Player Discussion Patrik Laine: ruining the tank

[jrom]

These don't grow on trees, bro.

Same with guys with a shot like Laine. There's no rush, let's see how this season plays out and then next season.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

These don't grow on trees, bro.

If we get lucky Demidov could take on that 2C role. Possibly Dach could turn things around and grab that spot. We might also draft one with our 2025 1st. Or we could pull off a big trade and acquire one. They have to find a solution by next season.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

His shot is f***ing unreal

Perhaps the the best shot I've seen on the Habs since, I don't know, ever?

Weber had a f***ing canon but while less powerful, Laine's shot is so much more precise

Laser beam. World class.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Laine is very hot and cold. He's hot right now. Be prepared for when he's not.

Also, the tank isn't being ruined. They'll still finish in the bottom five. There's no way Nashville, Detroit, and Buffalo stay down here with us.

It's a miracle that he's producing, while playing alongside Newhook and Dach, two players who have struggled from the beginning of the season.

 

[Guy Larose]

It's a miracle that he's producing, while playing alongside Newhook and Dach, two players who have struggled from the beginning of the season.

He's not producing with Newhook, all his goals are on the PP. Do people even watch the games around here?

 

[Marioesque]

He's not producing with Newhook, all his goals are on the PP. Do people even watch the games around here?

Laine did pass it to Newhook for a 1 on 1 with goalie but shockingly he couldn't convert. Also Laine hit the post in the 1st. They didn't play that many minutes in the game.

 

[KevSkillz4]

I'm a huge fan of Laine game since his draft year and Winnipeg aswell.

I would be thrilled to give him 6 years and 7,5 millions per year. (Yes, less than his actual 8,7). He is a great ́person and I think he can accept less to play in a good environnement for the first time of his career.

I'm very thrilled to have this player.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

It's a miracle that he's producing, while playing alongside Newhook and Dach, two players who have struggled from the beginning of the season.

He's not actually producing with them, but on the PP.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

He's not actually producing with them, but on the PP.

You are right.

 

[waitin425]

Laine after his first 2 years in the league was thought of as a threat to Ovechkin for goal scoring king. Obviously those opinions were few and far between, and the road to today has proven otherwise.

But....this kid....minus the adversity he has already faced....has potential to be a 50 goal scorer.

Expecting under 8 million per year for him is wishful thinking if he keeps this pace all season.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Laine after his first 2 years in the league was thought of as a threat to Ovechkin for goal scoring king. Obviously those opinions were few and far between, and the road to today has proven otherwise.

But....this kid....minus the adversity he has already faced....has potential to be a 50 goal scorer.

Expecting under 8 million per year for him is wishful thinking if he keeps this pace all season.

Scoring almost exclusively from the powerplay is unsustainable.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

There's no way you guys are calling Laine a 50 goal scorer like can we relax man

And what does *potential to be a 50 goal scorer* even bring us? Brownie points? Caufield also had this *potential* , maybe let the guys do it first I don't know.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

There's no way you guys are calling Laine a 50 goal scorer like can we relax man

And what does *potential to be a 50 goal scorer* even bring us? Brownie points? Caufield also had this *potential* , maybe let the guys do it first I don't know.

But I like brownies

 

[Vachon23]

I would wait before extending him to see if he can produce at 5 on 5 and if he can stay healthy and consistent.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I would wait before extending him to see if he can produce at 5 on 5 and if he can stay healthy and consistent.

I don't think anyone is rushing to do anything on the contract front. Laine or the front office.

 

[HHel]

If he keeps scoring same pace on PP (or little less) and his 5vs5 game is coming back. He could sign 6x9-9,25M next offseason. But if he scores next season 40-50 goals and PPG you don't get him under 10M and he still leaves some on the table.

 

[Tabarouette]

There's no way you guys are calling Laine a 50 goal scorer like can we relax man

And what does *potential to be a 50 goal scorer* even bring us? Brownie points? Caufield also had this *potential* , maybe let the guys do it first I don't know.

every other fanbase are always laughing at us because we always have the most 40 goal scorers who never scored 40 goals so, this ain't new

 

[waitin425]

There's no way you guys are calling Laine a 50 goal scorer like can we relax man

And what does *potential to be a 50 goal scorer* even bring us? Brownie points? Caufield also had this *potential* , maybe let the guys do it first I don't know.

