Player Discussion Patrik Laine: wearing a regular practice jersey

[Marioesque]

Nice words from Ehlers

https://x.com/i/web/status/1835770469938844065

 

[kyne]

This is really where you want to set the bar for Laine? Top 5 player in the league? I think you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.

I’d be happy if he’s a consistent 30+ goal scorer that fits into the system, and plays a decent 2-way game. Anything more is gravy…

If the same thing that happened to Kovalev when he arrived in Montreal can happen to Laine, we are in for a treat. He may not score 50 but will it ever be exciting!

 

[Redux91]

Nice words from Ehlers

https://x.com/i/web/status/1835770469938844065

God I've always wanted to sign this guy too
Love hearing the great words about his friend
Laine's gonna thrive wow

 

[nhlfan9191]

I have a feeling even if he isn't the guy that takes us all the way in the end he'll still be remembered fondly

MSL reminds me a little bit of Denis Savard in Chicago. Was a coach the players liked, helped them threw the tough years and helped get the competitive, then the team moved on to someone more experienced when they were truly ready to compete and they won 3 cups.

 

[EveryDay]

MSL reminds me a little bit of Denis Savard in Chicago. Was a coach the players liked, helped them threw the tough years and helped get the competitive, then the team moved on to someone more experienced when they were truly ready to compete and they won 3 cups.

More experienced like Michel the boss Therrien or Alain Vigneault?

 

[Kiekura]

30 goals, 20-30 assists, no injuries (atleast big) and Laine having passion for Hockey and looking happy. That is pretty much i expect and hope for him.

MSL can and i also believe WILL be massive help for Laine.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

MSL reminds me a little bit of Denis Savard in Chicago. Was a coach the players liked, helped them threw the tough years and helped get the competitive, then the team moved on to someone more experienced when they were truly ready to compete and they won 3 cups.

We already went through all experienced french speaking head coaches.

 

[salbutera]

MSL reminds me a little bit of Denis Savard in Chicago. Was a coach the players liked, helped them threw the tough years and helped get the competitive, then the team moved on to someone more experienced when they were truly ready to compete and they won 3 cups.

Savard was nowhere near the student of the game MSL is. I expect “MSL effect” will start kicking in full force this upcoming season, starting with significantly improved PP + PK

Longterm I expect MSL to follow Jacques Lemaire route, grow tired of Mtl media demands, and leave for another org - likely coaching NYR closer to home

 

[Knuckles30]

MSL reminds me a little bit of Denis Savard in Chicago. Was a coach the players liked, helped them threw the tough years and helped get the competitive, then the team moved on to someone more experienced when they were truly ready to compete and they won 3 cups.

I was thinking more of Felipe Alou.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

More experienced like Michel the boss Therrien or Alain Vigneault?

Pascal Vincent is next up in the rotation, followed by Andre Tourigny

 

[SwiftyHab]

I’m more convinced then ever that Laine will bounce back better during his stint here and that we’re in for a real pleasant surprise.

The reason has to do with his mental health state which caused his initial decline and the positive environment he’s in now with the team and the early signs that he’s already enjoying the current situation.

Form all accounts, Laine grew up loving playing the game with his dad who recently passed and with him went some of Laine’s love for the game. Laine also wasn’t surrounded with a positive environment that helped him deal with issues both on and off the ice.

Now, it’s clear that he not only sought his own help but that he’s surrounded by available support staff here in MTL off the ice including therapists that his friend Armia used, and a very encouraging management team.

In terms of rediscovering his love for the game, he’s already alluded to that at the golf tournament presser and in the recent AMA on Reddit, Basu said that MSL will show him new ways to look (and play) the game that will reignite Laine’s curiosity and passion.

Can’t wait to see that play out on the ice as early as tomorrows workout

 

[JianYang]

MSL reminds me a little bit of Denis Savard in Chicago. Was a coach the players liked, helped them threw the tough years and helped get the competitive, then the team moved on to someone more experienced when they were truly ready to compete and they won 3 cups.

I'll always remember Patrik Kane in tears talking to the media when savard got let go.

 

[Benstheman]

Put Pure Laine in a positive situation. Start him on the second line with Dach and XX so he doesn't feel too much pressure to produce. Give him proper PP time. Let him be himself and watch.

