Player Discussion Patrik Laine: Part 2 - Healthy Living Edition

[bud12]

Play always dies on his stick. Even on the pp, he's horrible. Switch him with Caufield and put him on the 2nd wave

 

[the valiant effort]

I am no Laine fan (post-2018), but we’d be crazy to not keep him around next season.

 

[Kojo]

Would be nice to see what he can do in the playoffs, to see what he can do under pressure, but I'm not very optimistic.

 

[elmaco]

This was an excellent video by the hockey guy, he touches on the details on when and how Laine is effective and when he is not, a look at career and some of the reasons for the ups and downs.



He makes the exact argument I have been saying for a long time, there's a clear correlation where Laine gets more ice time, he produces really well. THG says it's about confidence and I tend to agree, Laine gets on the wrong gear when he gets demoted, or when he feels he's not in a positition to help the team win.

That's why he looked like he belonged with the elite in 4 nations, but doesn't show much 5 on 5 in MTL where he is playing scrap minutes. That's why he shot out of a cannon in his rookie season (started in 1st due to injuries to vets) and then lost all point potential when moved to a smaller role in a worse line. He looks different in those scenarios, the whole demeanor.


I've likened him to the George Nelson character in O brother where art thou. When he's doing what he loves he feels he's 10 feet tall, and when put in other situations he's hanging his head and deeply depressed

I think it's more simple than that, he needs star linemates to succeed, like he had Scheifele and Wheeler back in WPG. It's all about the style he plays.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I am kinda surprised at how limited he is at handling the puck, for how skilled he genuinely is. He always seems to have a hard time receiving passes or keeping possession for more than a few seconds when challenged. He has some really nice moves when he has some space but one on one battles seem to give him a lot of problems more often than not. He's a bit like Galchenyuk in that regard I guess.

 

[Pat Riot]

Cant wait for Laine to pass the puck to Demidov. Newhook would have a hard time scoring in a soccer net

 

[26Mats]

I think it's more simple than that, he needs star linemates to succeed, like he had Scheifele and Wheeler back in WPG. It's all about the style he plays.

If he's going to be a good player for star linemates to play with, he's going to have improve his 200 foot game, because he'll be on the ice a lot.

I hope MSL and Nicholas can work with him on this. He's only 26. Not too old to reinvent himself. Anderson and Gallagher have done so.

 

[JianYang]

I would rather have the 9 million in caproom this summer. Considering Habs be looking for two expensive components. A second line center and a right defense man.

Our second line is dead. Killing the team. Montreal should have gotten a first at least for taken on Laine contract. I would try to move the contract this summer. Any team can have him for nil. If can't, definitely wouldn't protect him out of camp. To gain little extra caphit and extra roster spot. He has a good shot but that is it. A negative player to team.

I'm reserving too much judgements until I see him with a full training and a fully strengthened knee.

But I will say that I find his soft turnovers to be maddening.

 

[fansse]

He’s a one a trick pony, massively overpaid

 

[OneSharpMarble]

Cant wait for Laine to pass the puck to Demidov. Newhook would have a hard time scoring in a soccer net

Can't wait for Demidov to wonder why he's playing with a geriatric who skates 20ft and goes back to the bench.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Am I crazy? I thought he played well last night. That feed to Newhook should have been buried.

 

[Habssince89]

Am I crazy? I thought he played well last night. That feed to Newhook should have been buried.

He's still not where he needs to be but he's noticeably more mobile and I'm finding his conditioning is better. I think he still lacks the speed to get into space 5v5, but if he plays with Demidov then space will open up in different ways that will cover for that problem. I think he makes good passing plays every game, but they don't get buried. I also think Laine is doing a better job backchecking

 

[zzoo]

Play always dies on his stick. Even on the pp, he's horrible. Switch him with Caufield and put him on the 2nd wave

Agree. Whenver Laine receives the puck, in my head, I think "oh no, another giveaway. Let's hope it's not a huge turnover". His hockey sense is so low.

 

[Hacketts]

Am I crazy? I thought he played well last night. That feed to Newhook should have been buried.

