The consensus on the Jets board was that after that hit he was less likely to put himself in a position to get hit. He looked like he lost confidence. But, this is just the general eye test of us back then, and it was a while ago. Laine was always prone to keeping his head down, making big slow wide stick handling moves at the blue line, and taking too long to make a pass (though his passing speed and accuracy was excellent). Those are pretty big issues for an offensive star. His recent knee injury is because he put himself in a bad position coming across the blue line.
He’s also had shoulder and hip issues and this may have affected his generational slapshot and one time abilities. He always had an awkward shooting stance (looked like to me anyways), so that could be a reason we stopped seeing him score like that like he did in WPG.
The mental health issues are also in there. I don’t think that Fortnite was a serious contributor but he would not be the first young man to believe he’s invincible and that 3 hours of sleep are enough. I’d point more to depression/anxiety as a factor.
But it may be that only Patty knows for sure. Or maybe some Columbus fans can chime in.
I dont think "that after that hit he was less likely to put himself in a position to get hit. He looked like he lost confidence" because after the hit his number werent affected that much, numbers shown in the reply i made. I know you said eye test but he was still scoring goals the same way if you watched any of the goals he scored after the game he was hit.
Below are the numbers from the reply i made
The hit didnt impact him, before the hit if we include the game he got hit he had 21 goals in 42 games which put him on pace for 41 goals in 82 games and and the rest of the games he played he had 15 goals in 31 games which puts him on pace for 39 goals in 82 games and if we dont include the game he gets hit that gives him 21 goals in 41 games which put him on pace for 42 goals in 82 games and then for the rest of the games he played 15 goals in 31 games which put him on pace for 39 goals in 82 games. The numbers he put up that season 36 goals in 73 games puts him on pace for 40 goals and if we dont include the game he got hit its 36 goals in 72 games which puts him on pace 41 goals in in 82 games, and taking away the game matters because although he played that game he still had 14 minutes left to play were he could have scored one goal or more but he didnt get the chance because he left after the hit and since he didnt get to play the full game im removing it so it doesnt count against him since he didnt get the full game to try and score one goal or more.
So he was on pace to put to up almost the same amount goals before the hit (21 goals 42 games on pace for 41 goals in 82 games thats including the game he got hit, not including the game he got hit 21 goals 41 games on pace for 42 goals in 82 games) , after the hit (15 goals 31 games on pace for 39 goals in 82 games thats including the game he got hit, not including the game he got hit 15 goals 31 games on pace for 39 goals in 82 games), and the pace he was on based off the numbers he did put up during the season (36 goals in 73 games on pace for 40 goals in 82 games including the game he got hit and 36 goals 72 games on pace 41 goals in 82 games not including the game he got hit) so his play afterwards was not impacted by the hit.
Also he put 44 goals in 82 games so he put up about the same amount goals he was on pace to put the last season before the hit (21 goals 42 games on pace for 41 goals in 82 games thats including the game he got hit, not including the game he got hit 21 goals 41 games on pace for 42 goals in 82 games) , after the hit (15 goals 31 games on pace for 39 goals in 82 games thats including the game he got hit, not including the game he got hit 15 goals 31 games on pace for 39 goals in 82 games), and the pace he was on based off the numbers he did put up during the season (36 goals in 73 games on pace for 40 goals in 82 games including the game he got hit and 36 goals 72 games on pace 41 goals in 82 games not including the game he got hit) so the hit didn't impact his play the next season.
(when i say including the game he got hit I mean the games all the games to when he got hit and including that game and then after the hit when i say including the game he got im just saying it so you know which one is which. Then when i say not including the game he got hit i mean every game up till the game he got hit and we take the whole game away he got hit as if he didn't play it, then after the hit when i say including the game he got im just saying it so you know which one is which),
