Prime Minister Koivu Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 The full quote leaves the impression that Laine wants lots of ice time with good players to prove that he is a good player and to build his confidence. And/Or passive aggressive Gotta play all three zones hard, every shift in today’s NHL. You got one season to figure it out. Laine at next season’s trade deadline, with max retention MIGHT bring a decent return to a contender that uses him for PP and Ozone starts only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 Brett Hull, Mike Hoffman, Laine seem like 3 similarly selfish players. If you didnt do such a good pylon or boat anchor impression in own end you may get more shifts numbnuts! I assumed St Louis would of sat him down and told him why has been demoted. Also am sure his line mates appreciate the compliment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 18 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said: The full quote leaves the impression that Laine wants lots of ice time with good players to prove that he is a good player and to build his confidence. And/Or passive aggressive Gotta play all three zones hard, every shift in today’s NHL. You got one season to figure it out. Laine at next season’s trade deadline, with max retention MIGHT bring a decent return to a contender that uses him for PP and Ozone starts only. I hope we arent sellers at next seasons deadline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 9 hours ago, alfredoh2009 said: He is also the only left-handed center with a very good FO% He's the only left-handed centre period - Suzuki/Dach/Evans/Beck/Kapanen are all righties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Ive long said that we cant go into next season with Kapanen and Beck as the third and fourth centres and one vet is needed. If Dvorak is cheap, sure. But there will be other vets in free agency too. Just depends on price. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomh009 Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 The good thing about Dvorak is that is very low risk: we know exactly what he is and what he can and cannot do. If the price is right ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habs Fan in Edmonton Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 46 minutes ago, tomh009 said: The good thing about Dvorak is that is very low risk: we know exactly what he is and what he can and cannot do. If the price is right ... I think we all agree that the price has to be right. However Dvorak has the leverage here being a UFA soon and I have no idea how badly he wants to stay in Montreal. He seems to be one of those quiet guys that doesn't say much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 The thing is, as much as I want a vet, that's for next season, so that we can stay in the playoff race. We can trade both Dvorak and Evans this season and go with Beck and someone like Condotta or Dauphin or something down the stretch. That said, I don't know that Dvorak is worth much and do we need another 4th or 5th rounder given the number of picks and prospects we have. And who is gonna give more than that if they have to eat his salary. We only have one retention spot left and its probably better used on Armia or Savard, so I think he does end up hanging around another team has a bad contract to dump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime Minister Koivu Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 11 hours ago, Commandant said: I hope we arent sellers at next seasons deadline. In a perfect world Laine plays at a high level next season and we re-sign him. If Laine plays the same next season as this season then I expect Montreal to move on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 3 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said: In a perfect world Laine plays at a high level next season and we re-sign him. If Laine plays the same next season as this season then I expect Montreal to move on. No question he can score and is great PP weapon, but 5 on 5 he seems to belong on the 5th line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime Minister Koivu Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 8 minutes ago, DON said: No question he can score and is great PP weapon, but 5 on 5 he seems to belong on the 5th line. Yeah and if that continues next season I can’t imagine that Hughes would offer a contract Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXx..CK..xXx Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 14 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said: I think we all agree that the price has to be right. However Dvorak has the leverage here being a UFA soon and I have no idea how badly he wants to stay in Montreal. He seems to be one of those quiet guys that doesn't say much. How much will other teams offer him, and why? Everything Habs fans criticize him for will be well known throughout the league. It’s not like he will be a major catch, or heralded as the top free agent signing available. I’m not saying I wouldn’t test the market if I were him, but signing a contract with the Habs may be the safest option for him in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 I think its premature to judge Laine based on missing an entire calendar year with injuries. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomh009 Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 2 minutes ago, Commandant said: I think its premature to judge Laine based on missing an entire calendar year with injuries. His shot (and the "shot IQ" that makes it lethal) is still there. What we can't tell yet is whether he can return the rest of his game to a higher level. As Commandant implies, we should learn that next season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfredoh2009 Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 15 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said: I think we all agree that the price has to be right. However Dvorak has the leverage here being a UFA soon and I have no idea how badly he wants to stay in Montreal. He seems to be one of those quiet guys that doesn't say much. even overpaying a bit for Dvorak, he would be cheaper than Evans, would give the Habs a good left handed faceoff guy and a shut down expert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 1 hour ago, tomh009 said: His shot (and the "shot IQ" that makes it lethal) is still there. What we can't tell yet is whether he can return the rest of his game to a higher level. As Commandant implies, we should learn that next season. Isnt he playing exactly as advertised, recovery or not? And sounds like he is whining about his icetime and not being given the best linemates, no? Oh well, Hab managed with floater Hoffman playing same role, so not new (but at least he didnt complain publicly). