Value of: Patrik Laine

[majormajor]

CBJ's success this year has absolutely nothing to do with Laine. Their success is very similar to Vegas's success in their inaugural year.

This isn't possible if Laine is on the CBJ. You've got a team of people willing to do the dirty work and forecheck and play detailed team oriented hockey, and set aside their individual concerns. He was always getting in the way of that off in his own world.

As for the comment about stunting team development, that's the difference between the Habs and BJ's. With CBJ, he was asked to be THE guy. The top scorer (along with JG), and they had 0 support beyond those two.

Kind of BS to be honest. Being on a line with Laine in Columbus would have been maddening - he insisted on carrying every puck through traffic, despite not being a great puckhandler. Endless heropuck with one good highlight for every 1000 turnovers. The Jackets had some good players (including Laine) and he always acted like he was the great savior. It didn't matter whether he was playing with the top skilled guys or not, he was doing his own thing.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

laine was genuinely very good in columbus when larsen was the coach. I defended him here for years. I was wrong. he's cooked.

not sure why he looks cooked. could be injuries (major concussion last year, knee injury this year). could be that his heart just isn't in it.

at his best in columbus, he was a puck-dominant perimeter winger on a line with two hard-working two-way forwards (jenner, nyquist) who could make up for his defensive shortcomings. laine's shot threat from distance created passing lanes for him to find those guys for high-danger chances. that was also on a brad larsen team that, uh, did not stress the details.

problem is, to recreate that success, he requires:

1. very specific 5v5 usage
2. very specific types of linemates
3. a very lax team system
4. extensive trust from the coach
5. a power play built around his shot

if there's a similar fit out there, it's not sustainable. you basically need to build an entire team around a guy who at this stage, when healthy, is maybe a productive but frustrating second liner who misses huge swaths of the season.

there were two weeks where he was clapping bombs on the power play while carrying a 30% xGF share and people were saying it was the steal of the century.

between that and the comments he made about his previous team (who went out of their way to support him during his mental health struggles), our fans have more than earned the right to be petty and gloat about this.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

Laine has better things to do them pay hockey. Much better things...

There is nothing wrong physically with him, he just doesn't want to 3xcert any effort.

Last game...he watched Suzuki skate buy with the puck. The ONLY thing that physically moved was his eyeballs. Any second I expect him to bring out a lawn chair, pluck his butt to the top of the circle and just wait for the puck to come to him and take a shot.

The laziest player I've seen in 60 years. I want him gone...

The worst part is next game he will fly around the ice - give max effort. Score 2 goals. Drive play and you’ll love him again. He’ll show up for a few more games after that. Then disappear for 8 games.

Such wild ups and downs. If he could just get consistent he would be a top ten talent in the league.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

This isn't possible if Laine is on the CBJ. You've got a team of people willing to do the dirty work and forecheck and play detailed team oriented hockey, and set aside their individual concerns. He was always getting in the way of that off in his own world.



Kind of BS to be honest. Being on a line with Laine in Columbus would have been maddening - he insisted on carrying every puck through traffic, despite not being a great puckhandler. Endless heropuck with one good highlight for every 1000 turnovers. The Jackets had some good players (including Laine) and he always acted like he was the great savior. It didn't matter whether he was playing with the top skilled guys or not, he was doing his own thing.

Same thing in Wpg. It’s his long term impact to buy in to the system and team structure. If everyone on the ice isn’t committed it breaks down and you don’t see results - then others start cheating.

You are 100% correct IMO. I don’t think it would have been possible for CBJ to do what they are doing with Laine in the line up this year.

Habs were my team when jets left the first time. So I do cheer for them as my secondary team. I am worried about the progress to the teams development if he doesn’t get it together and commit.

Nothing was more frustrating than watching the Jets in the playoffs offs and see him lose every board battle but score 2 ppgs. Ughh!

 

[JKG33]

Last people who should be chirping about Laine are BJ fans. The amount of denial from BJ fans on this board while he wore their jersey was comical.

It's funny because I remember BJs fans not being happy when I said he's shit and has negative value. But I do like seeing more people come to their senses about what Laine really is

I think it will be interesting. I can see him looking good. But for the Habs to get value for him at the next TDL they need all hands on deck, pay off any reporter they can find to write good things about him (LeBrun is always for sale) and duct tape Laine's mouth shut.

That boy is an idiot. He needs that Phil Kessel landing spot. Strong leadership to keep him out of the media and a strong understanding that he Isn't the man on the team so FIFO (Fit In or F Off). Unfortunately he has cosen to F Off more than Fit In to date.

He needs the EK in SJ treatment. Bend over backwards to the detriment of the team to let him pad his stats, and hope there's a GM dumb enough to take him

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

It's funny because I remember BJs fans not being happy when I said he's shit and has negative value. But I do like seeing more people come to their senses about what Laine really is

He is an extremely talented player that could be an elite scorer but lacks commitment, drive, focus and buy in.

I think the only person getting in his way is himself.

 

[JKG33]

I'd personally prefer the shorter, bigger contract as the Habs might need the cap space in 26-27.