This experiment has a 2 years plan. If it works, he is young enough to give him a 4-5 years extension and make him a crucial part of our core going forward.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Savard was nowhere near the student of the game MSL is. I expect “MSL effect” will start kicking in full force this upcoming season, starting with significantly improved PP + PK

Longterm I expect MSL to follow Jacques Lemaire route, grow tired of Mtl media demands, and leave for another org - likely coaching NYR closer to home

Not to derail the thread to much more, but as much as Marty is a great players coach, I think he gets overrated a fair bit by our fanbase because of his likability when it comes to the X’s and O’s of the game. He’s definitely learning, but I don’t see him as a coach that shows exceptional potential either. He’s perfect for what we need now which is all that matters but I don’t see him being the answer when it’s actually time to compete. But maybe I’m off on that.

 

[bcv]

Not to derail the thread to much more, but as much as Marty is a great players coach, I think he gets overrated a fair bit by our fanbase because of his likability when it comes to the X’s and O’s of the game. He’s definitely learning, but I don’t see him as a coach that shows exceptional potential either. He’s perfect for what we need now which is all that matters but I don’t see him being the answer when it’s actually time to compete. But maybe I’m off on that.

Maybe the focus wasn't X's and O's just yet and he focused on player development instead.

They said the team was now in a different phase the rebuild and the expectation is to be better defensively. Perhaps he'll now focus more on X's and O's.

 

[Deebs]

Maybe the focus wasn't X's and O's just yet and he focused on player development instead.

They said the team was now in a different phase the rebuild and the expectation is to be better defensively. Perhaps he'll now focus more on X's and O's.

Structure definitely needs to be a priority because for the better part of two years we've been flying by the seat of our pants. I have no problem with that being the initial plan but if that continues, then it's an issue. We've already heard talk of playing less man to man in our own zone so hopefully there's also an alternative plan/structure put in place offensively as well.

For the most part our team isn't green anymore and management has shown the direction they want to take us. Let's get things in place, start working our system and become a force.

 

[TRG]

Not to derail the thread to much more, but as much as Marty is a great players coach, I think he gets overrated a fair bit by our fanbase because of his likability when it comes to the X’s and O’s of the game. He’s definitely learning, but I don’t see him as a coach that shows exceptional potential either. He’s perfect for what we need now which is all that matters but I don’t see him being the answer when it’s actually time to compete. But maybe I’m off on that.

I keep saying he needs a vet assistant to compensate on the X's and O's, bench management, line matching part. Not all coaches are excellent on all aspects, it's also about building a coaching staff with different strengths.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

What an absolute OGRE , i love it

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Not to derail the thread to much more, but as much as Marty is a great players coach, I think he gets overrated a fair bit by our fanbase because of his likability when it comes to the X’s and O’s of the game. He’s definitely learning, but I don’t see him as a coach that shows exceptional potential either. He’s perfect for what we need now which is all that matters but I don’t see him being the answer when it’s actually time to compete. But maybe I’m off on that.

IMO, you are. Marty's a quick study who is constantly trying to get better and we haven't seen a fully experienced version of him. Judging him by how he's been in his first two seasons is a bit premature.

I disagree with the notion that he's simply here in the interim. HuGo hired him to grow with the team. All great coaches are the actual captains of their team and Marty already fits that role to a T. His crew will go to war for him. If they need someone for better X and O's, they'll simply add someone rather than replace someone the players see as one of their own.

Elite players rarely make good coaches, but I feel MSL is the exception to the rule.

 

[nhlfan9191]

IMO, you are. Marty's a quick study who is constantly trying to get better and we haven't seen a fully experienced version of him. Judging him by how he's been in his first two seasons is a bit premature.

I disagree with the notion that he's simply here in the interim. HuGo hired him to grow with the team. All great coaches are the actual captains of their team and Marty already fits that role to a T. His crew will go to war for him. If they need someone for better X and O's, they'll simply add someone rather than replace someone the players see as one of their own.

Elite players rarely make good coaches, but I feel MSL is the exception to the rule.

But what has he done that qualifies him as an exception of the rule? The team looks like they’re playing glorified pond hockey most nights. Like I said above, I think he’s a great players coach. We see players get attached to bad players coaches all the time. But at some point soon there will be expectations placed on the team and that changes how he will be evaluated. It’s hard giving him potential exceptional status, which a lot of our fans do, before he’s even got the team into playoff contention. That’s all my point was.

