Player Discussion Patrik Laine: ruining the tank

[Lafleurs Guy]

I never bought the argument that MTL wasn't a good place for him but maybe wait more then 4 games before declaring anything. Any problems were always going to only show up after the honeymoon period.

My worry was a slow start. Him getting early success is crucial. That will give him confidence and get the fans on his side. Couldn't have asked for a better start here.

 

[NotProkofievian]

His shot really is something else. It's like watching a prime Tyson knock someone out, or early 2000s Tiger smoke a 2 iron.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Laine's been a very pleasant surprise so far. I'd love nothing more than to see him stay healthy and productive this season and the next, then sign a long term extension with us.

Laine, Caufield, Suzuki and Demidov would give us more talent up front than I've seen in my entire lifetime. We just need our coaching staff to keep molding Slaf into a modern power forward and for management to look for a solution at 2C and we should be in a fairly good spot.

 

[Jets4Life]

As a Winnipeg Jets fan (coming in peace), I want to thank the fans and the Canadiens organisation for your support of Laine. We loved him in Winnipeg. However, there were some behind the scenes issues, that were possibly not understood at the time. It's great that he is happy in Montreal. I hope he goes on to become a 40+ goal scorer for your team. We all saw it in Winnipeg. He is definitely capable of greatness.

 

[Mulletman]

Ok just put down 200 bucks on Laine to score twice against Pittsburgh! Home ice against the team that's let in the most goals so far this season. Don't let me down Montreal!

 

[Scriptor]

Laine's been a very pleasant surprise so far. I'd love nothing more than to see him stay healthy and productive this season and the next, then sign a long term extension with us.

Laine, Caufield, Suzuki and Demidov would give us more talent up front than I've seen in my entire lifetime. We just need our coaching staff to keep molding Slaf into a modern power forward and for management to look for a solution at 2C and we should be in a fairly good spot.

With Laine in top form, Montreal has three legitimate 30+ goal threats in Suzuki, Caufield and Laine, with two 40+ goal threats in Caufield and Laine! Haven't seen that since 1993 -- in a higher goal-scoring era -- when Bellows scored 40, Damphousse 39, Muller 37 and Lebeau 31.

It's unknown whether Slafkovsky and Demidov will be better playmakers than goal scorers in the end, but I see another two surefire 20+ goal scorers.

That matches the five 20+ goal scorers frothy 1993 edition (Leclair gets an honourable mention with his 19 goals scored) and Bergevin already demonstrated that it isn't all that complicated to acquire 20+ goal scorers either through trades, or on the UFA market.

Even discounting the possibility that Roy, Hage, Beck, an eventual 2025 draft pick, or some other prospect becomes another 20+ goal scorer, it wouldn't be all that difficult for Hughes toads another one or two such forwards to further spread out the offense and make the Habs a balanced offensive threat three years or so down the line.

With Suzuki, Demidov, Hutson, Dach and Slafkovsky as solid playmakers, all the goal scorers would be well served.

A return to form for Dach is paramount for Montreal's future success. That or finding another solution at C for the top-6.

Beyond that, the Habs definitely need another top-4 RHD, maybe two, should Reinbacher fail to properly develop, or not properly recover from his current knee injury.

Fowler -- or some other G -- at least developing into a solid platoon option to play alongside Montembeault would round out the team needs towards becoming a contending hockey club.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Sign him asap before he cost too much money.

 

[nippanappa]

Some thoughts from Laine's perspective on the first few games:

• he's stayed healthy - that's the most important thing!
• the shot is still there
• the powerplay setup has been impressive, on previous years Laine has taken more of a playmaker role which has it benefits as well but is more riskier in terms of possession and results in Laine shooting less. In Montreal, Laine is used more as a trigger man which makes more sense imo. Hutson especially has been awesome at hiding the pass to Laine.
• you can see he's still rusty physically which is expected
• Due to that he's slower than usually and can't really drive the play atm and needs very specific spots to succeed with the puck
• Due to slower first steps and weaker than normal board play, his line is losing possession quite often (there are also other factors/players obviously to this)
• Laine back checks fairly well, but his man coverage at the own end is questionable especially when he switches man with others. At wing it's not too critical often though.
• I think the current line / ice time is optimal for him to get into shape, even though the line lacks play driver.

