Player Discussion Patrik Laine: ruining the tank

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

I still think we should have signed Monahan for 3 years, 7M AAV...

But I think Laine will prioritize his mental health over his ego of being as high on the pecking order as possible at his position in the pay scale higherarchy. I think he'll accept to fit within the cap structure Hughes negotiates with him, so as to try to build a winner. But we'll see when it's actually time to sign. I guess he's eligible to sign an extension already this summer?

Two biggest signings coming up next summer/autumn are Laine & Lane

 

[26Mats]

Two biggest signings coming up next summer/autumn are Laine & Lane

Would be sweet if Laine is here long term.

 

[Marioesque]

Would be sweet if Laine is here long term.

If the Canadiens treat him correctly, no reason to not extend him

 

[KevSkillz4]

I would re-sign him 100%. If he stay healthy this year and next year.

He is only 1 year older than Nick Suzuki, this guy should be in the core with Suzuki at this point.

 

[VT]

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.

If he was able to improve the game of his partners in Columbus, even Gaudreau had better stats with him (he had worse stats with Johnny, because Johnny preferred to pass in front of the net), it will be no different in Montreal. He will make excellent players from Slafkovský and Dach. Especially if Patrik plays better with power forwards not playmakers.

However, I repeat that when moving and working with the stick, it is still visible that it is rusted. He's not going to score every game. So temper expectations this season, especially if the Slafkovsky - Dach - Laine line is not playing good without the puck, which is understandable since two players from it are were long term injured.

 

[Kennedys]

He's not going to score every game. So temper expectations this season.

 

[Marioesque]

Agreed. The talent was always there. It was health and mental issues that got in the way. If that’s all behind him the. It’s a huge steal.

I’ve still tempered my expectations though. Great start and I hope it continues.

I temper my expectations too. I have watched him since 2016, both international and in NHL. The injuries, the bad coaching decisions, his own blunders, I've seen it all. It's been extremely rough to be a Laineac. I expect him to score a couple of hat tricks next week and then get injured for rest of season, because that's how this has gone so far.

He has been injured a lot. He had his depression after his dad's death. Also many injuries that stopped him from performing at full ability.

We have seen some parts of the full ability when he scored 18 goals in a month. If he didn't get moved away from line 1 (for captain Wheeler) and the concussion, he would have scored 50 easily in his rookie season. He was pacing top 3 of all time.

But most of that season and the full 2nd season happened in 2nd line ice time with very much dinged Brian Little as C. Not in optimal circumstances. Laine had injuries and 2nd/3rd line ice time but scored 44 goals.

Get the potential? 4th fastest in history to 100 goals, with all the factors slowing him down. He's insane

When he played for CBJ somewhat healthy, he was the best player on the ice.

I'm still waiting to see what Line 1/PP1 Patty looks like. From what I have seen, that player can be top 5. As a Finn, I have Laine above Rantanen as a talent, and Rantanen is a top 10 player in current NHL. Need a goal? I will play Laine over anyone.

My username is what Laines toolshed reminds me of, my all time favorite player before him. Very similar styles of player.

 

[Marioesque]

Why aren't we talking about that absolutely brilliant backhand bank pass behind t he net he made to Dach, who then passed to wide open Slaf.

I mean, Dachs pass to Slaf was sweet and all.

But the calculations and execution of that bank shot Laine made to hit Dach would get applause from snooker pros. That's that special talent hockey IQ.

It gets more impressive the more I watch it, he looks behind twice to track where teammates are, and executes the triangle play with a perfect bank pass behind the net, on his backhand which is like his only weakness

 

[Habssince89]

Why aren't we talking about that absolutely brilliant backhand bank pass behind t he net he made to Dach, who then passed to wide open Slaf.

I mean, Dachs pass to Slaf was sweet and all.

But the calculations and execution of that bank shot Laine made to hit Dach would get applause from snooker pros. That's that special talent hockey IQ.

It gets more impressive the more I watch it, he looks behind twice to track where teammates are, and executes the triangle play with a perfect bank pass behind the net, on his backhand which is like his only weakness

Take Laine, reduce his shot to just decent and he's still a great hockey player.

 

[Marioesque]

Take Laine, reduce his shot to just decent and he's still a great hockey player.

Exactly. Even without the shot he's a wicked creative forward.

