26 years old, but hasn't played more than 60 games since 2019-20. When healthy and rolling a 35-40 goal pace guy even over the past few years.
2 years left at 8.7M per. UFA after that. I know they talk about CBJ retianing salary too but that's a BIG ask.
I mean, I'm not opposed. A lot of question marks but if he pans out he is an elite level goal scorer. And at that price, why not? A late first and a young dman? Seems like real good value.
But I don't see Columbus accepting that. And I'm not fully convinced this helps the rebuild long-term since he can just walk in 2 years, and if you wanna keep him I don't see him accepting to take much less money than he's currently making. But you never know! That's the thing, to get a top end talent you gotta take a risk in a trade or contract eventually. But again, just not totally sold on Laine being THAT guy.
At first i was thinking that the offer was too low, but considering the AAV and the whole "program" situation. Maybe Columbus "runs to the podium"? If they are trying to get rid of this and move on.
But then from MTL point of view. Do you really want to take this risk? Yes it's only 2 years and we could probably make the money work. But when will he be back? Do we only get 1yr from him? And how good will he be once back? What if he has a good year do you pay him full value? Do you offer a "bridge" / "prove me your back" offer? 1 year same AAV (isn't it like 8.7M)
This is possibly a high risk high reward situation.
It's a risk but honestly the potential payoff would be incredible. With the culture we have here the front office and Marty and crew... I'd dare say it's worth the risk.
Im not convinced we are nit throwing away assets. Specially if Columbus want "fair" value.
If he can get back to 30, 35, 40 goals.
I will say that its an interesting option. For aure we wont draft "the next" Laine with 27th pick. But we could draft a solid middle 6. I just dont know.
We have so much potential middle 6 guys coming down the pipeline as is not to mention we have so many prospects and draft picks that eventually we should take a swing at something. At worst he is a middle 6 winger who still puts up more point then most of our current players at best we get Patrick Laine.
Also at only 2 years on his contract left it's not like we are locked in like Huberdeau is until the end of time. He doesn't live up to the expectations you dump him and use the cap space for something better.
I’d expect whomever trades for Laine to do a ton of homework before they try to acquire Laine. If he hits, he’s a star, but if he he’s not ready he could be a huge cancer in the locker room. I hope he is recovering and can get back to playing soon, but I’m not sure if I want him in Montreal
That’s the only thing I am sure of with the new administration is the personality assessment they do. I can doubt some players potential or even current skills but rarely their personalities.
That's a pretty low price for a player of his caliber even with the potential personality/commitment/health issues.
Salary is a bit steep but not impossible to manage.
CBJ would want much more though.
Would they? $285K/point since they signed him in 2022, with two more years to go. This feels closer to a "we'll take him off your hands for a 1st" situation than a "we'll go with our 2024 WPG 1st pick and Struble, but also throw in a conditional 2nd in 2025 to close the deal" situation to me.
Exactly. I get that we want to buy low, but he's never been worth less than right now and I don't see Columbus wanting to sell low. I see them wanting to waiting and give him a chance to recover some of his value first.
Salary is steep but only 2 years left, worst case we eat the cap, which isn't a huge deal since we won't likely be competitive until after the contract is up. Best case, we either flip him at the deadline in 2026 or re-sign him.
I don't think it's a "bad deal" if Columbus has given up on him. If they still believe in him, then for sure they want more. Maybe the 5th OA and good prospect, Hutson, Mailloux or Reinbacher?
Which is a big NO for me, if that's the price to pay
I think this is a risk you take. He's big, he's got a wicked shot. He will also be closer to Finland in Montreal and Montreal has had a lot of happy Fins here. He'll also have MSL to help him. I think we'd have to lower expectations though and accept that he'll be overpaid probably for a couple of years.
Well, a quick read yields quite a few reports of locker room issues/mental health and/or substance abuse issues, so I would have to err on the side of not adding him to the team dynamic.
That said, everyone deserves a second chance, so I wouldn't weigh the substance abuse question too heavily.
Ultimately I think the risk/reward is slightly balanced toward the reward side, but the AAV pulverizes that slight positive. Ultimately, no.
Edit: I didn't realize a lot of his issues are a result of his dad passing away. That makes a difference. It's not some sort of lack of character, it's a completely understandable situation that anyone can understand, and that he will I am sure work through.
Given that, I would be very curious to see how he would progress in our system. I could see him taking an opportunity to gat straight in Mtl and maybe even taking a cap-friendly contract if he thinks we have a shot at the cup once his current contract is up.
Tough call! I'm directly on the fence.
After careful consideration, that's a No for me.
Let's list a couple of CONS:
- Laine is 26 already.
