You just keep saying it. Repetition doesn't convince me. I see most games myself so I don't need your assessment.

You got some bats in the belfry brother

 

[Sasha Orlov]

I'm not sure why you have to pretend like you're actually being objective.

Was his 5 on 5 game last night good? No, not at all.
Has his 5 on 5 game been improving the last while? Yes
Has his 5 on 5 game been a concern this season? Yes, most definitely.

You guys love to sit on one side of the argument, and throw shots.

Interesting to see tribalism at play within your own team.

How you gonna straight up agree with me and then say I’m not objective?

 

[Marioesque]

You got some bats in the belfry brother

So you're just used to repeating your silly view until everyone agrees with it despite how contrary it is to their own visual experience?

Sorry but your narration isn't going to override my own eyes. Your narration is garbage. It's completely blinded by hatred.

 

[Hacketts]

How you gonna straight up agree with me and then say I’m not objective?

Because his 5 on 5 game has been trending in the right direction since after the break.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Because his 5 on 5 game has been trending in the right direction since after the break.

I mean when you’re at rock bottom the only direction you can go is up

 

[Mrb1p]

I mean when you’re at rock bottom the only direction you can go is up

Youve kinda been thrashing him any chance you get.

 

[Hacketts]

I mean when you’re at rock bottom the only direction you can go is up

Takes time to get the Laine Train moving when it's been in the shop.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Youve kinda been thrashing him any chance you get.

Maybe if he played better I wouldn’t do that

 

[Mrb1p]

Maybe if he played better I wouldn’t do that

Hes playing better than what you give him credit for, thats for certain.

 

[Marioesque]

Maybe if he played better I wouldn’t do that

Hasn't made a damn difference. He's been noticeably quicker on his feet and seems to improve every game even in that god awful line where nobody flourishes.

Your bs stays the exact same. So no, playing better makes no difference in your evaluation. Because it's not based on reason, it's pure emotion

 

[digmor crusher]

When the puck is on his stick there's a 90% chance he will turn it over.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Hes playing better than what you give him credit for, thats for certain.

Not at 5 on 5, where he is bottom 3 on the team in basically every metric

 

[LaP]

4 ES goals, he shouldn't be in the top 6. Any call up could get 8 goals in a season in the top 6.

He is not in the top 6. We don't have a top 6. We have a top 3 and a bottom 9. It's becoming clearly evident some fans do not watch the games.

EV TOI

Suzuki 15:58
Caufield 15:00
Slaf 14:14
------------------
Newhook 13:31
Dach 13:09
Evans 12:37
------------------
Anderson 12:23
Dvorak 12:21
Gallagher 12:18
Laine 11:36

Laine is 10th in ES TOI among the team's forward. The narrative that Laine plays in a top 6 while playing 11:36 at ES with Newhook and a non blue chip prospect rookie is flawed to the point of ChatGPT would understand the game better. In fact a facebook russian political bot would understand the game better.

We do not have a 2nd line. Now yes Laine should do better at ES than what he is doing atm but he should be considered as a 3rd line player playing on the PP cause that's what his usage is and has been from pretty much the start.

 

[Marioesque]

The narrative that Laine plays in a top 6 while playing 11:36 at ES with Newhook and a non blue chip prospect rookie is flawed to the point of ChatGPT would understand the game better. In fact a facebook russian political bot would understand the game better.

100% this

 

[Marioesque]

Not at 5 on 5, where he is bottom 3 on the team in basically every metric

What metrics are those? Some "expected" stats or something

 

[Scriptor]

Laine looked like a robot who was processing everything just a fraction of a second slower than everyone around him last night. The occasional second effort, a decent pass here, but not there...

There have been some games, recently, where he looked okay at even strength, but definitely not dominant as some expect him to be to consider him just okay at even strength.

I'm seriously hoping that Hughes can land a genuine 2C for next season. Laine will never be the play driver on his team at even strength -- he's not even remotely that on the PP folks -- but Demidov is coming over to be that for us.

A line of Laine - 2C - Demidov will help Laine shine at even strength and, for that, he won't have to do much more than what he does on the PP and have just as much hustle on the back check as he already proved he could have in the games where he was just okay at even strength.

Opponents will start double teaming Demidov soon enough and, with a genuine 2C as an option for a pass, that line will be able to regularly tee up Laine for one-timers that will burn our opponents.

With Demidov and a genuine 2C, I can't imagine a healthy Laine getting less than 60 points on a second line and with a PP role. Hell, he's already pacing for close to that (58 points) and 35 goals (what Caufield just got) without a semblance of a 2C to feed him and no Demidov to drive the play. Newhook might be really fast, but he doesn't have the on ice vision and playmaking skills of a genuine 2C or a Demidov.

Having two potential 35+ goal scorers in Caufield and Laine next season will be a real challenge for opponents.

Just having Laine as a scoring threat on a line with Demidov will provide at least a bit more room for the Russian rookie at even strength. The addition of that genuine 2C is key for the HABS and must become Hughes' primary mission in the offseason.

There are enough assets to get one, whether it is via a trade of NHL players, strictly futures, or a mix of both, depending on the quality and age of the C that is available to us?

It could hurt a little (trading Guhle as the prime example, including A.Xhekaj with futures in a package, or including a top prospect like Hage in the deal), but could end up being crucial for the Habs to take the next step sooner than later.

Ideally, the package for a 2C would involve Matheson and/or Evans, and/or Heineman, and/or Dach, and/or Newhook as regular NHLers, if regular NHLers needed to be included. Beyond that, Beck, Kapanen, Mailloux, Engström and Primeau would all be available as prospects to add to a package.

Then, in terms of draft picks, Montreal has three first rounders, four second rounders and four third rounders over the next two drafts to include in a deal.

It might be really hard to trade for a good C in the NHL, as Bergevin always said, but there definitely enough firepower in Hughes' arsenal to slay that dragon!

BTW, even Bergevin, as hard as it is to acquire a good C in the NHL, didn't do a bad job with Suzuki, even if most maintain that he just lucked into it.