He had a more positive game then negative.

Inconsistent players Laine/Newy make for an incredibly inconsistent line.

Hopefully they give Evans a chance to in between Laine & Demidov, give that line an actual C...and let Newhook create havoc on the 4th line.

 

[Kennerback]

There is absolutely the material to make a complete player of Laine. But is he willing to humble himself to go through learning boring shit like they did with Caufield.

I think complicating his life to make spectacular dekes and backhand sauce is part of his makeup. Would he be willing to do simple and safe plays? IDK if he would.

 

[JianYang]

Am I crazy? I thought he played well last night. That feed to Newhook should have been buried.

I didnt watch much of the game. I saw enough to see one brutal turnover at the offensive blueline, and that great play to newhook that you mention.

 

[Marioesque]

I think it's more simple than that, he needs star linemates to succeed, like he had Scheifele and Wheeler back in WPG. It's all about the style he plays.

Just Scheifele was enough, it worked best with Perreault on the other wing.

Laine played well with Roslovic and Jenner too, not stars

 

[elmaco]

Just Scheifele was enough, it worked best with Perreault on the other wing.

Laine played well with Roslovic and Jenner too, not stars

I wish he'd get some "Ovi'ness" into his game, more explosiveness and motor. Guess we have next season to really see what he is about, starting healthy and all.

 

[TomKosto]

I wish he'd get some "Ovi'ness" into his game, more explosiveness and motor. Guess we have next season to really see what he is about, starting healthy and all.

He was really fast younger, that knee is done.

 

[Natey]

Yeah, Laine's biggest problem is his speed. If he loses the puck, he's pretty much out of the play, lol.

 

[Sorinth]

I am kinda surprised at how limited he is at handling the puck, for how skilled he genuinely is. He always seems to have a hard time receiving passes or keeping possession for more than a few seconds when challenged. He has some really nice moves when he has some space but one on one battles seem to give him a lot of problems more often than not. He's a bit like Galchenyuk in that regard I guess.

It's because he's not moving fast enough. When your stationary it doesn't really matter how good your stickhandling is you will turn the puck over, in the best case you are simply buying yourself a second to try to make a play.

Laine's big issue is that he's just not moving his feet enough. I think this is partly because he's still not back to full strength in terms of skating but it's also very much a mental thing, he probably doesn't trust his skating and is trying too much to play it safe and almost always chooses to try slow the play down even when the best option is to push the pace. Though it doesn't help that his linemates rarely hit him with a tape to tape pass when he's in motion which is probably both a problem with them but also his positioning/routes. Either way I would expect Demidov to help there, both because he's a better techinical passer and because he'll read Laine's routes better.

 

[Mrb1p]

Pat made a couple great defensive plays and set up Newhook twice for great chances.

Im not certain why people are this hard on Laine.

 

[Mrb1p]

I am kinda surprised at how limited he is at handling the puck, for how skilled he genuinely is. He always seems to have a hard time receiving passes or keeping possession for more than a few seconds when challenged. He has some really nice moves when he has some space but one on one battles seem to give him a lot of problems more often than not. He's a bit like Galchenyuk in that regard I guess.

He has a super long stick, which gives him the crazy shooting power. Its just a drawback of who he is and what hes asked to do right now.

 

[Mrb1p]

Am I crazy? I thought he played well last night. That feed to Newhook should have been buried.

He did. Crazy the disparity of opinions between Laine and the other wingers.

 

[Marioesque]

I wish he'd get some "Ovi'ness" into his game, more explosiveness and motor. Guess we have next season to really see what he is about, starting healthy and all.

I've watched him his whole career, and I have to say that's not going to happen, ever.

That has been the expectation and the mold they tried to push him in once he got to NHL because he's 6'5.

He's a finesse forward, just a really large one.

He has a significantly better shot than Ovechkin, but he doesn't shoot nearly enough to compare as a scorer.

Good usage can bring up his strengths, when teams have leaned to and supported his strengths, he has provided trophies.