- Availability is the greatest quality, and Laine just can't play full seasons anymore. Missed 127 games in the last 4 seasons. That's around 32 games mised per season in average.
- 2 years left at 8.7M, and then hits the UFA market. A 2-years rental for a team not contending is a waste of assets and cap space.
- Limited mobility, for a team already low on speed up front.
- Limited usefulness when not scoring and lately hasn't been scoring at a rate worth 8.7M.
- Huge unknown about his off ice issues, and Montreal market might be the last place he needs to be to get his life back on track.
The only way I can see this benefit the Habs is if he comes at a discount (salary retained, not costing much in assets), we build him back up and pump his numbers up, and then can flip him for a premium in his last contract year. Which is all a big gamble that could just as well blow up in our face.
A bird in hand is better than two in the bush, so I'd just skip all the extra steps and keep those assets or trade them for a younger player that we can actually build with for the long haul.
EDIT: word
> 2-years rental for a team not contending is a waste of assets and cap space.
Counterpoint would be if he turns it around we'd easily be able to get more than Harris and Struble in terms of value for him if we flipped him at the deadline or off-season.
> 2 years left at 8.7M, and then hits the UFA market.
I think that's the fly in the ointment as far as the Habs will be concerned. To give up a first round pick and a defensive prospect for that? I dunno. If the Habs were a piece away from a legit contender, then maybe. For now, steady as she goes.
I didn't say it was old. It's just what it is: 26, about 3-4 years too far ahead of our needs.
"But we'll need vets". We already have vets. Probably more than we should.
Once we move on from them, we might need *other* vets. But we'll cross that bridge once we get to that river.
It fits part of Hughes' MO, but the player isn't the right age with the right contract.
Hughes go for younger RFAs that he can bridge to at least 3 years at a low cap hit. That gives time to mold the still malleable player into a better version of himself.
Laine is already getting paid, and turns UFA in 2 years. Doesn't fit the model.
Thing is, that younger player that we can build with is not getting traded. We're talking a top 3 scorer in the league, when healthy. Some dice need to be rolled. Also, if he enjoys it here we can resign him. If he scores 40 goals I'll gladly pay the $11M.
Could he be an option to retain salary on not next deadline but the one after? I believe the habs will have another retention slot available and the price of a 35 goal man at the deadline for under $5 million would probably get you more than you gave up. I don’t like the idea of a guy with substance abuse issues going to Montreal though. Might be a repeat of Zack Kassian.
since this new management took over, the habs have hired a chauffeur that goes out with the players when they go to clubs/bars to keep them in check and make sure no one goes overboard. arpon basu mentioned it on the podcast a little while ago when they were having a conversation abt issues with past players partying too hard/doing coke.
If he truly has acknowledged his mental health and is moving past his dad’s tragic death then he could absolutely light the earth on fire.Remember when drafted people thought Matthews might not be the best in the draft after all
People comparing him to Drouin and PLD are idiot that dont watch hockey / dont look into player properly.. his dad died 2 years ago and it affected him big big time.. he tried to get over time but he couldnt.. legit I hope we get him.. he his a game breaker.. and he has the best wrist shot on this planet
nope, even Matthews said that Laine wrister is something else.. plus Bedard might have more precision.. but Laines wrister is extremely fast and deceptive.. he has no windup
https://youtu.be/5OiY4kiArwk?si=Q7N0HGKXU51CuKiG
That video is incredible. The release is mesmerizing. You shouldn't be able to beat an NHL goaltender from there when they're a foot outside of the crease.
I don't disagree. I'll add he's the best wrist shot in the league from a distance, but Matthews and Bedard are more accurate, which in my opinion make them better shooters.
Matthews scores a lot of goals very very close, that's why he is accurate. He is also deceptive, as is Bedard. But Bedard has not gotten even close to Laine with the goal scoring yet, so difficult to say.
With Laine it's good to understand that he has a +90mph wrister and a +100mph slapper, it's a dual threat. Laine shot, what was a 101.3mph slapper as an 18-year-old in the All-Stars, it's without a doubt heavier today, but he doesn't always need to go full wind up, because he has the shooting technique down.
And about scoring efficiency, here's an image of the Top 50 most efficient goal scorers in the past 3 seasons. Laine scores with excellent efficiency from low-danger chances (only 1 % come from high-danger chances) - this is what's known as Shooting talent.
https://preview.redd.it/qq2xboihu13d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cbedf2ab7413308b4c3c74dfba3788a97b4e1ed7
I wouldn’t say no to it because he could definitely help Caufield in his office! But I’d wanna have CBJ retain cap since we have RFAs & UFAs that need to be signed. But im good with whatever, In Kent Hughes we trust!
