RW Patrik Laine - Tappara, Liiga (2016 Draft) III

[psycho_dad*]

Yeah laine is great player and very promising and will be top3 come draft day. But some here are having problems admitting when laine is not playing well, like right now.

If you expected him to dominate on that level at that age, it's your expectations that are completely unfounded and unrealistic. He might be playing well, consider the level of competition. If he makes a mistake or two, that is to be expected.

I'm not watching the game because YLE is blocking Canada so I can't comment on his play today.

 

[tinozz]

laine has been one of the best players of team finland today , but i dont know if id consider it a feat since finland has played like ****.

 

[Erikfromfin]

Really didn't expect a 17 yo kid to be able to skate with the best SHL & Liiga can offer, let alone look good.

How does EHT work? How many games are we going to see Laine play with the NT?

1 more for now... finland vs sweden part 2 on saturday

 

[Jussi]

Laine definitely looked like a rookie at the international level at the end. Gotta learn that stuff though.

 

[BusQuets]

Trying to force too many difficult passes. Should try to play a little more simplistic next game. Also needs to be better defensively, because of Laine Sweden scored a goal.

 

[FinPanda]

Yeah, defensive game is weakness for him for sure. Offensively he was good but maybe a bit too fancy.

 

[fr9dd9]

Laine definitely looked like a rookie at the international level at the end. Gotta learn that stuff though.

yeah but someone here posted that interview with laine where he actually stated himself that he is there to gain some experiance mostly and I mean laine has never played against this tough competition so really I expected this, he actually played better then I expected. Im just sad that he didnt got a real chance to shot!

 

[FiLe]

I'd say it was a decent game from Laine. Offensively, he showed flashes of brilliance. Overall, he was rather mediocre, but in this case, that means he was pretty much on par with the rest of them.

Of course, part of the reason he gets an okay mark was because it's such a typical Finnish EHT squad - most of the offensive roles were filled by guys who are more suitable to be grinders. In that kind of environment, the players who can actually make creative plays in the offensive end tend to stand out, even if they are so-so overall.

It's hard to see him breaking the WHC squad if he can't pick it up tomorrow, but in the big picture, a 17-year-old who is plays even like this is something special. A complete piece among the rest, not someone who just tries to hang on.

 

[Jussi]

Trying to force too many difficult passes. Should try to play a little more simplistic next game. Also needs to be better defensively, because of Laine Sweden scored a goal.

Yeah, defensive game is weakness for him for sure. Offensively he was good but maybe a bit too fancy.

For both guys there's no need to overhype or down play their performances today. It was more or less a typical first international game for juniors. Showed some of their strengths and how much they still have to learn.

 

[Ippenator]

Laine definitely looked like a rookie at the international level at the end. Gotta learn that stuff though.

Definitely made some mistakes. At least not very crucial ones. Well ok, maybe one of Sweden's goal was partially his fault, although I would say that defenceman Kalteva was at least as much to blame for that goal. I still think that altogether he made more of good plays than bad ones. To me it was quite much a first game that I expected from such a young prospect. He was in fact making a good effort to help in scoring Finland's second goal, although not any points for him today. Aho got a nice second assist to Finland's second goal. I believe that Laine and Aho will both improve their play in the next game, although their first game was already an acceptable start in my opinion.

 

[tinozz]

Laine definitely looked like a rookie at the international level at the end. Gotta learn that stuff though.

overall he created like 3 real scoring chances and had a halfbreakaway also made some mistakes what is to be expected from a rookie overall he was fine i guess definetly one of the best players from team finland

 

[fr9dd9]

I'd say it was a decent game from Laine. Offensively, he showed flashes of brilliance. Overall, he was rather mediocre, but in this case, that means he was pretty much on par with the rest of them.

Of course, part of the reason he gets an okay mark was because it's such a typical Finnish EHT squad - most of the offensive roles were filled by guys who are more suitable to be grinders. In that kind of environment, the players who can actually make creative plays in the offensive end tend to stand out, even if they are so-so overall.

It's hard to see him breaking the WHC squad if he can't pick it up tomorrow, but in the big picture, a 17-year-old who is plays even like this is something special. A complete piece among the rest, not someone who just tries to hang on.

Agree! btw is it just me or does he seam heavy on the ice? I mean I dont even wanna know what kind of player he can be when he gets the strenth to elite level. The scouts is probably thinking the same thing

 

[BusQuets]

I'd say it was a decent game from Laine. Offensively, he showed flashes of brilliance. Overall, he was rather mediocre, but in this case, that means he was pretty much on par with the rest of them.

