- TSN veut que le CH obtienne Patrik Laine...
- La radio le répète ce matin...
- Tant que Laine ne sera pas SIGNÉ..
- Il y aura des rumeurs...
- Mais..
- Selon The Hockey News...
- Oui, les rumeurs circulent...
- Mais Columbus finira par signer l'attaquant...
At this point, we know what Patrik Laine is; one of the better goal scorers in the NHL whose individual peaks are among the highest of any offensive player, while his valleys render him largely useless.
Oh, and he doesn't play defense. Like, ever.
Still, Laine is a 24-year-old who has scored at nearly a 40-goal pace throughout his career, racked up a point-per-game on a bottom-tier team this season, and logged close to 19 minutes per night.
Surround him with some talent, and that's an extremely attractive player.
Is that player worth his $7.5 million qualifying offer? That remains to be seen.
Laine is at the point where he likely wants to sign a long-term deal, coming off one- and two-year extensions following his ELC. On the surface, the numbers are there. Laine's offensive production is what the Blue Jackets need, and the Blue Jackets' $22.8 million in cap space this summer give them the wiggle room to sign him.
The inconsistency, though, is what continues to be the sticking point.
Laine has shown just how good he can be when he's on. But he's also embarked upon multiple lengthy midseason stretches wherein he seems largely uninterested. Those will frighten any team, even the talent-hungry Blue Jackets, from committing to him for the long haul.
Sure, Laine might rip off 40 goals early on. But if he falls off a cliff or stops scoring at an elite rate for even a second, you're stuck with a pricey boat anchor who will likely hurt you in your own zone.
I can see Laine going for a two-year deal at either right on par with his QO, or a little higher. The Blue Jackets have a decent little group of young prospects in their system. Laine makes them even better.