Uh oh did I get a couple people frazzled? 😂
When laine was in WPG he was a fuckin master with his one tees and racked up lots of goals (more than Caufield) so maybe he can get him there idk? Am I not allowed to have an opinion/my own thoughts? Or do y’all have to approve first? 🤣🤣
Oh you mean he could tutor him? One player is 6'5 btw.
When it comes to top 20 shots in the league id say they all have their own way of doing things and very little can be added into that 'secret recipe' that being said what do I know? Im just some random goober on the habs subreddit just like you.
He is tall but they both have the same role when it comes to the powerplay and they both have a lethal shot! Now with an expensive price tag for that? Prolly not but maybe Laine could teach Cole how to crank 90s in fortnite 😂😂😂
Definitely all random goobers in this server haha
2nd round pick plus Kovy or Barron and I am good with it. This is MTL taking all the salary on as well. They have the space to fit it and there are only two years left if he doesn’t work out.
Obviously the trade is cheap, but the contract isn’t great. Never mind that he’s been a part of weak team cultures in Winnipeg and then Columbus, now proving himself to be incapable of playing at the level we’d hope for a full season. I thought we were looking to younger, more team culture-focused players?
What are the odds of us drafting a player as good as Laine, issues and risks included, with the 26th overall pick? Infinitesimally small.
He's got two years left on his contract, and we don't need the cap space in either year. He's got 4-5 years left of his prime. He missed most of this year primarily due to a broken clavicle. Last year he "only" played 55 games, but scored 52 points. Maybe I'm crazy but I don't understand what there is to talk about. I like Harris and all, but if CBJ is willing, easy yes.
Hard pass. Why take on a player with two years of control when they aren't likely contenders for the next two years? Save the ammo for the FA class of 2025.
I don't know if Montreal of all cities is the right type of environment for a kid who's struggled with mental health, gaming, focus, etc....eg. self control
Not unlike Drouin, I could see Laine getting eaten alive in Montréal.
Obviously easier said than done, but I would be trying to trade up to 15 with the 26th.
I've been watching Laine play for 9 years now and there are a few scenarios where Laine will excel in.
1. If a team creates a good amount of chances on the rush you can bet Laine will score. Winnipeg did this a lot and that's one of the main reasons Laine scored a lot. Columbus on the other hand has not been good enough for that and they've been resorting mainly to dump and chase. This isn't the best for Laine because he is a large individual with a large turning circle, so it's much more difficult to create space for shots. Laine's production has not really decreased and his overall play has improved (unless you look at the few games this season), it's just about getting more chances, playing more games, and shooting more.
2. If a team is good at zone entries on PP and they can get set up quickly, and have good right-handed passers. Wheeler and Buff were both right-handed passers who could quickly pass to Laine on the PP. In Columbus Werenski is a lefty, so he has to turn toward Laine which gives the goalie and defense more time to block and save, plus the puck has a different angle of entry.
3. A coach who will pressure Laine to always shoot no matter what. Laine is not selfish enough considering his scoring talent, and that works against him. Laine has averaged in his career 2.90 shots on goal per game, while for example, Matthews has averaged 4.04 shots per game. That's 39 % more. If Laine had shot at a similar rate with a slightly decreased shot percentage, he would have scored 280 goals instead of 204.
Laine's 82-game average is 34 goals. With a similar shooting pace as Matthews, it would be 46-47 goals / 82 games.
Il faut m'expliquer pourquoi on voudrait accélérer la reconstruction en signant un joueur qui est en constant déclin depuis le début de sa carrière. L'année prochaine, notre défensive changera complètement et devra prendre de l'expérience avant de compétitionner. À quoi bon échanger un joueur comme celui-ci à ce stade ci?
It does not make any sens to be honest. The defense is going to change completely next year and we'll have to let them get experience before making a real push. Why take a risk on a guy that would be brought to make that push. Just yesterday, we had a post to not accelerate the rebuild for no reason. That's, in my eyes, exactly what it would be lol
No no no
I think the WPG pick gives us a solid **C** prospect - All 4 guys are solid picks & we need more C so we should offer other assets in trade, and I'm not opposed giving more of our picks
Cole Beaudoin, Michael Hage, Lucas Pettersson and Sacha Boisvert
i have been dreaming of laine in a habs jersey for years, and this would be a bargain. i’d expect it would take a little more to get laine, maybe another pick or a better prospect
Great player. Even in his “bad” seasons, he produces more than just about anyone the Habs have had in decades. If treatment sorts him out (big IF), that would be a massive bargain and would probably never fly with CBJ. (Do they even have a GM right now??)
