cg98
Registered User
- Oct 10, 2017
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The whole PP has sucked during Laines slump. When the PP isn't scoring, Wheeler isn't getting the points either. Have you ever seen Jets PP and how opponents play against it? There's no other player in the league who is covered like Laine in PP. That opens more room for the remaining 4 to create chances. But due to Wheelers shot, opponents allow him room to shoot. He can hardly ever convert them to goals.
Audacity to insinuate? I didn't insinuate, I said it straight. Same thing has been said by The Athletic Jets beat writer, with analysis. He suggests it's Laine who drives the bus on PP and I agree.
It's easy to insinuate what the analysis proves. Even if it annoyed the most devoted fans of a player. It's still worth saying because it's the truth. It sucks to be a messenger of that truth because you hardly make friends by saying someones favorite is overrated. But I have more than just opinion to back it up. And someone needs to keep it real in this place of worship.
If you say to me Laine sucks 5 on 5 right now, I won't shoot the messenger. I agree with you on that and think he isn't ready to drive a line alone. I don't expect him to, not yet. But I know, based on his career so far, that he can excel and be top player in the league when ever he is playing with someone compatible. Time with Schef proved it, time with Stastny exclamated that point. He doesn't have to be able to drive a line alone, and he can still be the MVP.
Jets choose not to let the MVP out, when they pair him with the only guy who kills Laines offense. It's a choice they make knowing full well that he isn't going to produce much.
Here's another thing...if Wheeler is such a line driver, why does he have to exclusively play with the best line driver in the Jets? And why at the same time do we have to watch a driverless 2nd line? Wouldn't it make sense to have a driver on both?
I think the reason is for many, that it would expose that Wheeler isn't the line driver everyone thinks he is. A lot of fans arguing against the change are thinking it. What if Wheeler goes to 2nd line and it's even worse? What if Laines (and Scheifeles) 5 on 5 production explodes in the 1st as expected from previous experience?
Some are scared to see it, because they have so much invested in the belief that Wheeler is the best winger in Jets. He isn't, and I'm championing for that change because I have no fear about how that will turn out for Laine and Jets. They will have a monster 1st line and the 2nd line would be about the same as it is now. I could see it getting even better due to Little-Wheeler chemistry and style of play.
All I'm saying is, if someone is convinced that Wheeler is the most deserving 1st line winger, or you want to say Wheeler now and in 3 years, then you shouldn't have any problem seeing what happens when Laine plays with Chef and Wheeler with Little. They shouldn't be concerned. They should welcome the chance for Wheeler to show me wrong. If they are even a bit concerned about what it would prove , then they truly don't believe that Wheeler is the #1 winger in Jets.
The power play has been garbage this entire month, in December they were still producing even when Laine was slumping. Laine can't even generate any offense on the power play and you're here saying that he drives the bus on the power play thats funny.
Trying to scapegoat Little as the one who kills Laine's offense is ridiculous and stupid. Little has produced more than Laine during his slump. It's not Little's fault for Laine's incapability for playing at a high level consistently. If Laine was truly this team's MVP (which is a hilarious statement at this point in time) he would be able to produce more and play at a higher pace no matter whose centering his line. Arguing that he'd be better with Scheifele doesn't make a case when arguing that he's this teams MVP. His play currently is the exact opposite of an MVP, and he's not deserving of a top line spot next to Scheifele when a) He cant generate any sort of offense at 5v5 OR PP and b) when his teammates in Connor, Ehlers, and Wheeler are outperforming him.
And don't give me this crap about Wheeler not being a line driver when he's proven ever since the Jets relocation here that he's capable of doing it. If you bothered watching the Jets when they had that terrible Atlanta core you would've seen and known that Wheeler was the only star player we had on forwards. He plays with Scheifele because he deserves it, and not only because he's one of the NHLs elite wingers and playmakers, he makes Scheifele better. If it ain't broke don't fix it. In no right mind would I swap Wheeler with Laine just because Laine's slumping. If you really think that Wheeler isn't the best winger on this team right now you're delusional (which at this point it's all but confirmed that you are). No one is denying that Laine could be better than Wheeler in 3 years, in fact we all hope Laine is better in 3 years, but right now as it stands he's not better than Wheeler.