I think we can give him a pass on many things as he was out so long. As a long time fan of his, it's still a bit tough to watch as he's really far away from his best still. But in few months, we should expect him to be better and being productive at 5-on-5 as well.

 

[Mulletman]

7 shots on goal against the jets but no goal, that's not good. Losing against the Jets might be terrible for Laine's future development. This game should've really been a game were the team should've done anything to win.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Laine will have a limited impact on the team. He's a winger and Habs need centers.
I have big question marks bout the system of play. It's a torture to figure out how Habs are entering the offensive zone without offside. How they can keep puck possession and make plays. It's bad, simply very bad. I cn't wait to see the day when Dvorak will be gone. But he will be replaced by who? So Beck will be a dominant 3rd line center? In the NHL level? Weal see.

And who will be our dominant 1rst center? So Suzuki will slip at the natural position as no2 Center. By the logic of a Cup Conterder team.

 

[vayrynen]

• Due to that he's slower than usually and can't really drive the play atm and needs very specific spots to succeed with the puck
• Due to slower first steps and weaker than normal board play, his line is losing possession quite often (there are also other factors/players obviously to this)

These are actually things that will not improve. Laine cannot drive the play as he cannot move with the puck in the offensive zone. He's mostly standing with the puck and tries to pass quickly. Laine also cannot win a puck battle as he seldom uses his body in puck battles or even when trying to protect the puck.

So, he's a very skilled player on certain areas and almost a defective player on the mentioned areas of play. Without these defects he would be a super star. Now he's a player whose line cannot hold the possession in the offensive zone.

 

[nippanappa]

These are actually things that will not improve. Laine cannot drive the play as he cannot move with the puck in the offensive zone. He's mostly standing with the puck and tries to pass quickly. Laine also cannot win a puck battle as he seldom uses his body in puck battles or even when trying to protect the puck.

So, he's a very skilled player on certain areas and almost a defective player on the mentioned areas of play. Without these defects he would be a super star. Now he's a player whose line cannot hold the possession in the offensive zone.

Partly agreed. He has very clear weaknesses in these areas, very likely rest of his career. However, I think he has previously shown to keep the puck for his team better than in these few games. Also, his top speed has previously been good enough to be dangerous when getting puck. So far, imo it's behind his previous years.

 

[Hacketts]

These are actually things that will not improve. Laine cannot drive the play as he cannot move with the puck in the offensive zone. He's mostly standing with the puck and tries to pass quickly. Laine also cannot win a puck battle as he seldom uses his body in puck battles or even when trying to protect the puck.

So, he's a very skilled player on certain areas and almost a defective player on the mentioned areas of play. Without these defects he would be a super star. Now he's a player whose line cannot hold the possession in the offensive zone.

while reading your previous posts, you are biased and have been called out before. He ain't a perfect player, and he's way to rusty to see what a healthy Laine will look like in Montreal. You also don't know how his development will unfold here.

Day & Night
Sun & Moon
Laine & Demidov

 

[elmaco]

These are actually things that will not improve. Laine cannot drive the play as he cannot move with the puck in the offensive zone. He's mostly standing with the puck and tries to pass quickly. Laine also cannot win a puck battle as he seldom uses his body in puck battles or even when trying to protect the puck.

So, he's a very skilled player on certain areas and almost a defective player on the mentioned areas of play. Without these defects he would be a super star. Now he's a player whose line cannot hold the possession in the offensive zone.

He's rusty. Enough of clips of him driving the play and even scoring solo goals. Also it takes time to master a new system, and the most important thing: Laine is not a McDavid/MacK/Barkov tier of player, so it's not a good look to hope for things he isn't capable of.

 

[schwang26]

Some of you are way off base here. That was the best game I’ve seen Laine play as a Hab. Clearly more energy and more able to be engaged. He didn’t score, but 7 shots shows that what I said above is true. The Habs played a winnable game against a top team. No reason at all to bitch.

 

[vayrynen]

Partly agreed. He has very clear weaknesses in these areas, very likely rest of his career. However,

I have to agree that a comment like these will not improve is a bit too harsh. Weaknesses they are for sure.