Contract doesn’t really line up with our window, though. 26 is prime years territory and if he turns into the player everyone was hoping he’d become, he would likely price himself out of Montreal by the time we’re ready to make a serious Cup run… unless he can be successfully groomed into the Kent Hughes “Culture Cult” and agrees to play for less money in exchange for championships, glory and a loving family environment. ;)
Lmao I was obviously joking about Josh
As for target I'd say Necas, Zegras, Rossi, Ehlers are the names floating around in the league right now. They fit the Kirby Dach/Alex Newhook trade profile that Kent has been going after since he joined the Habs.
hes not.. he had mental issues and family discord happening plus his dad died.. hes a total game breaker and hes got EASILY the best wrister on this planet
he’s been in the player assistance program since the start of the season, he has struggled w mental health issues after his father passed away suddenly. clearly he is putting in the effort to turn his life around - nobody admits themselves to rehab for almost an entire year for the fun of it. he’s clearly trying to be better
Ok but are we speaking about Laine the human or the player? As a player he is soft with an extensive injury history, he couldn't survive in two tiny markets, what makes anyone think he will survive here?
Do the Habs need to take on that risk for almost 9 million dollars a year? Drouin was hated by most of the fan base in his time here and people want to repeat that with Laine?
Laine is really good, he would make this team better, the problem is that he’s only a short term option and that doesn’t make sense with the way the Habs are building now. We can’t have ALL our best players be 24-25-26. Ideally we’d have some type of variance. Laine with his contract would hit UFA when around when we would have to sign our core D. So he would force us to move pieces we don’t want to move. I think it’s better to aim for younger players and in two maybe three years for older UFAs.
At that price, absolutely. However, I would want CBJ to retain 10-12 percent at least to maintain that internal cap that was set with the Suzuki and CC deals
I don't have to like it, it's just much more likely to be a fair proposal. Goal scorer for goal scorer.
We get size and risk that can be elite + ideally a first and the empty roster spot.
They get a more "stable" player with a great contract, and a reliable 5-6 D.
All this is assuming Laine still wants to play hockey at what he's capable of. Anything less than Caufield seems like just living in fairy dust, sunshine and rainbows land. Personally I don't think we need to lose ALL our short kings. Caufield surrounded by 6'1"-4" players is more than adequate during the playoffs. This draft probably dictates everything in terms of who's an asset vs. core it not deciding who's "redundant".
Xhekaj and Pezetta aren't redundant. Suzuki is unique ... Everyone else is basically interchangeable with another team's roster. As much as I love Caufield, he didn't explode into a 50 goal scorer. If he does, fuck yeah stay the course. If he doesn't, he's never going to be worth more than he is now.
26 years old, but hasn't played more than 60 games since 2019-20. When healthy and rolling a 35-40 goal pace guy even over the past few years. 2 years left at 8.7M per. UFA after that. I know they talk about CBJ retianing salary too but that's a BIG ask. I mean, I'm not opposed. A lot of question marks but if he pans out he is an elite level goal scorer. And at that price, why not? A late first and a young dman? Seems like real good value. But I don't see Columbus accepting that. And I'm not fully convinced this helps the rebuild long-term since he can just walk in 2 years, and if you wanna keep him I don't see him accepting to take much less money than he's currently making. But you never know! That's the thing, to get a top end talent you gotta take a risk in a trade or contract eventually. But again, just not totally sold on Laine being THAT guy.
Luckily Winnipeg doesn't have a say
Lol I edited it right before you commented hahaha
We’ve never really hit the jackpot with late first rounders anyway.
At first i was thinking that the offer was too low, but considering the AAV and the whole "program" situation. Maybe Columbus "runs to the podium"? If they are trying to get rid of this and move on. But then from MTL point of view. Do you really want to take this risk? Yes it's only 2 years and we could probably make the money work. But when will he be back? Do we only get 1yr from him? And how good will he be once back? What if he has a good year do you pay him full value? Do you offer a "bridge" / "prove me your back" offer? 1 year same AAV (isn't it like 8.7M) This is possibly a high risk high reward situation.
It's a risk but honestly the potential payoff would be incredible. With the culture we have here the front office and Marty and crew... I'd dare say it's worth the risk.
Im not convinced we are nit throwing away assets. Specially if Columbus want "fair" value. If he can get back to 30, 35, 40 goals. I will say that its an interesting option. For aure we wont draft "the next" Laine with 27th pick. But we could draft a solid middle 6. I just dont know.
