Top 5 Positives Sniper Patrik Laine Provides The Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine took part in his first regular season game in nearly a year, and while it wasn’t perfect, we saw a lot of the qualities that makes him a special player. It was an encouraging start, bolstered by the fact that Laine followed up his Habs debut by scoring a powerplay goal in the very next game.

If the 6’4″ winger can add explosiveness and speed to the mix, and recover some stamina sooner than later, his addition to the Habs could prove a deal that moves the needle for a franchise in desperate need of offensive reinforcements.

Regardless of how fast he manages to find his former game shape, there still are five aspects of his game that shone through in Laine’s first two matches with the Canadiens.

PATRIK LAINE AGAIN‼️

Two goals in two games in a @CanadiensMTL uniform! pic.twitter.com/nCnMb0i1Ur

— NHL (@NHL) December 6, 2024

Lethal Weapon

It’s no secret, Laine has a fantastic shot. Much like the league’s top powerplay goalscorers, such as Alex Ovechkin, he can find twine even when the opposing team pays close attention to him in the offensive zone.

We saw a perfect example of that against the Islanders, as goaltender Ilya Sorokin squared up to the shot, only to see the puck fly by him before he could get a good read on the shot’s destination. Laine exploited a miniscule area of opportunity — a sharpshooter’s goal. His accuracy and the velocity powering his shots makes it rather difficult to defend against, even more so when you’re trying to figure out where he’ll shoot.

WELCOME BACK, PATRIK LAINE!! 👏 👏 pic.twitter.com/eB119eOQBD

— NHL (@NHL) December 4, 2024

Furthermore, by moving Laine to Caufield’s former spot on the powerplay, it allows head coach Martin St-Louis to have all his players sitting in the right chair. So far in his young career, Caufield hasn’t seen extended success as the left dot trigger man. Prior to joining the Canadiens, Caufield was often seen at the bumper position, notably with Team USA, and looked dangerous there.

On top of moving Lane Hutson to the first powerplay unit, adding Laine on the dot and moving Caufield to the bumper cold mean improved conversion rates with the special units.

Controlled Entries

One thing Laine likes to do above all, is hold on to the puck. When his confidence is high, he uses his soft hands to deke defenders, and gain the offensive zone. Remember, a controlled entry leads to a much more high-danger chances than a dump-in. We saw a few examples of this against the Islanders, whereas lesser talented players might have simply lobbed the puck in the zone. Improving controlled zone entries should yield more possession time when it matters, yet another area of weakness for the Montreal Canadiens that should improve with Laine’s addition to the lineup.

It’s no secret that you win more games when the puck is on your stick, in the offensive zone.

MONTREAL LOVES LAINE 🗣️

The @CanadiensMTL crowd really gave Patrik Laine a warm welcome. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/3ViIj62dT4

— NHL (@NHL) September 24, 2024

Patty’s Puck Protection

Generating controlled entries is just the beginning for Laine, as he also has a tendency to drive the offence with the puck on his stick in high-danger scoring areas, drawing defenders toward him, which, in turn, makes life a little easier on his linemates. With his big frame and long reach, it becomes very difficult for defenders to force turnovers.

on a bien senti ce « wooo »

we felt that “wooo”#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/ZaFMHBI3SQ

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 4, 2024

There was one particular shift against the Islanders where Laine spent two whole minutes (!) in the offensive zone, as he and linemates Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky played keep away, seemingly toying with their opponents. This style of play is also a strong suit for these two young players, showing that Laine can adapt to the pieces already in place, rather than forcing a re-tool of the team’s offensive strategies.

Before long, this line could very well be too good to dismantle, and having a legitimate second line would be a welcome sight for all involved, including St-Louis, who is enjoying a healthy lineup for the first time since his taking over.

It’s a rare opportunity to share the wealth throughout the lineup. Consequently, coaches formulating a game plan to shut down the Canadiens would no longer have to simply focus on a few players, or one line.

Montreal Canadiens Aura

The Bell Centre was electric both times they got a chance to watch Laine in action. Unsurprisingly, the crowd went berserk when two goals in two games.

The re-invigoration goes beyond the fans, who definitely deserve a little more excitement in the mix considering the high prices of NHL tickets. Laine’s stoic, yet positive personality has started to spread among Montreal Canadiens players, energizing them at a time when the team risks of falling by the wayside due to the struggles involved in playing for a rebuilding organization.

The post-game reactions, including in the dressing room, are a testament to Laine’s affability and forbearance, not to mention the impressive speed in which he fit in with his new teammates despite missing an extended stretch of games to start the season.

It’s almost like his presence inspired the rest of the team to step up, work harder, and focus on not only individual growth, but team-wide improvements as well.

#Habs Patrik Laine on the ovation he received from the fans at the Bell Centre tonight: “that was the most outrageous thing I’ve ever heard in my life” – says he felt he didn’t deserve it but will remember it for the rest of his life.

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) December 4, 2024

Hockey Humans, Not Hockey Robots

Laine’s recent health issues are well documented, and while mental health remains stigmatized in the professional sports setting, having a player openly discussing his use of a therapist is an important reminder that once the uniforms come off, hockey players also deal with difficult situations that can cast a dark cloud on their day-to-day lives.

Everyone stumbles once in a while, that’s to be expected.

It’s the manner in which you get back up that really counts, and you’d be hard-pressed to argue Laine did not take all the right steps to get back to doing what he loves most, playing hockey.

It makes rooting for the 26-year-old Finn a rather easy proposal.

#Habs Patrik Laine: “I talked with my therapist about this when I was a little nervous yesterday and decided putting this jersey on today is an achievement after everything and everything that comes after that is a plus.”

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) December 4, 2024

What are your impressions of the newest member of the Montreal Canadiens, Patrik Laine? Let us know in the comments below.