We're about sure we don't really need it in 25-26, so let's put the money burden on that season...

If I were the Habs that's what I'd be thinking.

I'd go as far as parking his ass in the AHL until that contract is up. Not a guy I'd want on my NHL team. Best case he pouts and agrees to an early contract termination

 

[GreatSaveEssensa]

How about the part where he shit talks the team in the media after his departure?

Did he ever do that to Winnipeg? I don't think so.

 

[Albatros]

If anything, he's been very muted with barely any media availability.

 

[Habsrule]

What people tend to forget is that he is a goal scorer who is very streaky. Many goal scorers are.

He is currently in a slump but watch him score 5 goals in his next 5 games and then everyone will be talking about how great he is again and what a steal of a trade.

You have to take the bad with the good with goal scorers.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

What people tend to forget is that he is a goal scorer who is very streaky. Many goal scorers are.

He is currently in a slump but watch him score 5 goals in his next 5 games and then everyone will be talking about how great he is again and what a steal of a trade.

if that happens, people might be talking about that stuff, but… they'd be wrong. the only way that trade turns into a steal for montreal is if the CBJ second turns into the next sebastian aho.

laine has played 320 minutes of 5v5 hockey this year, and has just five points (3 primary) in that time, to go along with an abysmal 38% xGF share.

his 5v5 p/60 is under 1 for the first time in his career. even last year, when he was brutally bad, it was at 1.17. he was awesome at even strength the two years before that (2.24 and 2.53 p/60).

he's fun on the power play but he's an AHL level player at even strength, and has another year left at an $8.7m cap hit. he's one of the most toxic assets in hockey.

 

[Gaud]

Yep, but the difference is Laine isn't/wasn't supposed to be part of the real solution in MTL, we got paid to get him.

He was a guess, a low risk/high reward kind of deal...

And next year, nobody really expect the Habs to be contenders, and the team has no cap problem anyway, so why should they pay to get rid of him?

The worst case scenario is he stays healthy (which, probability speaking, probably won't happen) and plays like shit.
They'll then send him home for the rest of the season/his contract..

No big deal...

Best case scenario, he stays healthy and play relatively well (according to his standards).
Habs then trade him at the TD for whatever they can get ..

I really don't see, in Habs situation, what's the incentive to pay in order to get rid of him...

I have always questioned Laine's engagement, and wasn't thrilled to see him come to Mtl. I figured some of that had to do with off ice issues (gaming?) or just a mentality/confidence problem on his part.

The Habs are rebuilding and trying to install a culture of meritocracy where hard work is rewarded. Consequently, Laine is getting less time. When he isn't scoring, he should do SOMETHING. It's not the case, so he gets less time.

However, his status as a talented player puts him in the spotlight in the lockerroom and off the ice. Comments about the blue jackets having a losing mentality could fire them up and hurt your team. Telling Mtl media he needs to work harder but using the 4 nations interview to complain about ice time and the quality of his line mates. STOP BLAMING OTHERS FOR YOUR LACK OF SUCCESS.

Anyways, I was questioning about his involvement, but now im concerned about him being a poison/distraction for the locker room. That is my incentive to pay to get rid of him.

 

[Whileee]

Did he ever do that to Winnipeg? I don't think so.

The objectional aspect of Laine's public commentary in Winnipeg is when he complained about having to play on a line with Bryan Little. That rankled a number of Jets' players (I would imagine), along with fans and media. Little was the epitome of class about it, as usual.

 

[DFC]

Is it possible to get him down to 25%?

 

[LOFIN]

Why exactly do the Canadiens need to get rid of him?

 

[cbjthrowaway]

Is it possible to get him down to 25%?

it would be extremely likely that the middleman team retaining the extra 25% ($2.2m AAV) would get more value out of that trade (4th or 5th round pick) than the team acquiring laine would get, lol

 

[bud12]

Hutson changed the speed of the Habs’ rebuild. That’s why (imo) they will pay the first to move Laine and replace MSL.
We will see what happens over the summer. But I think both of these will occur.

The habs definitely won't pay a first to get ride of Laine and they will not replace MSL. If he's not behind the bench next year, it will be by his own decision

 

[DFC]

it would be extremely likely that the middleman team retaining the extra 25% ($2.2m AAV) would get more value out of that trade (4th or 5th round pick) than the team acquiring laine would get, lol

Agreed. But at 2.2m, a team could legit bring him in as a pp specialist. As a TB fan, I wouldn't mind him in Stamkos's old spot, and we could protect him 5v5. Still not sure it's possible to make the move, but the value would be there then. Kucherov could get him goals.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Why exactly do the Canadiens need to get rid of him?

He’s really, really bad

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Wasn't it like a month ago Habs fans were shouting from the rooftops how great of a pickup he was?

 

[LOFIN]

He’s really, really bad

Ok. That didn't answer my question. Why do the Canadiens need to get rid of him?

 

[Bruce Granville]

He’s really, really bad

Not like all the other skaters…who all participate in the 4 nations.