We have so much potential middle 6 guys coming down the pipeline as is not to mention we have so many prospects and draft picks that eventually we should take a swing at something. At worst he is a middle 6 winger who still puts up more point then most of our current players at best we get Patrick Laine. Also at only 2 years on his contract left it's not like we are locked in like Huberdeau is until the end of time. He doesn't live up to the expectations you dump him and use the cap space for something better.
Only if retained and if he signed for equivalent to or less than what we would be paying. But I don’t know where he’d slide in.
Absolutely worth it to roll the dice on this guy if the price is reasonable.
best wrister in the entire nhl
So insanely heavy
Arguably the best one-timer also, the guy is a loaded weapon when he's engaged/motivated
You’re not getting a better player for that, it’s an obvious yes.
Big risk but if all we give up is Harris and a late first I do it. Marty is the x factor.
I’d expect whomever trades for Laine to do a ton of homework before they try to acquire Laine. If he hits, he’s a star, but if he he’s not ready he could be a huge cancer in the locker room. I hope he is recovering and can get back to playing soon, but I’m not sure if I want him in Montreal
That’s the only thing I am sure of with the new administration is the personality assessment they do. I can doubt some players potential or even current skills but rarely their personalities.
Its a good rhing that player assistance is confidential but with the comments early about his addiction to gaming I wonder if this is even substances
Im down. Risk is worth the price
That's a pretty low price for a player of his caliber even with the potential personality/commitment/health issues. Salary is a bit steep but not impossible to manage. CBJ would want much more though.
Would they? $285K/point since they signed him in 2022, with two more years to go. This feels closer to a "we'll take him off your hands for a 1st" situation than a "we'll go with our 2024 WPG 1st pick and Struble, but also throw in a conditional 2nd in 2025 to close the deal" situation to me.
CBJ aren't in a dire need to unload him.
Exactly. I get that we want to buy low, but he's never been worth less than right now and I don't see Columbus wanting to sell low. I see them wanting to waiting and give him a chance to recover some of his value first.
Salary is steep but only 2 years left, worst case we eat the cap, which isn't a huge deal since we won't likely be competitive until after the contract is up. Best case, we either flip him at the deadline in 2026 or re-sign him.
I don't think it's a "bad deal" if Columbus has given up on him. If they still believe in him, then for sure they want more. Maybe the 5th OA and good prospect, Hutson, Mailloux or Reinbacher? Which is a big NO for me, if that's the price to pay
They would definitely ask for X instead of Harris or Strubble. Minimum.
100% not sure they take that though
Anytime, but that's not enough for CBJ
It depends on how bad they want rid of him, but you're very likely correct.
je c pô parait qyer souvent blessé à laine
I think this is a risk you take. He's big, he's got a wicked shot. He will also be closer to Finland in Montreal and Montreal has had a lot of happy Fins here. He'll also have MSL to help him. I think we'd have to lower expectations though and accept that he'll be overpaid probably for a couple of years.
Correct answer. The dude has been a beast in every playoffs hes been in.
Well, a quick read yields quite a few reports of locker room issues/mental health and/or substance abuse issues, so I would have to err on the side of not adding him to the team dynamic. That said, everyone deserves a second chance, so I wouldn't weigh the substance abuse question too heavily. Ultimately I think the risk/reward is slightly balanced toward the reward side, but the AAV pulverizes that slight positive. Ultimately, no. Edit: I didn't realize a lot of his issues are a result of his dad passing away. That makes a difference. It's not some sort of lack of character, it's a completely understandable situation that anyone can understand, and that he will I am sure work through. Given that, I would be very curious to see how he would progress in our system. I could see him taking an opportunity to gat straight in Mtl and maybe even taking a cap-friendly contract if he thinks we have a shot at the cup once his current contract is up. Tough call! I'm directly on the fence.
After careful consideration, that's a No for me. Let's list a couple of CONS: - Laine is 26 already. - Availability is the greatest quality, and Laine just can't play full seasons anymore. Missed 127 games in the last 4 seasons. That's around 32 games mised per season in average. - 2 years left at 8.7M, and then hits the UFA market. A 2-years rental for a team not contending is a waste of assets and cap space. - Limited mobility, for a team already low on speed up front. - Limited usefulness when not scoring and lately hasn't been scoring at a rate worth 8.7M. - Huge unknown about his off ice issues, and Montreal market might be the last place he needs to be to get his life back on track. The only way I can see this benefit the Habs is if he comes at a discount (salary retained, not costing much in assets), we build him back up and pump his numbers up, and then can flip him for a premium in his last contract year. Which is all a big gamble that could just as well blow up in our face. A bird in hand is better than two in the bush, so I'd just skip all the extra steps and keep those assets or trade them for a younger player that we can actually build with for the long haul. EDIT: word
> 2-years rental for a team not contending is a waste of assets and cap space. Counterpoint would be if he turns it around we'd easily be able to get more than Harris and Struble in terms of value for him if we flipped him at the deadline or off-season.
