Player Discussion Patrik Laine: ruining the tank

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Laine style reminds me of Vanek. Let's hope that he's more committed than Vanek.

Who has a better shot between Laine and Caufield ? The 3rd best would be Heineman.

I thought about Vanek too. Regular season Vanek was amazing. Genius IQ and used his big frame and reach really well.

Laine looks similar-ish in that regard but much more engaged. The playmaking and brains are a nice surprise. Plus I didn’t know he was THAT big Jesus lol.

Just stay healthy. We have so much potential talent but it’s really frustrating that so many key guys have had so many serious injuries.

 

[badfish]

Who has a better shot between Laine and Caufield ? The 3rd best would be Heineman.

I think Laine has a faster shot than Caufield, and the Edge stats would suggest that as well. I think Caufield is better shooting while in movement/dangle than Laine is though.

In the end though, it's a luxury to have these two on the team. I think they both profile as 40-50 goal socrers (yeah, Caufields never had that and Laine hasnt had it in a while) which is a nice luxury to have on a team.

 

[themilosh]

Aren’t you mad he’s ruining your dreams of a top 5 pick?

I don't think there is a real pathway to achieve "guaranteed top 5 pick" even without Laine. Outside of Chi/SJ 3-13 is a complete mixed bag.
What im more particularly interested in is for CGY to finish 11th. Imagine we pick ~9th and 11th?
If Laine can find his love again (like Kovy) here in MTL, sign for a reasonable $7.5m x 7.. then his value to this rebuild will be immense.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

I think Laine has a faster shot than Caufield, and the Edge stats would suggest that as well. I think Caufield is better shooting while in movement/dangle than Laine is though.

In the end though, it's a luxury to have these two on the team. I think they both profile as 40-50 goal socrers (yeah, Caufields never had that and Laine hasnt had it in a while) which is a nice luxury to have on a team.

At minimum, they'll both be in the high 30's. Add Suzuki who can go 25-35 and Demidov next year, Hage after that. Our biggest weakness will be on D. Need to draft more Ds. Hopeful a good pick-up at least with the Cal/Flo pick, if not both 1st round picks.

 

[badfish]

At minimum, they'll both be in the high 30's. Add Suzuki who can go 25-35 and Demidov next year, Hage after that. Our biggest weakness will be on D. Need to draft more Ds. Hopeful a good pick-up at least with the Cal/Flo pick, if not both 1st round picks.

I agree. I think the biggest needs are RHD and getting some nastiness in the bottom 6.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Hope we can "sit on our hands" and get paid to take a player this good again next summer

 

[yianik]

He may very well be the rare type who actually ends up loving it here and feeling super comfortable in the organization.

Kovalev came in with great fanfare then made a huge screw up that cost us a playoff game to the Bruins that put us down 3-1. Everybody was furious, especially Sheldon Souray , " do you just give up on the play, do you just give up on the play ????". The answer he was looking for was , No. So Kovalev was a 0. Then , he leads the team to win the series 4-3, so he is a hero. Kovalev saw both extremes and I was sure as a UFA he wouldnt sign back with us , but he did. Many said he lacked character but that guy wanted to play right here and that can take some guts. We have had lots of good players who get a taste of what its like, even the bad, and they still want to be here.

No certainties, its only 2 games, maybe by next year we dont want him or he doesnt want to be here. But if he can be at that 30 plus mark, and makes the crowd hold its breath in anticipation of that shot, that he will feel it and want to stay. Years ago some idiot said that it didnt matter how we won as long as we won a Stanley Cup. Well having an offensively challenged team for 30 years and a boring style of play year after year sucks. Everybody still talks about Kovalev and PK because they made it exciting to watch hockey and for a fan base that gets enamoured with 4th line guys like Evans because he plays hard and fans appreciate the effort, we damn well appreciate watching special players do their thing.

He scores 30 plus, I think he stays.

 

[yianik]

I agree. I think the biggest needs are RHD and getting some nastiness in the bottom 6.

Tuch and Florian X incoming. And then theres that Thorpe guy.

Hope we can "sit on our hands" and get paid to take a player this good again next summer

In the Cap world it happens. Utah grabbed Sergachev for a bag of peanuts for example.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He could but we got paid to take him. The risk goes away in that situation.

That's a concern when people were talking about trading 1st round picks and A prospects to take him and his full salary.

Exactly.

For what we paid it’s an awesome deal. But given the risks, it made no sense to give Columbus big value here.

My worry with him was twofold. Physical and mental health. The first part seems to be okay. His shot looks great. As for the mental aspect, the big thing I worried about was him getting of to a slow start and spiraling - just like we’re seeing with Dach. Two goals in two games is fantastic. Crowd is behind him, there’s momentum so that’s wonderful.

His talent is undeniable. We knew that before he came here. It’s all about health and the mental side of things with him. Let’s see where things go but this is a great start.

 

[badfish]

Tuch and Florian X incoming. And then theres that Thorpe guy.

I'm very hopeful some of them pan out. I would love a prospect who profiles like Adam Lowry selected in the next draft.

 

[BozoTheClown]

Imagine the amount of goals this guy will have with a playmaker like McDavid, MacKinnon, Kucherov!!!

His 2 goals this year where top of the league quality.

 

[Habs13]

Don't want to say it or jinx it but I think the way Montreal has welcomed Laine has really sparked him. I really think he'll excel here and meet his lofty expectations.

 

[Apoplectic Habs Fan]

Laine’s shot is amazing

The fact he can get so much torque from a still position is just crazy

 

[WeThreeKings]

The thing that Laine shows is just how important in the NHL that winning is from everyone being in the right chair.

Demidov coming in should make that even more apparent next year.

