Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
For me, Laine is a powerforward with an elite sniper's ability. With consistency in his game, I can see him separate the opposing player from the puck by using strength, and then going in for a scoring chance on his own. I can also see him check or out-muscle an opposing player along the boards, pass it to an open player, and get right into the play for a one-timer.
I mean, this is without commenting on his IQ, his soft hands and his playmaking ability (which I think is pretty good).
I do think if he learns consistency with respect to physicality, he will become a better player and that may even show up on his scoring. Yes, you don't want him constantly on the boards battling for the puck, or simply going hard to the net looking for rebounds or being the screen/garbage goal guy - but if he adds to those elements to his game on a more consistent basis, he will be even a more dynamic player who becomes even more difficult to contain.
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He has the potential for a power game and certainly has shown some willingness to play that way, but he'll have to learn it in North America. I don't think his team's play style supports that type of game.
He likes to lean on defenders with the puck, but it's even a little bit frustrating to watch him challenge in the Finnish league because his linemates tend to just watch him rather than give him options, for example by crashing the net so there's at least one sensible place to dish the puck to. Kind of leaves him out there alone. That's going to be different in North America.
With his size and stick coordination he has a lot of potential for playing in front of the net, but the plays just don't happen there in the Finnish league, it seems. Look at Barkov right now and he's scores everything from within six feet of the net. On PP Laine should be in his zone farther away like right now, but 5-on-5 a lot should happen from the boards to the front of the net. That does not occur on his team right now. Again, something to incorporate next year in NA. He'll get a hundred times more support for different kinds of plays there than right now in Tappara.