You missed my full post........

yes, I said and believe he has the potential to be a 50 goal scorer.

But, I also said, we should expect to pay over 8 mil per....

"if he keeps this pace all season."

It is obviously very early. But this guy, with his skill set....still has potential to go larger than he ever has.

 

[Marioesque]

But this guy, with his skill set....still has potential to go larger than he ever has.

Healthy, with constant 1st line ice time and surrounding talent and that's already a situation he hasn't seen since February 2017. And if that happens, it will likely make him go bigger than before, as he is a much better player in general today than he was then. Of course currently he has about 75% of his speed because of the knee but I'm seeing some improvement already.

Had he stayed in that Jets first line in the first season and not had the concussion to miss out on calder, he would have scored 50+ at 18 years old.

 

[BB88]

I would wait before extending him to see if he can produce at 5 on 5 and if he can stay healthy and consistent.

You can’t even extend him now or officially talk numbers

That’s next july business

 

[HomaridII]

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I can live with one guy like him in our lineup long term, if we have the other ingredients in place. You do need to score more goals than the other team to win and there are ways to manage his 5 on 5 minutes to shelter him to at least some degree. I wouldn't want too many one dimensional guys, obviously, but you can manage one if he's really good at what he does.

 

[NotCommitted]

I can live with one guy like him in our lineup long term, if we have the other ingredients in place. You do need to score more goals than the other team to win and there are ways to manage his 5 on 5 minutes to shelter him to at least some degree. I wouldn't want too many one dimensional guys, obviously, but you can manage one if he's really good at what he does.

You shouldn't need to shelter him 5v5 once he gets back on his game. He was outscoring the opposition playing first line minutes with guys like Jenner/Roslovic/Nyquist on a bad CBJ team while driving offense. Not a dig at all on those players, but on paper something like Laine/Jenner/Nyquist or Laine/Roslovic/whoever is not a 1st line in this league. For context Gaudreau was coming off a 115pt season and dropped to 74 in that team, while Laine was P/GP and IMO playing a better overall game.

Managing expectations with a guy who didn't play hockey for almost a year and is basically restarting his career after a hard reset is wise, but you also shouldn't be deciding who he is 5v5 after a handful of games after a knee injury, while playing with a center who also missed like a year, just enjoy the PP goals as long as he keeps sniping them and see whether his overall game progresses and hopefully by the spring you don't need to set the bar quit that low for him to get over it

 

[Marioesque]

You shouldn't need to shelter him 5v5 once he gets back on his game. He was outscoring the opposition playing first line minutes with guys like Jenner/Roslovic/Nyquist on a bad CBJ team while driving offense. Not a dig at all on those players, but on paper something like Laine/Jenner/Nyquist or Laine/Roslovic/whoever is not a 1st line in this league. For context Gaudreau was coming off a 115pt season and dropped to 74 in that team, while Laine was P/GP and IMO playing a better overall game.

Managing expectations with a guy who didn't play hockey for almost a year and is basically restarting his career after a hard reset is wise, but you also shouldn't be deciding who he is 5v5 after a handful of games after a knee injury, while playing with a center who also missed like a year, just enjoy the PP goals as long as he keeps sniping them and see whether his overall game progresses and hopefully by the spring you don't need to set the bar quit that low for him to get over it

Preach, brother!

Laine himself has been alluding to this with his comments. He knows he isn't on the level he knows he can be, recognizes it and strives to get there. We've seen him be the best player on the ice with not optimal linemates and he can make it work.

Unfortunately the current situation reminds me of Little. Dach just came back from long term injury and has been a shadow of himself for over 30 games now. Little was a very similar situation and really affected Laine's effectiveness 5 on 5. Jets eventually fixed the 2nd C problem by getting Statsny and immediate results followed, night and day difference immediately in 5 on 5 production.

He is now older and better and in CBJ he was able to carry lines when healthy. Not worried about the lack of current 5 on 5 production.

 

[Naslundforever]

I can live with one guy like him in our lineup long term, if we have the other ingredients in place. You do need to score more goals than the other team to win and there are ways to manage his 5 on 5 minutes to shelter him to at least some degree. I wouldn't want too many one dimensional guys, obviously, but you can manage one if he's really good at what he does.

I would say scoring goals and stopping pucks are dimensions we’ve been starving for recently.