But he also carries the best cannon to the field

 

[Habssince89]

Exactly. Even without the shot he's a wicked creative forward.

But he also carries the best cannon to the field

He knows how to use the threat of his shot to open up lanes too. He was 2OA for a reason

 

[HuGort]

If the season is already "ruined" i think it's time to have fun watching games

This season You fellows all googly eyed over Desnoyers, Schafer, Martone. Now you want them tossed aside to play .500. I don't get it.

 

[Kennedys]

This season You fellows all googly eyed over Desnoyers, Schafer, Martone. Now you want them tossed aside to play .500. I don't get it.

Any McDavid ? And you realize you're mad because a Hab player might be good enough to make the team win ? Think about it.

 

[ReHabs]

This season You fellows all googly eyed over Desnoyers, Schafer, Martone. Now you want them tossed aside to play .500. I don't get it.

Any McDavid ? And you realize you're mad because a Hab player might be good enough to make the team win ? Think about it.

You two are kinda speaking over each other.

Do we think rising “to play 0.500” qualifies as “make the team win”?

If we play 0.500 going forward it will be a disappointment (but we have a chance at a top5 draft pick), if we play such that we end with 0.500 by game 82, it’ll be more impressive and consequential and “in the mix”. In any case it can’t all ride on Laine, there are many players who need to improve.

 

[Easternbull]

I think Slaf and Patty have the potential to be a real dynamic duo, not so shure about Dach. Plays keep dying om his stick looses every single battle and face off, but Laine and Slafkovsky seem to complement and find each other on the ice. Give Dach a few more games then move Evans up there and get Kapanen back from Sweden, he is already a smarter and better play driver then Dach IMHO.

 

[BLONG7]

MR Laine has arrived in Montreal guys.............just enjoy it.
If he stays healthy we should have some fun watching our team again.

 

[Zilo44]

Any McDavid ? And you realize you're mad because a Hab player might be good enough to make the team win ? Think about it.

If Patrik Laine comes back to his normal self, I agree that he is more valuable than Misa, Frondell, etc. Maybe even Martone.

Plus the equation is not Laine vs Martone but rather Laine + 10OV vs top 5 pick

 

[behemolari]

Exactly. Even without the shot he's a wicked creative forward.

But he also carries the best cannon to the field

the shot is so good and takes all the spotlight, his playmaking skills are overlooked and underrated. also for reasons unexplained his mates never score after he set terrific play, it has always been like that.

 

[morhilane]

Plus the equation is not Laine vs Martone but rather Laine + 10OV vs top 5 pick

From what I'm reading, there is a lots of volatility at the top of the draft this year. So expect a draft last June with "fallers" and wierd choices.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

If Dach and Slaf keep improving and the D can remain solid, I think we could be a bubble team.

The PP makeover alone could easily get us far more points in the standings.

Our special teams don’t get enough love and MSL had a lot to do with this success

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

Last to be like that was PK.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

If Patrik Laine comes back to his normal self, I agree that he is more valuable than Misa, Frondell, etc. Maybe even Martone.

Plus the equation is not Laine vs Martone but rather Laine + 10OV vs top 5 pick

I think it's misguided to think that way, as if it's simply the addition of Laine who suddenly makes us beat weak teams. We were already beating weaker teams before he came back.

 

[FerrisRox]

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

I think Laine has a better shot but Caufield has a better release.

Laine, with time, is absolutely deadly. Part of what makes Caufield so effective is his ability to get his shot of quickly and without much indication of where he's going to put it.

Laine has an ability to place his shots so well he could tell you where he's going to put it and still be effective.

 

[salbutera]

I think Laine has a better shot but Caufield has a better release.

Laine, with time, is absolutely deadly. Part of what makes Caufield so effective is his ability to get his shot of quickly and without much indication of where he's going to put it.

Laine has an ability to place his shots so well he could tell you where he's going to put it and still be effective.

Laine has ability given his size to protect the puck & retrieve the puck more effectively though

 

[Tyson]

Laine has ability given his size to protect the puck & retrieve the puck more effectively though

I never realized how elite his shot is. If he stays healthy and he is happy...holy cow

 

[salbutera]

I never realized how elite his shot is. If he stays healthy and he is happy...holy cow

Laine also plays a mean SOB puck retrieval game along boards / corner in Ozone