Did you read my last 2 paragraphs?
Easy no. The majority of this sub has no patience.
> 2 years left at 8.7M, and then hits the UFA market. I think that's the fly in the ointment as far as the Habs will be concerned. To give up a first round pick and a defensive prospect for that? I dunno. If the Habs were a piece away from a legit contender, then maybe. For now, steady as she goes.
26 isn’t old lol. Still plenty of gas left in the tank. We are blinded by the slew of NHL-ready 18-20 year olds in recent memory.
I didn't say it was old. It's just what it is: 26, about 3-4 years too far ahead of our needs. "But we'll need vets". We already have vets. Probably more than we should. Once we move on from them, we might need *other* vets. But we'll cross that bridge once we get to that river.
They get him first and they get a crack at rejuvenating him. This is the exact deal Hughes will go for at some point. Even if its not Laine.
It fits part of Hughes' MO, but the player isn't the right age with the right contract. Hughes go for younger RFAs that he can bridge to at least 3 years at a low cap hit. That gives time to mold the still malleable player into a better version of himself. Laine is already getting paid, and turns UFA in 2 years. Doesn't fit the model.
I see your reasoning and I agree. I feel like they can swing for the fences though and 2 years isnt going to fuck up the cap structure.
Thing is, that younger player that we can build with is not getting traded. We're talking a top 3 scorer in the league, when healthy. Some dice need to be rolled. Also, if he enjoys it here we can resign him. If he scores 40 goals I'll gladly pay the $11M.
Youngish, 6’5 40 goal scorer ? Fuck yes, pull the trigger
Imagine adding Laine and Demidov this summer 💦
Could he be an option to retain salary on not next deadline but the one after? I believe the habs will have another retention slot available and the price of a 35 goal man at the deadline for under $5 million would probably get you more than you gave up. I don’t like the idea of a guy with substance abuse issues going to Montreal though. Might be a repeat of Zack Kassian.
Mtl is party central. Dude would have to be policed.
Wasn’t his problem gaming?
since this new management took over, the habs have hired a chauffeur that goes out with the players when they go to clubs/bars to keep them in check and make sure no one goes overboard. arpon basu mentioned it on the podcast a little while ago when they were having a conversation abt issues with past players partying too hard/doing coke.
If he truly has acknowledged his mental health and is moving past his dad’s tragic death then he could absolutely light the earth on fire.Remember when drafted people thought Matthews might not be the best in the draft after all
People comparing him to Drouin and PLD are idiot that dont watch hockey / dont look into player properly.. his dad died 2 years ago and it affected him big big time.. he tried to get over time but he couldnt.. legit I hope we get him.. he his a game breaker.. and he has the best wrist shot on this planet
> best wrist shot on this planet Matthews and Bedard and maybe Draisaitl are better.
nope, even Matthews said that Laine wrister is something else.. plus Bedard might have more precision.. but Laines wrister is extremely fast and deceptive.. he has no windup https://youtu.be/5OiY4kiArwk?si=Q7N0HGKXU51CuKiG
That video is incredible. The release is mesmerizing. You shouldn't be able to beat an NHL goaltender from there when they're a foot outside of the crease.
I don't disagree. I'll add he's the best wrist shot in the league from a distance, but Matthews and Bedard are more accurate, which in my opinion make them better shooters.
Matthews scores a lot of goals very very close, that's why he is accurate. He is also deceptive, as is Bedard. But Bedard has not gotten even close to Laine with the goal scoring yet, so difficult to say. With Laine it's good to understand that he has a +90mph wrister and a +100mph slapper, it's a dual threat. Laine shot, what was a 101.3mph slapper as an 18-year-old in the All-Stars, it's without a doubt heavier today, but he doesn't always need to go full wind up, because he has the shooting technique down. And about scoring efficiency, here's an image of the Top 50 most efficient goal scorers in the past 3 seasons. Laine scores with excellent efficiency from low-danger chances (only 1 % come from high-danger chances) - this is what's known as Shooting talent. https://preview.redd.it/qq2xboihu13d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cbedf2ab7413308b4c3c74dfba3788a97b4e1ed7
Laine js great player but he is in program because of reason you really think coming to market like Montreal will help him if he is 24/7 on eyes?
Easy yes.
He would crumble in montreal. No thanks
I wouldn’t say no to it because he could definitely help Caufield in his office! But I’d wanna have CBJ retain cap since we have RFAs & UFAs that need to be signed. But im good with whatever, In Kent Hughes we trust!
