Player Discussion Patrik Laine: ruining the tank

[InsideLaine]

You should start going to the gym and lifting heavy shit, that will help. And look into your diet. Stop eating sugar and excessive carbohydrates. And if you really want to make some change you'll want to grow a mullet. It's not a coincidence that many of the greatest men in history has had a mullet. Hell even in hockey the top 2 guys on the all time points list had mullets.

You are 100 % right! Thats exactly what I started with, weightlifting, directly after the ADHD-medicine took away the fatigue. And it (lifting weights + running) has helped a lotttt. That together with a diet which you also mentioned. Mind takes a tad longer to find its shape but slowly getting there!

And I have been growing my hair since then too, its not a mullet but I believe it wouldnt do much harm. Just started playing hockey now too for the first time since my teens (20+ years ago), a mullet could give me more respect on the ice!

Mulletman, you are the real deal man, this proves it once again. You are the Laine of these forums. And coming from me thats one of the biggest compliments you can get.

 

[InsideLaine]

I don't think Laine stable enough to go through a deep playoff run. If he did it be a fluke. Playoffs usually are more physical. Refs keep whistle in their pockets more. He seems to go down easier than most players. Because of his shot he's going to be a target. Of big heavy mobile defensemen

I agree, even though Laine really enjoys getting physical, he might get targeted, and a lot. Someone might call me crazy for suggesting this.. but:
- how about using Laine only as a PP-specialist in Playoffs (and in regular Columbus-games) in case he becomes a liability due to targeting (or due to his recovery taking too long)?

PP-specialist and a PP-threat. He is the guy the opponents do NOT want on the ice. So they avoid taking penalties, and we can take advantage of their cautious play. And when they do take a penalty.. Well then its Laine-time! Imagine the roar from the crowd when Laine gets on the ice for the first time. And BOOM he starts to bang it in harder than ever.

 

[japhi27returns]

I would suggest we don’t overthink this. We traded for a guy that will play 3/5 games, that was what we signed up for and here we are. Personally, I think it makes roster composition incredibly difficult and can’t see it working long term for any contending team.

Flip side, excited to see him play again and this team, where we are at now, nbd. And when back his is likely due to play a long stretch of games.

 

[InsideLaine]

I agree, even though Laine really enjoys getting physical, he might get targeted, and a lot. Someone might call me crazy for suggesting this.. but:
- how about using Laine only as a PP-specialist in Playoffs (and in regular Columbus-games) in case he becomes a liability due to targeting (or due to his recovery taking too long)?

PP-specialist and a PP-threat. He is the guy the opponents do NOT want on the ice. So they avoid taking penalties, and we can take advantage of their cautious play. And when they do take a penalty.. Well then its Laine-time! Imagine the roar from the crowd when Laine gets on the ice for the first time. And BOOM he starts to bang it in harder than ever.

If it would work, he could in theory continue playing in the NHL until he is 50+. Just keep his shaft warm and ready to bang them in. He would do it for the league minimum or similar too after he turns 40.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

A smaller Josh Anderson isn't really a good thing.
They do have a few things in common, speed and horrible hockey IQ.
Except Anderson is a bigger body with the same speed that plays physical this year and actually finishes his checks, brings energy, can stand up for his team when needed (Beat Wilson and Trouba this year), been great on the penalty kill.

Though he is definitely overpaid and should be on the contract Newhook is on.

Newhook played with our two best goal scorers for a large period and it still took him nearly half a season to record his first assist. He is an overrated, one dimensional player. For as much hate as Anderson gets, I take him over Newhook. Can not wait for Demidov to come over to bump Newhook from the top 6, hopefully forever. Heineman could do it right now and we'd be better off, but they don't want to split up that line he's on since they've been consistently a menace on the forecheck and spending time in the ozone.

He has a better IQ than Anderson as well as better vision and a better release. They are similar from a speed/intensity standpoint but it would be silly to say that their weaknesses with their hands and creativity are equal as Newhook has the advantage there whereas Josh has the size advantage. Bottom line is these guys can and should be nightmares to play against as bottom sixers.

Josh has simplified his game and is playing to his strengths and when Newhook does the same he will be more productive as well. They both should be forechecking machines who have shots that can beat goalies clean from distance. Newhook has a quicker release so he has more upside as well as better vision even if that is not necessarily a strength.

 

[Lshap]

Disagree. In a low scoring game, there are many factors that can result in an "upset" -- a hot goaltender, officiating, weird bounces of the puck, tiredness due to travel, adrenaline from a home crowd, etc. Does anyone believe that the 1980 US Olympic hockey team was the better team over the Soviets?

Sure, if you zoom in on a single play, there's an occasional lucky bounce. But there are a thousand bounces a game. Tens of thousands of bounces in a playoff series. Once you have that volume of events, luck has been filtered out and the winner reflects the better team for that game, or that series.

Keep in mind, there's not much separating the best and worst teams once you get to the NHL level. Lower teams beat higher-ranked team every day during the season and every year in a playoff round. It's not luck or a fluke – it's the variability of human performance. On that day, during that series, the team that wins was the better team. Is the Presidents Cup winner the best team? No. The Stanley Cup winner is, even though they were only the best team for a couple of months.

 

[nhlfan9191]

I would suggest we don’t overthink this. We traded for a guy that will play 3/5 games, that was what we signed up for and here we are. Personally, I think it makes roster composition incredibly difficult and can’t see it working long term for any contending team.

Flip side, excited to see him play again and this team, where we are at now, nbd. And when back his is likely due to play a long stretch of games.

The problem is we’ll eventually need somebody more reliable. 3/5 games or long stretches of absence isn’t going to work when we’re actually competing assuming he’s still looking to get paid on his next contract.

 

[rahad]

I would suggest we don’t overthink this. We traded for a guy that will play 3/5 games, that was what we signed up for and here we are. Personally, I think it makes roster composition incredibly difficult and can’t see it working long term for any contending team.

Flip side, excited to see him play again and this team, where we are at now, nbd. And when back his is likely due to play a long stretch of games.

Yeah i agreed with you. We got him for free. I will seriously think very hard before offering him a contract. Our top 6 is pretty weak with out him.

 

[Calendal]

how about using Laine only as a PP-specialist in Playoffs (and in regular Columbus-games) in case he becomes a liability due to targeting (or due to his recovery taking too long)?

No. NHL roster cannot take a player sitting on the bench. It definitely cannot take one earning decent money doing that. If he gets targeted, make the other team pay. under regular (season) circumstances all teams understand that they need to play it clean not to have their own stars hunted down. Just don't have him do interviews that make people hunt him.

 

[japhi27returns]

The problem is we’ll eventually need somebody more reliable. 3/5 games or long stretches of absence isn’t going to work when we’re actually competing assuming he’s still looking to get paid on his next contract.

Well yes, and I said as much. Also see close to zero chance he stays with us into another contract. Wouldn’t be surprised if he is gone before this one expires.

Simply no room any any team for a guy that plays intermittently. Which, of course, is why CBJ gave him and his near PPG production away for free.

 

[japhi27returns]

Yeah i agreed with you. We got him for free. I will seriously think very hard before offering him a contract. Our top 6 is pretty weak with out him.

It is today, but we have Demidov coming and a whole lot of salary cap flexibility. Slaf, Demi, Caulfield, Suzuki, Dach. Take Laines 8.7 plus all of our picks and prospects and should be np finding a few more top 6 options. Laine expiring in of itself is a huge win.