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.