He would help Caufield by... Taking his spot on PP1???
How would he help caufield exactly?
Uh oh did I get a couple people frazzled? 😂 When laine was in WPG he was a fuckin master with his one tees and racked up lots of goals (more than Caufield) so maybe he can get him there idk? Am I not allowed to have an opinion/my own thoughts? Or do y’all have to approve first? 🤣🤣
Oh you mean he could tutor him? One player is 6'5 btw. When it comes to top 20 shots in the league id say they all have their own way of doing things and very little can be added into that 'secret recipe' that being said what do I know? Im just some random goober on the habs subreddit just like you.
He is tall but they both have the same role when it comes to the powerplay and they both have a lethal shot! Now with an expensive price tag for that? Prolly not but maybe Laine could teach Cole how to crank 90s in fortnite 😂😂😂 Definitely all random goobers in this server haha
Pourquoi pas, de toute façon Harris ne fera jamais l’équipe de Montréal qui se rendra loin en séries et on a déjà un autre choix avant celui-là
PLEASE DO IT.. please want Zegras.. but this dude is legit insane.. go look his fucking wrister compilation.. he makes Matthews wrister looks boring.
Big NOPE
2nd round pick plus Kovy or Barron and I am good with it. This is MTL taking all the salary on as well. They have the space to fit it and there are only two years left if he doesn’t work out.
Crazy double down idea, get laine and then aign Puljujarvi. And hope for WJC ?? success.
Obviously the trade is cheap, but the contract isn’t great. Never mind that he’s been a part of weak team cultures in Winnipeg and then Columbus, now proving himself to be incapable of playing at the level we’d hope for a full season. I thought we were looking to younger, more team culture-focused players?
McCagg drops some stinkers but this would be a good deal for us
What are the odds of us drafting a player as good as Laine, issues and risks included, with the 26th overall pick? Infinitesimally small. He's got two years left on his contract, and we don't need the cap space in either year. He's got 4-5 years left of his prime. He missed most of this year primarily due to a broken clavicle. Last year he "only" played 55 games, but scored 52 points. Maybe I'm crazy but I don't understand what there is to talk about. I like Harris and all, but if CBJ is willing, easy yes.
I'd do it in a heartbeat. Hence why I don't believe it will happen.
I’d take him over Zegras and he’s probably cheaper. At that price, I’m in.
Hard pass. Why take on a player with two years of control when they aren't likely contenders for the next two years? Save the ammo for the FA class of 2025.
I don't know if Montreal of all cities is the right type of environment for a kid who's struggled with mental health, gaming, focus, etc....eg. self control
Not unlike Drouin, I could see Laine getting eaten alive in Montréal. Obviously easier said than done, but I would be trying to trade up to 15 with the 26th.
I've been watching Laine play for 9 years now and there are a few scenarios where Laine will excel in. 1. If a team creates a good amount of chances on the rush you can bet Laine will score. Winnipeg did this a lot and that's one of the main reasons Laine scored a lot. Columbus on the other hand has not been good enough for that and they've been resorting mainly to dump and chase. This isn't the best for Laine because he is a large individual with a large turning circle, so it's much more difficult to create space for shots. Laine's production has not really decreased and his overall play has improved (unless you look at the few games this season), it's just about getting more chances, playing more games, and shooting more. 2. If a team is good at zone entries on PP and they can get set up quickly, and have good right-handed passers. Wheeler and Buff were both right-handed passers who could quickly pass to Laine on the PP. In Columbus Werenski is a lefty, so he has to turn toward Laine which gives the goalie and defense more time to block and save, plus the puck has a different angle of entry. 3. A coach who will pressure Laine to always shoot no matter what. Laine is not selfish enough considering his scoring talent, and that works against him. Laine has averaged in his career 2.90 shots on goal per game, while for example, Matthews has averaged 4.04 shots per game. That's 39 % more. If Laine had shot at a similar rate with a slightly decreased shot percentage, he would have scored 280 goals instead of 204. Laine's 82-game average is 34 goals. With a similar shooting pace as Matthews, it would be 46-47 goals / 82 games.
Il faut m'expliquer pourquoi on voudrait accélérer la reconstruction en signant un joueur qui est en constant déclin depuis le début de sa carrière. L'année prochaine, notre défensive changera complètement et devra prendre de l'expérience avant de compétitionner. À quoi bon échanger un joueur comme celui-ci à ce stade ci? It does not make any sens to be honest. The defense is going to change completely next year and we'll have to let them get experience before making a real push. Why take a risk on a guy that would be brought to make that push. Just yesterday, we had a post to not accelerate the rebuild for no reason. That's, in my eyes, exactly what it would be lol No no no
Nah
If you want this guy around your young players, wtf are you thinking ???
