It's not too late for Patrik Laine to close the gap and win this trophy for the first time in his career. Let me tell you why.
Patrik Laine is my favorite player. He's a good goal scorer. He's handsome. He gets all the ladies. If Auston Matthews is the Tom Brady of hockey, Patrik Laine is the Auston Matthews of firing lethal slapshots towards opposing goaltenders.
I believe in him. And here's why:
he's unpredictable.
My father could call me and tell me two things. He could tell me that 1) my aunt got hit by a bus and 2) Patrik Laine just scored six goals against the New York Islanders.
And I would be like: "bullshit... auntie aint got hit by no bus, why you always lying".
Because Patrik Laine scoring six goals in one game isn't unbelievable. Seven goals... maybe.
You walk up to me right now and tell me that Patrik Laine held a private press conference and told EVERYBODY that he's going to lead the league in goals by the end of next week. I'd be like: "yeah, entirely possible, why did he invite all of 'em reporters though?"
We could see this kid score anywhere between 1 and 6 goals a game, every game, game after a game, for the next ten games. And then he could go cold again. Vanish. Poof. Like a magic trick.
But he would still lead the league in goals. Even if it's for a brief time.
And then he would do it all again. 10 goals in 4 games. And he's back in the race.
But hear me out, fellas.
This is exactly what the league needs. Someone you can't count out, not just yet. Even if he's trailing by 15 goals. Someone that you know, deep down in your heart, that could win the trophy. Even if he has only five games left... and 20 goals to score. But you can't count him out. No, not just yet.
I believe that once he starts to score, it's over for the other guys. He'll take this situation as a challenge. "How long can I suck... and still win this trophy". I don't know fellas. But the way I see it, this trophy is still Patrik Laine's to lose.