 

[26Mats]

MSL reminds me a little bit of Denis Savard in Chicago. Was a coach the players liked, helped them threw the tough years and helped get the competitive, then the team moved on to someone more experienced when they were truly ready to compete and they won 3 cups.

We'll see I guess. MSL seems to me to be a truly good hockey coach. I just don't know what Dennis Savard was like.

A rare breed are very good at more than one thing. Ohtani can steal bases, hit home runs and pitch - and apparently he's elite defensively in the oufield.

Is MSL a hall of fame player and coach? We'll see...

 

[Ippenator]

I initially thought so too. Sure, I've seen Laine play a bunch, but the more I read about his playing style, it seems clear to many that he does not just go to the quiet areas and shoot, he wants to carry to puck and dictate the play.

The quoted video also has a similar take, so playing Laine with Dach who is also fairly puck-dominant, likely won't work unless Marty can get Laine to see things differently.

Personally, I feel if Laine plays with Suzuki, they can feed off each other, as Suzuki also likes to slow the play down at times and is more of a shooting treat, compared to Dach.

I agree that Laine might not after all work the best with a too puck dominant centerman. Still depends on the centers passing ability though. I think the best combo with Laine would be a center with good two way play, excellent hockey IQ and quick and accurate passing skills. Something like Barkov would be ideal, but Suzuki could be great also. Not sure about Dach yet, but I won’t definitely mind if they work great together after all. The other winger for Laine works the best if he can do puck retrieving really well, and has better than average passing skills.

In Laine’s Jets years the best combo with Laine was Scheifele as center and Mathieu Perreault as the other winger. For some reason Maurice didn’t keep that line together very long though. The line was really efficient with points per 60 minutes and also doing very well with their 5 on 5 goal difference. Maybe it was injuries that forced Maurice to make changes, or maybe it was Wheeler and Scheifele, who seemed to love playing together, that forced changes. But anyway the type of combo that I mentioned would really work well with Laine. Probably Suzuki and Slafkovsky would be great with Laine, but might of course work well with some other players as well.

Laine was really excellent when he played together with Barkov in the 2016 WHC tournament. He had just turned 18 and Barkov was also just 21. They made some really spectacular passing plays in that tournament. Here is a clip of Laine’s best plays in that tournament. The first goal especially was something really nice about how Laine can click really well with a high IQ passer.



Laine also won the scoring title of the tournament and was chosen as the MVP of the whole tournament. Finland lost to Canada in the overtime of the final, so Laine had to settle with his only silver medal of that season. He had a truly remarkable season as he won the WJC gold medal (was the best goal scorer in the tournament together with Matthews) and then helped his Liiga team to Liiga championship while being chosen as the MVP of the playoffs.

At those times and even his first two NHL seasons it looked like he could become an absolute elite player, if he would keep developing. Unfortunately his development stalled and he had too much problems with injuries and also with fitting well enough with the teams that he has played with. In my opinion Laine is at his best when he is used right in a way that will let him use his true strengths in an optimal way. For that he needs the right type of linemates in the way that I described before. He is unfortunately a player that can get quite easily frustrated, and when he gets frustrated he gets quite easily off his game. On the other hand if he can use his strengths, he builds his confidence and when his confidence is high, he can be an absolute monster.

He is not probably the easiest player to coach, because he doesn’t work well with all kinds of players or playing styles. But when used well and given a fair opportunity, he could be a real asset for Montreal. So far I have a pretty good feeling that MSL and Laine might work well. I definitely hope so!

 

[lou4gehrig]

I'm surprised the risk adverse crowd in this forum aren't trying to have Laine start in the AHL to reduce pressure and let him rebuild his game....

 

[VT]

I agree that Laine might not after all work the best with a too puck dominant centerman. Still depends on the centers passing ability though. I think the best combo with Laine would be a center with good two way play and excellent hockey IQ and quick and accurate passing skills. Something like Barkov would be ideal, but Suzuki could be great also. Not sure about Dach yet, but I won’t definitely mind if they work great together after all. The other winger for Laine works the best if he can do puck retrieving really well, and has better than average passing skills.

