Player Discussion Patrik Laine: wearing a regular practice jersey

[Toene]

He has the tools, so if he can pot a few or be a great playmaker then the downside is we get a smidge better, the upside is he improves the team a bunch by moving guys to their proper chair.

The real downside is we get a worse draft pick given our rank at present is another top 5. We still need this as our top prospects that I hear "are amazing" each and every year are proving to be flashes in the pan like usual. Still remember the steal we got in logan M...."bergie will be vindicated for this !" And yet here we are. Hopefully PL is getting the right help he needs to get back to a very good 2nd liner and maybe a decent top liner at some point.

At this point, I think the added value of having young players experience meaningful games offsets the separation between a top 5 pick and and a pick in the teens, for example. Also, gems can be found in that range and even higher, it happens every draft. Caufield was 15th OA. Suzuki 13th IIRC.

Not becoming Buffalo or Detroit is one of the main priorities imo.

 

[ZUKI]

At this point, I think the added value of having young players experience meaningful games offsets the separation between a top 5 pick and and a pick in the teens, for example. Also, gems can be found in that range and even higher, it happens every draft. Caufield was 15th OA. Suzuki 13th IIRC.

Not becoming Buffalo or Detroit is one of the main priorities imo.

i disagree. Not becoming Leafs is the main priorities imo.

 

[WeThreeKings]

 

[the]

Hallelujah!!! There's light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[sampollock]

PL sooner than later

 

[Tuggy]

Back to back Tuesday/Wednesday, with Wednesday being against his former team CBJ.

Wonder if he plays that one or wait till maybe Saturday in New York.

 

[Trabdy2]

It's nice to be getting Laine back soon. His play should give us more interesting things to watch as we dwell deep in the basement this year.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Yeah, he could be ready for Columbus, but hopefully not, I would give him a couple more practices.

Today was his 1st regular practice. He gets two more Thursday & Friday then plays Saturday at NYR.

It's definitely possible he wants to play the Columbus game, but we're there again in December.

Also, with him so close and Roy called up, 2 people would need to come out of the lineup.

What 2? Condotta isn't so easy because we have no extra centers. Heineman at least hits and has a work ethic. Armia? Who else?

 

[417]

Back to back Tuesday/Wednesday, with Wednesday being against his former team CBJ.

Wonder if he plays that one or wait till maybe Saturday in New York.

I think Saturday is the earliest we'll see him.

 

[Trabdy2]

Yeah, he could be ready for Columbus, but hopefully not, I would give him a couple more practices.

Today was his 1st regular practice. He gets two more Thursday & Friday then plays Saturday at NYR.

It's definitely possible he wants to play the Columbus game, but we're there again in December.

Also, with him so close and Roy called up, 2 people would need to come out of the lineup.

What 2? Condotta isn't so easy because we have no extra centers. Heineman at least hits and has a work ethic. Armia? Who else?

I'm guessing it'll be Condotta. With Laine back we'll have Suzuki, Evans and Dvorak at C and I'm thinking one of Dach or Newhook will be given a shot at C with Laine back taking a top 6 wing spot.

 

[Tuggy]

Yeah, he could be ready for Columbus, but hopefully not, I would give him a couple more practices.

Today was his 1st regular practice. He gets two more Thursday & Friday then plays Saturday at NYR.

It's definitely possible he wants to play the Columbus game, but we're there again in December.

Also, with him so close and Roy called up, 2 people would need to come out of the lineup.

What 2? Condotta isn't so easy because we have no extra centers. Heineman at least hits and has a work ethic. Armia? Who else?

Armia 100%. I'd prefer Heineman stays in the lineup. Not sure who gets dropped but I would pick Anderson or Dvorak (I know that won't happen).

 

[Tabarouette]

Hallelujah!!! There's light at the end of the tunnel.

*some career AHLer waiting at the end of the tunnel*

 

[the valiant effort]

An amazing outcome considering what we all assumed when we saw him lying there on the ice. Can’t wait for that first bar down clapper

 

[sampollock]

*some career AHLer waiting at the end of the tunnel*

View attachment 935332

the fig did not mean it though. ya ok TSN Fig TV

 

[zzoo]

I'm really afraid that Laine will follow Dach's path. I'm truly worried.

 

[417]

I'm really afraid that Laine will follow Dach's path. I'm truly worried.

You're afraid that it might take Laine some time before he's truly back not just physically but mentally from a bad knee injury?

That's almost a guarantee.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

the fig did not mean it though. ya ok TSN Fig TV

I find a lot of these injuries/late hits are always tough to call but this one was clear as day dude stuck his leg out.

It may have not been malicious but it was a f***ing idiotic plug move

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

You're afraid that it might take Laine some time before he's truly back not just physically but mentally from a bad knee injury?

That's almost a guarantee.

I agree with the sentiment here 100% but my gut feeling is that Laine won’t run into the same problems.

I’m gonna armchair a bit here but Dach often has the body language of someone who’s depressed tbh. I thought that at least from what I saw in Chicago. I haven’t seen much interviews here.

I think that could heavily play into how he’s dealing with this barrage of injuries. Definitely eff with you especially if you’re already depressed.

Laine on the other hand having dealt (seemingly) with his depression could likely come back more quickly. He could still need some time assuredly but if I had to guess, I think he could bounce back relatively quick

 

[GordonGraham]

Also, with him so close and Roy called up, 2 people would need to come out of the lineup.

What 2? Condotta isn't so easy because we have no extra centers. Heineman at least hits and has a work ethic. Armia? Who else?

Not only out of the line up 2 guys will have to go to the AHL no ? I mean RHP has to come back as well

 

[Tabarouette]

The only difference between Dach and Laine is that Dach is technically a center and has a lot more responsibility, needs to skate a lot more, needs to get involved physically, etc

He's playing on the wing right now and still stinks but still, Laine's gameplan was never that involved. He's always been more of a straight shooter that kinda floats a lot so, the struggles will happen, but they shouldn't be as brutally apparent

 

[Ianturnedbull]

i disagree. Not becoming Leafs is the main priorities imo.

What does that even mean?

 

[Sterling Archer]

It's finally happening!!!!!!

 

[Justsayin]

I just hope the knee is 100% and not a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Team_Spirit]

*some career AHLer waiting at the end of the tunnel*

View attachment 935332

*some paparazzi waiting in the garage*

 

[417]

I agree with the sentiment here 100% but my gut feeling is that Laine won’t run into the same problems.

I’m gonna armchair a bit here but Dach often has the body language of someone who’s depressed tbh. I thought that at least from what I saw in Chicago. I haven’t seen much interviews here.

I think that could heavily play into how he’s dealing with this barrage of injuries. Definitely eff with you especially if you’re already depressed.

Laine on the other hand having dealt (seemingly) with his depression could likely come back more quickly. He could still need some time assuredly but if I had to guess, I think he could bounce back relatively quick

Everyone reacts differently, but just saying, we should expect some adjustment.

If not, great.

The Dach situation was not difficult to see coming, it's unfortunate (and even more unfortunate how many fans have turned on him) but it's part of being an athlete and dealing with injuries.