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 28 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said: even overpaying a bit for Dvorak, he would be cheaper than Evans, would give the Habs a good left handed faceoff guy and a shut down expert. That shouldn't be the analysis.... its not just the two guys. Its not just Dvorak's price vs Evans. Its Evan's price (and value in TDL trade) vs Dvorak's price (And TDL trade value) vs the guys who are available in free agency vs the cost of trade, and a cap hit for another vet centre. That's what the GM needs to assess, not just the two players, but all the scenarios. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 28 minutes ago, DON said: Isnt he playing exactly as advertised, recovery or not? And sounds like he is whining about his icetime and not being given the best linemates, no? Oh well, Hab managed with floater Hoffman playing same role, so not new (but at least he didnt complain publicly). While he's never been confused for a selke player, he's also played much better as a 5v5 player than what he is currently playing... both in generating more 5v5 offence, and in not being as bad a liability as he currently is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXx..CK..xXx Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Laine’s 5 on 5 play has clearly not been as advertised. This season, 61.11% of Laine’s points have come on the power play. Over his career, 31.7% of his points have come on the power play. Prior to this season, 46% of his points on the power play was his highest number in a single season. Something has clearly been amiss when it comes to his 5 on 5 production. With that being said, it could be a combination of his personal confidence, recovery, as well as his 5 on 5 linemates. I don’t fully buy that it would take an NHL player a full season to get back into the swing of things but it’s sure to have an impact. One can take a look at Viktor Arvidsson or Trevor Zegras who went through prolonged injuries and absences as well last year. Viktor Arvidsson’s numbers are much lower this year after being held out for 64 games last year. Trevor Zegras is on the exact same pace this year as he was last year, where he missed 50 games last season, however both seasons are much lower points per game wise than the rest of his young career. Is this due to his injury, or is this the player he is becoming in Anaheim? No matter what, I think patience is required with Laine, but eventually he is going to have to perform up to standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Not sure if St Louis agrees more patience is needed. And he didnt mince words when asked about why he benched Laine. Hopefully Laine at least gets along his teammates and isnt as selfisha player as he seems (maybe just to me?) in his 28 games as a Hab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 5 hours ago, DON said: Not sure if St Louis agrees more patience is needed. And he didnt mince words when asked about why he benched Laine. Hopefully Laine at least gets along his teammates and isnt as selfisha player as he seems (maybe just to me?) in his 28 games as a Hab. He benched him for all of one period. Thats not the same as running out of patience and puttong him in the pressbox regularly ala pezzetta. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXx..CK..xXx Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 It’s in the best interest of the Habs for Laine to produce. St. Louis’ goal would be for Laine to produce for us, not to count the days until he is run out of town. As was stated in terms of Laine being “as advertised” his deficiencies are well known but also over blown. Someone sees a player skating slowly and criticizes them when actually slowing the game down is what some of the best players are able to do (obviously not players like Mackinnon and McDavid). This is also just an example. I’ve been to a few games recently and as an example there were Leafs fans in the crowd berating Marner the game where they defeated the Habs 7-3. Well, what do you know? He led the Leafs forwards in time of ice with 22:09 and had the most points of any forward with his 2 assists. I’m also pretty sure he did fairly well in Canada’s opening game yesterday. In continuation of that thought, I was at the game with fans criticizing Stone and the “rocks in his boots” yesterday. That was until he scored the game’s 3rd goal. They were pretty silent after that. Laine did get benched in the 3rd for one game but he’s been out in the exact same “extra man” situation multiple times since. I don’t believe Laine is overly selfish. There’s been a lot said about that in the media over the years but he’s not really wrong when he says that it would be good for him to have more minutes and gain some confidence. We’ve all been over not just handing someone an opportunity, as they have to earn it but Laine came into the lineup and was producing at a torrid pace when joining the team. His reward has been to play with Dach, Newhook, Evans and Armia. Maybe give him a shot with Suzuki and Caufield? I wonder who his linemates are on the power play? Habs leaders when it comes to points per game: I do see Armia and Evans in the top 10, but Newhook and Dach are nowhere to be found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chicoutimi Cucumber Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Laine is definitely one of those guys like Lecavalier or Mario Lemieux who seem to be hardly moving out there, yet cover huge tracts of ice in a few easy strides. I agree that this compounds the impression that he is lazy or uninterested. In fact it's a characteristic of a certain type of highly gifted players with huge frames. Ken Dryden mentions this theme in The Game, talking about how some stars, like Beliveau, seem to barely move, while Guy Lafleur's skating stride was filled with 'exciting effort.' Fans tend to love the latter, but are often deceived by the former. That said, Laine does need to do better. Obviously. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 Hutson 2a in last 9 games, is he one who will really benefit from 4-nation break. HW 3 Stars: January 2025 – HabsWorld.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GHT120 Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 Not a proposal or a rumour ... but if the Habs, or anyone else for that matter, have plans to make a deal during the 4Nations it would seem logical to make it tomorrow or Wednesday ... take advantage of the player having a couple of days (assuming they aren't on Canada or USA teams) to get to Montreal and meet team-mates/coaches/trainers/etc. and get short-term settled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.