Of course, part of the reason he gets an okay mark was because it's such a typical Finnish EHT squad - most of the offensive roles were filled by guys who are more suitable to be grinders. In that kind of environment, the players who can actually make creative plays in the offensive end tend to stand out, even if they are so-so overall.

It's hard to see him breaking the WHC squad if he can't pick it up tomorrow, but in the big picture, a 17-year-old who is plays even like this is something special. A complete piece among the rest, not someone who just tries to hang on.

I don't know. I think Laine still has a very good chance, even if the overall game is lacking at this level his shot is still something that team Finland could certainly use. Wouldn't be surprised if it becomes between laine and Pulkkinen for one spot.

 

[FinPanda]

For both guys there's no need to overhype or down play their performances today. It was more or less a typical first international game for juniors. Showed some of their strengths and how much they still have to learn.

Yeah you're right. I just like to watch him play.

 

[Marre]

I was actually surprised how well he did. Sure, he did make quite a few mistakes and one lead to game winning goal for Sweden. But most of the time he didn't even look that out of the placde defensively and at times he was able to play with his strengths offensively. Tried to be too fancy at times, but honestly I like to see that in Finnish prospect instead of always taking a safe choice.

He of course has lots to learn, but at this point he seems better than I thought he would be.

And I have to say that I really like his attitude. He may have been quite a terror couple years back, but now he seems to be very mature and rather bright young man with nice subtle sense of humour and realistic outlook to his own play.

 

[FinPanda]

And he said after the game that he should have defended better that 3-2 goal situation. It's good thing to hear that he knows what he should do better.

 

[Periwinkle]

He did try to force some cutesy, difficult offensive plays that lead to turnovers - classic rookie stuff- but overall a nice debut. I was sure Finland would not get a final attempt at 6-on-5 but somehow he forced a nice final attempt. Of course defensively he was not alln there but I do remember at least one distinctive, great backcheck at least.

 

[FiLe]

I don't know. I think Laine still has a very good chance, even of the overall game is lacking at this level his shot is still something that team Finland could certainly use. Wouldn't be surprised if it becomes between laine and Pulkkinen for one spot.

If Pulkkinen is available, and it comes between him and Laine for filling one spot, I'd say with rather confident certainty that it'll be a no contest for Pulu at this stage still.

If Pulkkinen is not available... I dunno. Sure, Laine has offensive assets, but given how his defensive game obviously needs work, he'd be quite high-risk high-reward. I wouldn't complain in the slightest if Jalonen chose to take that risk - after all, one of my favorite mantras is that you can get good results with reliable, even guys in the early stages of a tournament, but need breakout potential when the time comes to play for a title.

However, even his offense was not fully there, at least tonight. I could tell that part of it was for trying to pay some mind to two-way play too - be responsible rather than go all out on playing the hero past the blueline.

As you can see, I'm obviously fidgeting on the issue. Because it's as easy to make a case for him as it is to make against.

 

[traffic cone]

Laine has played several games at LW now. So maybe mods/OP should change the thread title a little bit.

I see him as a LW in the future. Or at least LW/RW.

 

[keppel146]

who does laine resemble as a pro--like a perry or benn? I've never really seen him play.

 

[Loffer]

who does laine resemble as a pro--like a perry or benn? I've never really seen him play.

In the final analysis neither.

 

[traffic cone]

who does laine resemble as a pro--like a perry or benn? I've never really seen him play.

Kovalchuk.

 

[HockeyHistorian]

who does laine resemble as a pro--like a perry or benn? I've never really seen him play.

A shoot-first version of Lemieux without the generational skills.

And yes, I brought Lemieux up again. Deal with it HFBoards.

 

[rduck1]

Laine has played several games at LW now. So maybe mods/OP should change the thread title a little bit.

I see him as a LW in the future. Or at least LW/RW.

I think he's played primarily LW this season, and I seem to recall him saying it's his preferred position during the WJC. Wingers are often marked "wrong" though, since they often switch sides based on where they're needed, so it's not that big of a deal.

 

[Stavros]

a shoot-first version of lemieux without the generational skills.

And yes, i brought lemieux up again. Deal with it hfboards.

omg this guy compared laine to lemieux!!! Lol!! Hype is getting out of hands!!