No!!
Well, he's already 20 so if he's not a PPG player with at least 50 goals next year, I think that we're going to have to cut our losses and call him a bust.Do we start worrying about his potential if he isnt ppg+ player next season?
Well, he's already 20 so if he's not a PPG player with at least 50 goals next year, I think that we're going to have to cut our losses and call him a bust.
Seriously though, rather than the points I would like to see a more visible improvement in the overall game. I think it's fine but would like to see him working on the things that obviously need work.
Well, he's already 20 so if he's not a PPG player with at least 50 goals next year, I think that we're going to have to cut our losses and call him a bust.
Seriously though, rather than the points I would like to see a more visible improvement in the overall game. I think it's fine but would like to see him working on the things that obviously need work.
What part of his skating needs work? The first few steps?
A year or so ago he was chasing Kessel down and didn't lose ground to him. I'd say that's a pretty fast skater, no?
What part of his skating needs work? The first few steps?
A year or so ago he was chasing Kessel down and didn't lose ground to him. I'd say that's a pretty fast skater, no?
Do we start worrying about his potential if he isnt ppg+ player next season?
First steps and stamina. They are the reasons exactly why he can’t do those things often that you just described here. When he gets those two areas fixed he will be an absolute monster. And he has been exactly working on improving both of those. But some people want him to focus into areas where he is already good, instead of concentrating in developing these two clear weaknesses he has that prevent him so far from consistently being a dominating player.His top end speed is actually really good. There was a game late last season where we were down by a goal and had an extra man on the ice, I can't recall which game, but he got the puck with speed behind the net and did a fantastic end to end rush and skated at speed stickhandling through the entire opposition and managed to get a clean shot off that beat the goalie but just barely missed the net. His top end speed and ability to handle the puck was on full display there. But again he took the puck from behind the net with full steam. It's really his first few steps, the way he engages the play and the consistency to be more open to doing that kind of stuff at top speed that I would like to see from him. The ability is there, he just needs to do it more often.
Only here you can't improve your skating by actually skating, here it's for the best to avoid skating for 4-6 months.
No one has said Laine can't train like he is, if he'd just add skating into the mix, it's incredible to read how that would somehow be bad, or how that somehow gets turned into we want him to ignore everything else and just skate.
Laine is a heavy skater and just off ice training won't max his skating development.
4-6 months? The hell are you talking about? It’s gonna be like 4 months max.
Do you know for a fact that the has not?Only here you can't improve your skating by actually skating, here it's for the best to avoid skating for 4-6 months.
No one has said Laine can't train like he is, if he'd just add skating into the mix, it's incredible to read how that would somehow be bad, or how that somehow gets turned into we want him to ignore everything else and just skate.
Laine is a heavy skater and just off ice training won't max his skating development.
Do you know for a fact that the has not?
The first steps, sure. But the most notable weakness is his stop and go, swift turns, direction changes and overall agility. That's where the most significant improvement would be required. Yes, the comparison to Matthews is a good night-and-day example here even if Laine's top speed is higher.What part of his skating needs work? The first few steps?
What part of his skating needs work? The first few steps?
A year or so ago he was chasing Kessel down and didn't lose ground to him. I'd say that's a pretty fast skater, no?
Stop and go play is exactly all about stamina and the explosive leg strength. Players whom are not good at those are always in trouble with stop and go play. That’s exactly why Granlund and Barkov had also so much difficulties with the stop and go play for their first years in the NHL.The first steps, sure. But the most notable weakness is his stop and go, swift turns, direction changes and overall agility. That's where the most significant improvement would be required. Yes, the comparison to Matthews is a good night-and-day example here even if Laine's top speed is higher.
Talking offseasons here, last year with Jets missing the playoffs it was a long summer, this summer is shorter but we are still talking months here.
One can only think he could develop more than he has.