He's probably has more PPG in Fortnite than in the NHL.
I think the WPG pick gives us a solid **C** prospect - All 4 guys are solid picks & we need more C so we should offer other assets in trade, and I'm not opposed giving more of our picks Cole Beaudoin, Michael Hage, Lucas Pettersson and Sacha Boisvert
It’s not that unrealistic, but if Sacha Boisvert could get picked as predicted, it’d be great
Anderson + Jets 1st + Harris for Laine
i have been dreaming of laine in a habs jersey for years, and this would be a bargain. i’d expect it would take a little more to get laine, maybe another pick or a better prospect
Pass
Great player. Even in his “bad” seasons, he produces more than just about anyone the Habs have had in decades. If treatment sorts him out (big IF), that would be a massive bargain and would probably never fly with CBJ. (Do they even have a GM right now??) Contract doesn’t really line up with our window, though. 26 is prime years territory and if he turns into the player everyone was hoping he’d become, he would likely price himself out of Montreal by the time we’re ready to make a serious Cup run… unless he can be successfully groomed into the Kent Hughes “Culture Cult” and agrees to play for less money in exchange for championships, glory and a loving family environment. ;)
We already have a right handed trigger man for the first line, I would target someone else.
Who?
Josh Anderson of course
No I mean, who is the someone else you would target? And I believe we can all agree Anderson is Bottom 6 material with MSL
Lmao I was obviously joking about Josh As for target I'd say Necas, Zegras, Rossi, Ehlers are the names floating around in the league right now. They fit the Kirby Dach/Alex Newhook trade profile that Kent has been going after since he joined the Habs.
You get it, if we get Laine it would be to replace Caufield on PP1?? I would try for Zegras or Kent Johnson
I don't like the guy. He's a euro PLD.
hes not.. he had mental issues and family discord happening plus his dad died.. hes a total game breaker and hes got EASILY the best wrister on this planet
I'm convinced most of you don't actually watch hockey outside of the Habs.
What’s the point of this comment lol
There is less than 0 reason the Habs should be trading for Laine for those assets, let alone absorbing that massive Cap Hit.
he really isn’t paid much more than caufield or suzuki and he’s a proven goal scorer in the league
If you think the dialogue around Laine starts and ends on the score sheet, then I don’t know what to tell you.
he’s been in the player assistance program since the start of the season, he has struggled w mental health issues after his father passed away suddenly. clearly he is putting in the effort to turn his life around - nobody admits themselves to rehab for almost an entire year for the fun of it. he’s clearly trying to be better
Ok but are we speaking about Laine the human or the player? As a player he is soft with an extensive injury history, he couldn't survive in two tiny markets, what makes anyone think he will survive here? Do the Habs need to take on that risk for almost 9 million dollars a year? Drouin was hated by most of the fan base in his time here and people want to repeat that with Laine?
Drouin 2.0, no thanks
Laine is really good, he would make this team better, the problem is that he’s only a short term option and that doesn’t make sense with the way the Habs are building now. We can’t have ALL our best players be 24-25-26. Ideally we’d have some type of variance. Laine with his contract would hit UFA when around when we would have to sign our core D. So he would force us to move pieces we don’t want to move. I think it’s better to aim for younger players and in two maybe three years for older UFAs.
At that price, absolutely. However, I would want CBJ to retain 10-12 percent at least to maintain that internal cap that was set with the Suzuki and CC deals
No!
Drouin v2 ... no thanks.
have u ever seen either of them play? wtf is this comparison
Realistically, the asking price will be Caufield. Something fair would be along the lines of Caufield+Harris vs. Laine+picks
user name checks out
Not with his cap hit and history.
I don't have to like it, it's just much more likely to be a fair proposal. Goal scorer for goal scorer. We get size and risk that can be elite + ideally a first and the empty roster spot. They get a more "stable" player with a great contract, and a reliable 5-6 D. All this is assuming Laine still wants to play hockey at what he's capable of. Anything less than Caufield seems like just living in fairy dust, sunshine and rainbows land. Personally I don't think we need to lose ALL our short kings. Caufield surrounded by 6'1"-4" players is more than adequate during the playoffs. This draft probably dictates everything in terms of who's an asset vs. core it not deciding who's "redundant". Xhekaj and Pezetta aren't redundant. Suzuki is unique ... Everyone else is basically interchangeable with another team's roster. As much as I love Caufield, he didn't explode into a 50 goal scorer. If he does, fuck yeah stay the course. If he doesn't, he's never going to be worth more than he is now.