Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

[overlords]

Doesn't seem like it anyway, he's been moving better lately.

I think his movement once he gets going has improved, but his ability/inability to stop/start is still evident IMO

 

[Marioesque]

I think his movement once he gets going has improved, but his ability/inability to stop/start is still evident IMO

Yes, he seems to be able to make better strides now in the last couple of games. Not saying he is fully healthy, but it's an improvement in the mobility of that leg. Which is good to see.

 

[The Great Weal]

Both of those players have been better than him at 5v5. I guess you just don't follow reality that Laine is like the worst producer at even strength?

Yeah as evidenced by their worse EVP/game and one of them having a 0.03 P/60 at 5v5 more than him.

Let's give the Hawks and Avs another 1st rounder each to thank them for giving us these 5v5 dynamos that have carried this team all year.

 

[bud12]

Laine is a mix of Lemieux and Ovechkin. That's right. 99% of Brendan Lemieux and 1% of Ovechkin

 

[le_sean]

Yeah as evidenced by their worse EVP/game and one of them having a 0.03 P/60 at 5v5 more than him.

Let's give the Hawks and Avs another 1st rounder each to thank them for giving us these 5v5 dynamos that have carried this team all year.

I still fail to see how saying they all suck is some kind of defence for Laine. It is not the role of $3m players to elevate $9m players.

And from what I gather from this thread, it’ll soon be the role of a player on an ELC to do it next season.

 

[The Great Weal]

I still fail to see how saying they all suck is some kind of defence for Laine. It is not the role of $3m players to elevate $9m players.

There’s a difference between saying they all suck at 5v5 and lying that the other two are producing noticeably better at 5v5. So all comparable at 5v5 production with Laine excelling on the PP when the other two still suck on the PP.

Laine’s salary is irrelevant when we got paid to take him on. Would you feel better if we gave up something worth the 13th OA pick to have him at 50% or get paid to take him on at his full cap when we have the cap space?

 

[le_sean]

There’s a difference between saying they all suck at 5v5 and lying that the other two are producing noticeably better at 5v5. So all comparable at 5v5 production with Laine excelling on the PP when the other two still suck on the PP.

Laine’s salary is irrelevant when we got paid to take him on. Would you feel better if we gave up something worth the 13th OA pick to have him at 50% or get paid to take him on at his full cap when we have the cap space?

It’s not irrelevant. The $9m could go to a 2C or top 4 D upgrade next year. And because he makes $9m, his expectation on a new contract will be far higher than he is worth. He’s not going to take half that cap hit, which is what his actual value is.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

There is no defense for Laine's play over the past 3months. He is not NHL quality 5 on 5.

The question is whether he can ever get back to the player he once was, or close to it. Its obvious that his skating is impacted by the injury suffered in the offseason. Can he recover? Does he need surgery?

To me, he should get the surgery if that's the fix, and give up on this season. He's not helping.

 

[The Great Weal]

It’s not irrelevant. The $9m could go to a 2C or top 4 D upgrade next year. And because he makes $9m, his expectation on a new contract will be far higher than he is worth. He’s not going to take half that cap hit, which is what his actual value is.

We have more than enough cap space to get a 2C and top 4D next year unless we’re looking to add guys who also aren’t worth their contracts.

If he plays like this again next year, he definitely won’t be getting 9+. Players who are overpaid aren’t guaranteed to get even more overpaid in their next contract. Tyler Myers signed a bad contract and then signed a way more representative one afterwards.

 

[Marioesque]

He is not NHL quality 5 on 5.

How?

Why do we need this kinda bs, can't people just talk about reality without insane hyperbole?

 

[Junohockeyfan]

How?

Why do we need this kinda bs, can't people just talk about reality without insane hyperbole?

Because he can't skate at an NHL level. He is skating well below AHL level.

He is a PP specialist only. That's not hyperbole. That's reality. You need to live in reality son.

 

[DAChampion]

And because he makes $9m, his expectation on a new contract will be far higher than he is worth.

That's not how it would. His current salary has zero effect on his next contract.

If the Habs and Laine agree on contract, they will agree to their best estimate of market value.

 

[tooji]

He just needs to simplify his game at 5v5. His injuries have hampered his agility and acceleration by at least 15-20%, which means the game he played in his early 20s is no longer viable. He needs to pick his spots better, less forced low percentage plays at 5v5

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

He just needs to simplify his game at 5v5. His injuries have hampered his agility and acceleration by at least 15-20%, which means the game he played in his early 20s is no longer viable. He needs to pick his spots better, less forced low percentage plays at 5v5

He needs to play with a dynamic centerman, and a good passing winger. Not Newhook.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

He needs to play with a dynamic centerman, and a good passing winger. Not Newhook.

and a rocket pack on his back so he can get some speed and strength in his stride.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

and a rocket pack on his back so he can get some speed and strength in his stride.

