I'm not at all underminding Stamkos' sophomore season but I think at the same time you are seriously excelling where I'm failing that comes to Laine. So far the kid has lead his team in the playoff trophy while being under age, won WJC gold, broke Jagr's decades old record in the WHC, been awarded the best player trophies in both FEL and WHC even before landing into NHL. Such are the records which end the pre-NHL era. Since coming to the Jets the Patrik has finished his first season being top 5 in GPG (accomplishment no other 18 year old has achieved in the history of the league), followed by possibly wrapping up the sophomore season while scoring the most goals in the league since entering it, with an option of winning Rocket Richard's trophy. If he does in fact win that trophy then he absolutely will be regarded of having on par or even better first two years that Stamkos. Lets not forget that Stamkos, while all worthy of his status, timed over 20 minutes a game during the sophomore year. Something Laine could only dream about and in the end, it will be those extra minutes keeping Laine from entering the G + A race. He has not received any handouts while he's more than fulfilled his role by playing in the 2nd or 3rd line and letting other guys get the minutes. Also a detail which will be taken into account when entering negotiation table. The bigger the achievements with lesser expectations will always carry it's own award when breached.
At the end of the day given all the unprecedented achievements unlocked by Laine will cement his first years (from 17 to 19 if not 20) into the history of the game (both international and national). There are youngsters earning insane amounts of dollars without being even remotely close to having achieved equal feats as Laine. He is is a 10+m/y player come 19-20 if he so chooses.
His feats before entering the NHL have no bearing on his contract so shouldn't be brought up.
Patrick Kane is a winger who had similar regular season production to Laine the same stage in development but he also had elite post season production and his equivilint deal today would be $8.9 million. I like Laine but I can't justify paying him more then Kane. He quite frankly hasn't earned more.