I don't buy any team preferring Puljujärvi over Laine and I don't buy Puljujärvi's supposed center potential. Laine is better now while also having more room to grow as a player.
Here's Ferraro on Laine in a new article. You don't pass him for projected two-way play or a vague promise that a pure winger will turn into a center:
Quote:
“He’s a powerful kid who probably doesn’t realize yet what he has in his toolbox,” Ferraro said. “Right now it’s all about his shot. Why not? If you popped him into the NHL right now on this day, he’s got a top-five shot in the entire league. His shot is unreal. And it’s not just the one-timer. It’s his wrist shot too. His mechanics and his release are elite.
“You know how some guys just hit the golf ball farther than anyone else and you don’t know why? Well, that’s this kid and his shot. But he’s going to figure out he has more than just the shot. He’s almost 6-5 and his reach is Mario [Lemieux]-like. When he puts his body between you and the puck and extends his arms, you’re seven feet away from the puck. It’s impossible to take the puck from him. I’ll say this: He really won me over at the worlds.”
http://www.tsn.ca/towering-laine-pos...dence-1.500870