I watch the Jets a lot. They were my main late night team up until last year, and I still watch them once or twice a week.
It's really hilarious when someone accuses you of being a "stat watcher" and then only mentions more basic stats. You're doing the same thing I'm doing just a cruder more inaccurate version of it. If I was just a stat watcher, then you'd think I would know his goal scoring stats? People who know the fancy stats know the boxcars too, but you're like "listen nerd, this guy had this stat last year" as if you're going to tell me something new.
I could tell you I've watched the team and thought the top line looked awkward with Laine on it and that he is really best when Ehlers is skating the puck for him, but people tend to find statistical arguments more credible so they tend to be the main body of evidence around here.
Laine has scored 58 goals in the last two seasons, that is not actually one of the best in the league. If he can shoot at 18% like he did in his first two seasons and play the acceptable two-way game he had last year, then that's a $9m player. You're cherrypicking his best attributes from different seasons and trying to make it seem like he has already put it all together. That just hasn't happened yet.
I have never said Laine has put it all together.
Even with his flaws he’s a damm good player.
Laine has such a high ceiling as a player that he doesn’t have to be at his prime level to be considered elite.
I had lot of issues with Laines development in years 2-3 but he’s made changes since that have had a positive result on his game and this summer spend a lot of time with Barkov which is awesome news.
If there is a player in Finland I’d want Laine to train with it’s Barkov.
Since entering the league he has been one of the best goal scorers in the league and has worked on his weaknessess as asked.
I do hope Torts lets Laine be more like Laine than Maurice did. Teach him but don’t put him on chains.
& Even at his worst(injured) as a 20y old he hit 30, how many Columbus players can hit 30 in their prime form?
Defensive players get paid less than offensive.
Laine has CV which with he can ask big time money, especially when you are trying to buy his prime years.
You look around the league and some of the contracts there’s a team that will have no issue handing 9-10M to Laine