In Laine’s Jets years the best combo with Laine was Scheifele as center and Mathieu Perreault as the other winger. For some reason Maurice didn’t keep that line together very long though. The line was really efficient with points per 60 minutes and also doing very well with their 5 on 5 goal difference. Maybe it was injuries that forced Maurice to make changes, or maybe it was Wheeler and Scheifele, who seemed to love playing together, that forced changes. But anyway the type of combo that I mentioned would really work well woth Laine. Probably Suzuki and Slafkovsky would be great with Laine, but might of course work well woth some other player.

Laine was really excellent when he played together with Barkov in the 2016 WHC tournament. Laine had just turned 18 and Barkov was also just 21. They made some really spectacular passing plays in that tournament. Here is a clip of Laine’s goals in that tournament. The first goal especially was something really nice about how Laine can click really well with a high IQ passer.



Laine also won the scoring title of the tournament and was chosen as the MVP of the whole tournament. Finland lost to Canada in the overtime of the final, so Laine had to settle with his only silver medal of that season. He had a truly remarkable season as he won the WJC gold medal (was the best goal scorer in the tournament together with Matthews) and then helped his Liiga team to Liiga championship while being chosen as the MVP of the playoffs.

At those times and even his first two NHL seasons it looked like he could become an absolute elite player, if he would keep developing. Unfortunately his development stalled and he had too much problems with injuries and also with fitting well enough with the teams that he has played with. In my opinion Laine is at his best when he is used right in a way that will let him use his true strengths in an optimal way. For that he need the right type of linemates in the way that I described before. He is unfortunately a player that can get quite easily frustrated, and when he gets frustrated he gets quite easily off his game. On the other hand if he can use his strengths, he builds his confidence and when his confidence is high, he can be an absolute monster.

He is not probably the easiest player to coach because he doesn’t work well with all kinds of players or playing styles. But when used well and given a fair opportunity, he could be a real asset for Montreal. So far I have a pretty good feeling that MSL and Laine might work well. I definitely hope so!

In Columbus, Laine was the best with Jenner and Chinakhov (he reminds me Oliver Bjorkstrand). Especially Boone, they had like twins. He also played well with Nyquist and Fantilli (but not Texier). Even in the game they played together, he had very good chemistry with Olivier, etc. Neither of them are playmakers.


But most important of all:

1. He must move, move and still one move. He doesn't have explosive muscles, so he must do it.
2. MSL should explain to him not to try to do everything himself, he can pass well under pressure, in small spaces, overhand, the puck is faster than every hockey player.
3. Needs to shoot, has a stick adapted for shooting, let him use it.

 

[Ippenator]

In Columbus, Laine was the best with Jenner and Chinakhov (he reminds me Oliver Bjorkstrand). Especially Boone, they had like twins. He also played well with Nyquist and Fantilli (but not Texier). Even in the game they played together, he had very good chemistry with Olivier, etc. Neither of them are playmakers.


But most important of all:

1. He must move, move and still one move. He doesn't have explosive muscles, so he must do it.
2. MSL should explain to him not to try to do everything himself, he can pass well under pressure, in small spaces, overhand, the puck is faster than every hockey player.
3. Needs to shoot, has a stick adapted for shooting, let him use it.

I don’t claim that Laine has to absolutely have a very good passer as center, but when he has, that will still get the most out of him. As I mentioned centers like Barkov would be pretty ideal. Sebastian Aho worked also really well with Laine in the 2016 WJC tournament. In my opinion Aho and Suzuki are a bit similar players, so I think Laine and Suzuki could work really well too,

In Columbus there wasn’t really any very good passing centers when Laine played there. The best fit with Laine of centers in Columbus was definitely Jenner, but he in fact is a better passer than many might think. Not excellent, but I would say that he is above average at least. And he isn't a puck hog, which type of player hasn’t usually worked well with Laine.

Laine played at some point quite much with Voracek as the other winger and he was a good passer that could occasionally get the best out of Laine. Although I don’t think Laine and Voracek were necessarily the best fit, and would agree with your comment that Nyquist worked pretty well as Laine’s other winger. Laine with Jenner and Nyquist was probably the best combo that I saw with Laine in Columbus,

I have to disagree with you that Laine was a good fit with Chinakhov though. I always wondered how you saw them somehow work so well together. They didn’t even play that much together, and I can’t say that they worked too well naturally. Some lucky bounces made them probably seem better together than they really were.