Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

Another positive thing for Laine in the future is that Hutson seems to find him a lot. And Hutson is only going to get better, which is a scary thought.

Laine just needs to find that open space when Hutson is working his magic.


Laine created some of the better chances today too. Kapanen improves that line and will be that other scoring threat for now.

Hutson and Laine are fun together, both like throwing the saucers and they find each other well. That Kapanen post was a nice play by 92 and 48.

A lot of good stuff today
 
I've said this before and I'll say it again, I'd sign him this July for a 6x6. He got 20 in this banged up half season with no proper line mates. He could score 30-35 goals in his sleep next season.
I would have to have some assurance that his knee would get better, and his mobility improves. Because if this is the Laine we are getting, i don' twant him.
 
He's one of the most bizarre players that I've ever see, honestly, and it's just gobsmacking that he's declined so far from his prime, even considering his injury history, at only 26.
How about we remember he came back from a knee injury that should have kicked him out all the year .
I am convinced the knee is not 100pct and he is doing all he can on. a bad knee
 
I would have to have some assurance that his knee would get better, and his mobility improves. Because if this is the Laine we are getting, i don' twant him.

With his bum knee, no good line mates he scored 20 goals in like a half season. That would mean he could score 30-35 on that bum knee in a full season. And who knows how many with Demidov?

Goal scoring is still how you win this game and trigger men still have their uses.
 
Regardless of who we add as a 2C, the potential Demidov/Laine chemistry is without a doubt the thing I'm looking forward to seeing most going into next season. Sure his 5v5 production is lacking, but he's been playing the majority of the season with Newhook (who had ZERO assists through the first 30 games of the season). We see how lethal he is with Hutson feeding him the puck on the powerplay, give him some time to mesh with Demidov and we're going to be able to roll a very dangerous top 6.
 
He's one of the most bizarre players that I've ever seen, honestly, and it's just gobsmacking that he's declined so far from his prime, even considering his injury history, at only 26.
I think his stamina is weak due to poor training over the past few years and his balance is off due to the knee injury. I really hope he doesn’t have off-season surgery and lose another opportunity to get in shape. It’s painful watching such a skilled player be so… off on the ice.
 
I've said this before and I'll say it again, I'd sign him this July for a 6x6. He got 20 in this banged up half season with no proper line mates. He could score 30-35 goals in his sleep next season.
Dangerous contract for a very streaky player and with injury concerns too. Not a fan of what Laine brings to the team, so I’m bias and I’d rather see him go. In my opinion, he’s had plenty of chances with other organizations so at this point of his career you know what you’re getting
 
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He’s streaky and doesn’t back check. Not that complicated. For that cap hit I’d rather someone more reliable and consistent

He backchecks.

I don't know what realistic consistency expectations one can have for 11 minutes of icetime . That line was consistently worst in NHL before Laine joined it. Today, in it's current composition, it looked alright for once

On PP he's by far the most consistent scoring threat in the league as evidenced by giving everyone a 30 game head start and still being top 3.
 
I share most of the criticism of Laine, but let's not forget he is basically free money. He was not brought here to be the top dog and we wouldn't be in a playoff spot without his powerplay goals.

It's certainly worth finding out how is he going to look like when he gets healthier and more fit during the offseason and how he mashes up with Demidov. Neither Dach, nor Newhook made his task easier this season.

If the price for a 2C proves to be prohibitive this season, I think the Laine - Demidov combination could still potentially work with a solid two-way support player in the middle. A Laine - Dvorak - Demidov could be a really decent line imo.
 
He’s streaky and doesn’t back check. Not that complicated. For that cap hit I’d rather someone more reliable and consistent
He doesn't back check? How to tell you don't watch him playing without watching him playing.

More often than not, he is the first forward down on his line, and that has practically always been the way he plays even back in 2016 U20 WJC. Is he great at back checking? Not necessarily, but he does back check.

While the 5-on-5 play of Patrik "Wounded Knee" Laine has obviously not been on his typical high level on this season, and while he has not been doing great defensively, that has been blown so out of proportion. He has still been noticeably better than his most common line mates, and his rate of giving goals against matches eg. Armia and Evans, and it's on the same ball park as most of the team.

On 5-on-5, Laine allows 0.44 goals more against per 60 when compared to the absolute star Suzuki. On the other hand, Laine allows 0.46 goals less against per 60 when compared to Newhook and 0.53 less when compared to Dach, and it's kind of hard to beat your most common line mates on a line stat.

Now, the 1st line that's the only line that really works offensively is massively ahead in terms of goals for per 60, and that's where the real difference comes and that's why the 1st line is the only line that's playing winning hockey for the Habs. Other wins basically needs PP to score, and fortunately PP has been working.

Everybody knows Laine doesn't need too many changes to score a goal, PP or 5-on-5. But if he gets absolutely 0 changes set by his center, it's hardly working optimally. Hutson did show how to do it, again, but Newhook is simply not on the same page as Laine. It works the other way around: Laine sets Newhook up. But Newhook is not that great of a goal scorer. Maybe just adding Demidov will eventually fix the situation, but if there just was a center with higher "hockey IQ" and at least some vision, that would make wonders.

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Laine's knee is the big variable here. The rest of his injuries from recent years appear healed and are not impacting his game. That knee injury really did a number on our ability to assess him fairly. It's good there's one more year in his contract.

To me, it looks like he's made some mobility improvements since he first came back from the pre-season knee injury, but obviously is doing all he's doing while not at 100%.

47GP 20G 13A 33P, 34.89 goal pace over 82 games. If Laine's knee is 100% next season, if Demidov comes over and hits the ground running as Laine's linemate, then 40G isn't out of the question.

By the end of next season, the team will surely look different as contracts will be gone, players will have grown etc. But I can't see Laine leaving here. He wants to be a star, he has had an overall good experience so far all things considered, and it seems like he's involved in the community. I don't know what the number would be, but I wouldn't be surprised if Laine:
a)traded AAV for term (sets him up financially, Habs can afford it, worse case scenario is LTIR)
b)left money on the table because he knows how good the habs are going to be with Hutson, Demidov and the top line. He wants a legacy - to be the star he was 'supposed to be'. Being a part of a contending Canadiens team is a great way to make one.
 
I think Laine is already "financially stable" for rest of his life so I would assume that now he wants to make his legacy. Which could mean that money is not the first thing and he wants to win. So basically it comes to few things in my mind:
1) Does Laine want to play after this year at all?
2) Is Montreal possible SC Champion in next 3-5 years?
3) Role in this team

Money is just a measurement tool for agents, players and teams so I don't think that it would be an issue.
 
Laine and his girlfriend run a foundation and the money Laine makes goes to that foundation as well as their day-to-day living.

I don't think he would sign an extension for 4M a year, even if it was maximum term, but he might go from 8.7M to 7M.

Is that enough for a PP specialist at this point, or will his impact increase with Demidov at his side for even strength play?

Problem is whether we wait until the end of next year to sign an extension with laine or whether we do so in this offseason?

The difference might be a Million or so AAV, in the end, but, at least, we'd be more certain of what the fur holds for Laine in terms of overall production...
 

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