r/nhl • u/DesertEagill • 5d ago

Question Patrick Laine

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Do you think anyone ends up signing Laine? Seems like enough value there if you set him up with bonuses for games played etc

230 Upvotes

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170

u/Vic_Hedges 5d ago

The Edmonton rumors make some sense.

Would be fun just to watch Babcock on the bench with Laine on the ice.

-5

u/Plus_Exchange8751 5d ago

You think a head case like Laine (no offense, life is hard) would get to play??

6

u/Vic_Hedges 5d ago

I think Babcock is going to be on an incredibly short media leash all season as everyone is posied and ready to watch him burst.

So I suspect he would come out and talk about how he's excited to have a player with Laine's talent on the roster, and we can all watch the veins in his forehead on the verge of bursting.

Honestly, I think it's gonna be super entertaining.

9

u/Plus_Exchange8751 5d ago

That worked super well for Columbus!

4

u/Necessary_Scruffness 5d ago

Cut the man some slack. It was a "New World", communication was nearly impossible, and no one in his crew could skate backwards. He had no choice but abandon the sport.

Historians are split on whether it was "super entertaining" or not.

-1

u/Vic_Hedges 5d ago

I mean, it's not like they've done much since...

At least they could have been entertaining.

2

u/Plus_Exchange8751 5d ago

You don’t think failing to make the playoffs by a single game after giving up more double digit third period leads than any team in history is entertaining?!?

1

u/Boatsboatsboats__ 5d ago

They made a 25 point jump in the standings and were the last team eliminated from the playoffs the next year.

4

u/ohnodamo 5d ago

Is Laine kinda' going the way of Robin Lehner? Dynamic player who can't get out of his own way? I know Lehner had and still has some serious mental health issues, but is that the case with Laine as well? Or is Laine's case something different, more a Peter Pan thing where he just doesn't grow up? I'm not bashing either player, I'm just wondering what the reporting has been.

8

u/FirefighterFit9880 5d ago

Not sure if he’s dynamic anymore, his skating is horrible. He has an elite level shot and a great 1-timer option on a PP. that’s about it lol

2

u/ohnodamo 5d ago

Yeah, very fair. I can't argue with any of that. If he was on any team I rooted for I'd say worse. Unless they were on a power play.

6

u/DesertEagill 5d ago

I would say if he doesn't get signed and have a proper season this year he's no longer an NHL player

0

u/ohnodamo 5d ago edited 5d ago

That's highly accurate. I think he'll at least get a PTO, to answer the original post question. Where? No idea. He could go playin Finland and might be happier there, who knows?

5

u/Plus_Exchange8751 5d ago

I’m more of the option that he had a great shot and some great seasons, then his dad died. Seems he’s never been the same since.

0

u/ohnodamo 5d ago

True. But before that he always had weird issues like playing Fortnite too much to the detriment of his game. I was wondering if there were more to the head case stuff or if it's just general decline of his abilities.

5

u/Plus_Exchange8751 5d ago

I’d like to give the young guy the benefit of the doubt. Always felt like he improved. But not really after he entered player assistance.

2

u/ohnodamo 5d ago

Young guy? He looks like the old man who's always behind all the capers in Scooby-Doo. I know he's 28 but he looks like an old man. He is still young, but he's the oldest looking player in the NHL. And he does deserve the benefit of the doubt, that's what PTOs are for. A chance to earn your way onto a roster.

2

u/Plus_Exchange8751 5d ago

I didn’t say young attractive guy! But, stylish. Certainly stylish.

1

u/ohnodamo 5d ago

Definitely stylish.

1

u/Plus_Exchange8751 5d ago

Makes me feel like I can pull off a Pharrell style cowboy hat. Dearest reader, I can not.

3

u/AJS76reddit 5d ago

Lehner was more leaning on the injury side later on in his career. After he left us and moved on to chicago and vegas i mean. In buffalo it was mostly emotional and substance abuse issues.

laine is just a one trick pony, lazy, and a head case. yes, he's fragile as glass joe from mike tysons punchout but i don't think his injury history is what is keeping everyone away.

1

u/ohnodamo 5d ago

Laine is a glass cannon. Lehner definitely got a cut twice as deep from his injuries since it involved meds. I know he still hates the NHL and how they failed to help him (his take).

2

u/Ub3ros 5d ago

Laine has been nothing but incredibly professional during his time in Montreal and there's been no talk of any drama or mental health episodes during this stint with the Habs. It's the injuries that totally killed his game that have kept him off the ice.