Player Discussion Patrik Laine: ruining the tank

[sampollock]

Too long, too high a risk with his injury history. I'd do 5 or 6 years max

6 years for 8

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

6 years for 8

He already makes 8.7 we can't realistically give him less than he's currently making can we?

And the advantage to him signing long term in Montreal is that we can offer 8 years and other teams can only offer 7.

 

[BB88]

Laine also nixed a trade to Flyers and another team (trying to remember which one).

Yes, it was pretty perfect storm for Montreal to add him when they did

During the draft and start of free agency he was in the program and that’s when teams spend their cap. Pretty much zero teams had space to add Laine with full cap hit and Columbus owners were determined to trade him at full cap.

 

[Kimota]

With all being said, when do we flip him?

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

With all being said, when do we flip him?

Never. He retires a Hab.

 

[Kimota]

Never. He retires a Hab.

I think she should wait to see if he can score one goal at 5 on 5 first.

 

[morhilane]

He already makes 8.7 we can't realistically give him less than he's currently making can we?

And the advantage to him signing long term in Montreal is that we can offer 8 years and other teams can only offer 7.

Depends what the injury concerns are and what is 5v5 production end up looking like.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

I think she should wait to see if he can score one goal at 5 on 5 first.

That's gonna require a real 2C.

 

[sampollock]

That's gonna require a real 2C.

yes
how about a real centre beside him for 40 games or so

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

Depends what the injury concerns are and what is 5v5 production end up looking like.

We also have to be realistic and look at who is centering him at 5v5. He deserves a real top 6 center.

 

[Don D]

Too long, too high a risk with his injury history. I'd do 5 or 6 years max

At this point, it might not be wise to offer him a multi year contract for big bucks. Agreed that it would be too high a risk!
He is currently signed till 2025-2026. Good to see how he fares next year. Patience, patience!
If he truly likes it in Montreal, he might stay on.

An article on Sportsnet, Aug 20, 2024: While his offensive attributes are noted.
Conversely, his effort on and off the puck can range wildly, and sometimes on the same shift. His late offensive zone exits and lack of attention to detail defensively will, at times, frustrate the Habs' coaching staff and fans alike.
Good thing is that Laine admits he can be better in certain aspects of his game. Great perspective from him.

 

[Kimota]

We also have to be realistic and look at who is centering him at 5v5. He deserves a real top 6 center.

These don't grow on trees, bro.

 

[Marioesque]

These don't grow on trees, bro.

Except in Florida

 

[Sorinth]

He already makes 8.7 we can't realistically give him less than he's currently making can we?

And the advantage to him signing long term in Montreal is that we can offer 8 years and other teams can only offer 7.

He never really lived up to his current 8.7m contract, and it's fairly common for guys to end up with paycuts when they don't live up to a big contract. But Laine is also somewhat in the driver's seat since he can simply take his QO and then become UFA in a year's time if he doesn't like whatever long term deal is being offered.

Now it's worth mentioning players don't care as much about caphit as fans do. They care about the total dollar amount on the contract, they care about the money be front loaded, etc... And given Laine's history there's a good chance he's going to care more about finding a city/team that is the right fit. Molson has shown a willingness to front load deals which helps drive down the caphit, and if we are willing to go with a full (or nearly full) NTC/NMC then that's probably worth more to Laine then it would other players which also would help lower the cap hit. But at the end of the day, we're going to have to wait and see how this year actually plays out before figuring out any long term deal.

 

[japhi27returns]

I’m as excited as the next guy but he lets be real, most players revert to the mean and for Laine that means missing a decent number of games each year. He’s played what 10 this year? Any next contract talks have to come with a lengthy stretch of games played.

 

[Marioesque]

I’m as excited as the next guy but he lets be real, most players revert to the mean and for Laine that means missing a decent number of games each year. He’s played what 10 this year? Any next contract talks have to come with a lengthy stretch of games played.

Injuries aren't linear.

It is way too early, a lot of things can happen that change the equation.

 

[Habby4Life]

The tank will be fine. Jan schedule is brutal and they will solidify the tank by the end of the month.

 

[Benstheman]

Whatever happens, I think we still draft top 5. D is too young and inexperienced.

 

[Bouboumaster]

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

 

[BB88]

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

It’s also much more versatile

Weber was more of full force slap shot and Laine can score on you in every way from every angle

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

With all being said, when do we flip him?

Controversial statement. The Habs haven't had a player of this calibre since Kovalev. Kovalchuk, Toffoli, Monahan, and Radulov briefly joined but didn't have the same impact. Anyways, his injuries and mental breakdowns make him a risky asset. If he continues to play like this, uninjured, the potential is there for the Habs to turn him into quite a haul in 2026. Do you just take a chance and sign him longterm? I would wait until 2026 and see how all this plays out. However, the top six is looking sexy for fall 2025:

Slaf Suz Caufield
Laine xxx Demidov

If only Slaf can wake up and explode. That contract might be the end of HuGo. Go get a competent C Kent in the off season. Dach's got to go.

 

[Kimota]

Controversial statement. The Habs haven't had a player of this calibre since Kovalev. Kovalchuk, Toffoli, Monahan, and Radulov briefly joined but didn't have the same impact. Anyways, his injuries and mental breakdowns make him a risky asset. If he continues to play like this, uninjured, the potential is there for the Habs to turn him into quite a haul in 2026. Do you just take a chance and sign him longterm? I would wait until 2026 and see how all this plays out. However, the top six is looking sexy for fall 2025:

Slaf Suz Caufield
Laine xxx Demidov

If only Slaf can wake up and explode. That contract might be the end of HuGo. Go get a competent C Kent in the off season. Dach's got to go.

That's my thinking as well. Let's not just go into things cause something excites us short-term. Also are we even close to compete even with Laine?

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

Whatever happens, I think we still draft top 5. D is too young and inexperienced.

A skilled over 6 ft C should be the target.

 

[BB88]

That's my thinking as well. Let's not just go into things cause something excites us short-term. Also are we even close to compete even with Laine?

Well I’d say you are far further away from competing without him and would send a terrible message to the players (unless he completely falls off)

Demidov- new C- Laine
Slaf- Suzuki- Caufield

Is a legit top6 with potential for one of the best pp’s in the league

Which would mean they could spend their entire focus elswhere and add the missing pieces on defense and bottom6

Take out Laine for maging beans and it’s a roster full of holes everywhere

Superstar money today is 12-14M, in the next 2-3 years it will be 14-16M. There’s no way Laine can ask for anywhere close to superstar money, you are likely looking at 5-6M less than what superstars will be making. How many better players than Laine are you going to be able to land with similar contract?

& if they just traded him for magic beans they could never cry again on not having an electric player in the lineup

 

[Marioesque]

That's my thinking as well. Let's not just go into things cause something excites us short-term. Also are we even close to compete even with Laine?

No, unless Dach somehow gets a lot better. Or someone replaces him and plays better for the 2nd line.

You could possibly get more out of the first line if Laine was in it, but I don't know how bad the 2nd line would then be. And that's not enough depth to make a playoff run. You could maybe ride a really hot 1st line and 1st PP into playoffs if they were to click really well as they well could, but you need more depth to do damage in playoffs.