Expect Laine to have a lull after the initial adrenaline wears off but that shot is a weapon regardless.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

Laine style reminds me of Vanek. Let's hope that he's more committed than Vanek.

Who has a better shot between Laine and Caufield ? The 3rd best would be Heineman.

It's Laine. Caufield might have a wider repertoire of shots, but Laine's wrist shot is unique.

 

[BB88]

Despite being built like a monster, he seems less of a pack leader and more of a misunderstood artist. He’s apparently rubbed some teammates the wrong way wrong before. We need to be careful about that.

In Winnipeg that was during Wheeler era but that was a pretty toxic situation overall

Multiple players wanted out, ex coaches called that locker room out and even Maurice quit


In Columbus on his last season they allowed him to be a mentor for Fantilli, if he was toxic they wouldn’t have allowed it

 

[Ippenator]

It's Laine. Caufield might have a wider repertoire of shots, but Laine's wrist shot is unique.

Laine’s onetimer is maybe even deadlier, or at least as deadly as his wrister. But to get to use it, he will need to have some players that can give him the kind of passes you need to get for shooting onetimers. I don’t think Dach or Slafkovsky will ever be that kind of players. But at least on the PP Suzuki and Hutson might very well be that kind of players. And probably Demidov is going be a player like that too.

I don’t think Laine will make great 5 on 5 point totals with linemates like Dach and Slafkovsky, as he himself isn’t the type of player who can very much elevate his linemates with driving the play, and it seems to me that Dach and Slafkovsky can’t do it even as much as Laine. Unless they clearly improve their play, I don’t think I like them three playing together. Of course might be early to say, but the strengths and weaknesses of them together doesn’t look too optimal in my opinion.

 

[elmaco]

Laine’s onetimer is maybe even deadlier, or at least as deadly as his wrister. But to get to use it, he will need to have some players that can give him the kind of passes you need to get for shooting onetimers. I don’t think Dach or Slafkovsky will ever be that kind of players. But at least on the PP Suzuki and Hutson might very well be that kind of players. And probably Demidov is going be a player like that too.

I don’t think Laine will make great 5 on 5 point totals with linemates like Dach and Slafkovsky, as he himself isn’t the type of player who can very much elevate his linemates with driving the play, and to me it seems to me that Dach and Slafkovsky can’t do it even as much as Laine. Unless they clearly improve their play, I don’t think I like them three playing together. Of course might be early to say, but the strengths and weaknesses of them together doesn’t look too optimal in my opinion.

Laine needs room to shoot and operate, if he attracts more than one defender, his teammates need to capitalize. The same thing happens with every elite level player, those who can create something out of nothing.

 

[yianik]

I'm very hopeful some of them pan out. I would love a prospect who profiles like Adam Lowry selected in the next draft.

You know, its amazing the difference even one guy can make,let alone a couple, and we have a few darts

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Laine’s onetimer is maybe even deadlier, or at least as deadly as his wrister. But to get to use it, he will need to have some players that can give him the kind of passes you need to get for shooting onetimers. I don’t think Dach or Slafkovsky will ever be that kind of players. But at least on the PP Suzuki and Hutson might very well be that kind of players. And probably Demidov is going be a player like that too.

I don’t think Laine will make great 5 on 5 point totals with linemates like Dach and Slafkovsky, as he himself isn’t the type of player who can very much elevate his linemates with driving the play, and to me it seems to me that Dach and Slafkovsky can’t do it even as much as Laine. Unless they clearly improve their play, I don’t think I like them three playing together. Of course might be early to say, but the strengths and weaknesses of them together doesn’t look too optimal in my opinion.

Both Dach and Slaf are great passers.

Slaf and Laine already are showing good chemistry imo.

Dach is a bit of a question mark right now

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Laine needs room to shoot and operate, if he attracts more than one defender, his teammates need to capitalize. The same thing happens with every elite level player, those who can create something out of nothing.

Having another shooter on PP1 is extremely helpful. Teams can’t just focus on CC anymore.

 

[yianik]

Don't want to say it or jinx it but I think the way Montreal has welcomed Laine has really sparked him. I really think he'll excel here and meet his lofty expectations.

MSL has taken a lot of criticism and Im not here to argue it either way, and I dont know if him being the coach has made a difference for Laine. I do think though MSL would tell Laine to just go out and play his game, and not try to dictate to him to not do this and that etc, and there are plenty of coaches who would. MSL lets you play to your strengths first, and really one of the best coaches you can have if you are trying to get your game together, like Monahan, Dach 2 years ago.

 

[Ippenator]

Both Dach and Slaf are great passers.

Slaf and Laine already are showing good chemistry imo.

Dach is a bit of a question mark right now

They are ok passers, but definitely not great - at least at the NHL level. I’m talking about a true elite passer or even two. I’m not sure if even Suzuki and Hutson are that - at least yet. But they are definitely the closest that Montreal has to that at the moment.

I’m not saying that Laine absolutely has to play with those kind of players, but if you really want to see him take off and help his team in the best way, he will need to play with very high IQ and elite level passing players. It would bring the best out of him even more than of many other players who would get to play with that kind of players.

Laine is not just a shooter, if he gets to play with some high IQ give and go passers. He can really flourish if he gets to play with that kind of players. On the other hand I don’t think he goes too well with strong puck handlers that hold on to the puck long with mostly the help of strong puck protecting and don’t do too much of the give and go plays.

 

[ReHabs]

He may very well be the rare type who actually ends up loving it here and feeling super comfortable in the organization.

He chose to come to Montreal. I think he’s that kind of player. If his body doesn’t fail him, he’ll be happy here.

Now, will he sign an extension? Who knows. Money talks.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

When is he suppose to crumble under the pressure of Montreal

Next week.