He doesn't really need that, he just needs a centerman who can find him on the ice and make him better. He needs to play with talent. Demidov - ??????? - Laine , this should fix everything. You can't play Laine with players like Newhook.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

It’s not irrelevant. The $9m could go to a 2C or top 4 D upgrade next year. And because he makes $9m, his expectation on a new contract will be far higher than he is worth. He’s not going to take half that cap hit, which is what his actual value is.

I mean, if he plays like this and wants 9 mil... we just let him walk or trade him at the deadline. That's not difficult.

 

[Marioesque]

Because he can't skate at an NHL level. He is skating well below AHL level.

He is a PP specialist only. That's not hyperbole. That's reality. You need to live in reality son.

I'm 48 years old son.

They actually track stats for what NHL level skating is and how Laine places in it. So we don't have to rely on your horrible misrepresentation.

Last game I noticed he was often the 1st fwd back when they lost possession in offensive zone. He gets places.

All through his career there have been people who can't look past his skating style and how he "looks". Some people just need to see Pezzettas and Newhooks skateskateskate lookbusylookbusy and bang boards, to have any appreciation for their value.

Pearls before swine

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He doesn't really need that, he just needs a centerman who can find him on the ice and make him better. He needs to play with talent. Demidov - ??????? - Laine , this should fix everything. You can't play Laine with players like Newhook.

I don't see Laine being the guy who's going to drive the play. But he can certainly finish it. For him to be effective we have to get a center who can take the puck into the zone and set things up. Demidov will do his part. Laine might actually have a great year if we can surround him properly.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

He doesn't really need that, he just needs a centerman who can find him on the ice and make him better. He needs to play with talent. Demidov - ??????? - Laine , this should fix everything. You can't play Laine with players like Newhook.

That's ridiculous. He looks like a 39 years old out there laboring and lumbering across the ice aimlessly.

How do you guys overlook the obvious issues Laine has been facing in his skating and agility? He is a liability out there. He needs to get himself fixed, whether its surgery or other means.

 

[Marioesque]

He doesn't really need that, he just needs a centerman who can find him on the ice and make him better. He needs to play with talent. Demidov - ??????? - Laine , this should fix everything. You can't play Laine with players like Newhook.

...or at least you can't play Laine with players like Newhook and expect good results.

The haters don't want him to play with better guys and bigger minutes, because deep down they fear there's going to be a metric ton of crow coming to their plates.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

I'm 48 years old son.

They actually track stats for what NHL level skating is and how Laine places in it. So we don't have to rely on your horrible misrepresentation.

Last game I noticed he was often the 1st fwd back when they lost possession in offensive zone. He gets places.

All through his career there have been people who can't look past his skating style and how he "looks". Some people just need to see Pezzettas and Newhooks skateskateskate lookbusylookbusy and bang boards, to have any appreciation for their value.

Pearls before swine

Your 48? Then you need to get your eyes checked. Because if you actually could see 20/20, you would notice that Laine is laboring as he skates. He's slow, lacks agility. He's not right. As a result he's a liability out there.

 

[Deebs]

...or at least you can't play Laine with players like Newhook and expect good results.

The haters don't want him to play with better guys and bigger minutes, because deep down they fear there's going to be a metric ton of crow coming to their plates.

I think it's more he hasn't really earned that privilege this year. Maybe after a great offseason and if comes to camp healthy, he can push the issue next season.

 

[26Mats]

I don't see Laine being the guy who's going to drive the play. But he can certainly finish it. For him to be effective we have to get a center who can take the puck into the zone and set things up. Demidov will do his part. Laine might actually have a great year if we can surround him properly.

It's going to really interesting to see who HuGo bring in at C.

They got Dach, Monhan, Hage, and Beck so far. But Dach has been injury ravaged
. They decided not to. get Monahan back last summer. Beck and Hage aren't ready. I have little doubt they can get a C, but it's not always easy to do right away. So we'll see if they get a potential long term solution or a stop gap this summer...

 

[Deebs]

It's going to really interesting to see who HuGo bring in at C.

They got Dach, Monhan, Hage, and Beck so far. But Dach has been injury ravaged
. They decided not to. get Monahan back last summer. Beck and Hage aren't ready. I have little doubt they can get a C, but it's not always easy to do right away. So we'll see if they get a potential long term solution or a stop gap this summer...

I believe Monahan chose not to sign with us because he wanted to play with his best friend in Columbus.