A Winning Habit
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The Montreal Canadiens should try to acquire Patrik Laine via trade

By Omar L

WINNIPEG, MB - APRIL 12: Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrates his second period goal against the St. Louis Blues in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on April 12, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - APRIL 12: Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrates his second period goal against the St. Louis Blues in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on April 12, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 7: Montreal Canadiens Patrik Laine (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Laine could’ve helped himself out during his slumps if his play away from the puck wasn’t so poor either. Laine gets a lot of comparisons to Phil Kessel getting dubbed a ‘one-trick pony.’ Watching him some nights, especially this past season, you can tell the commitment to two-way play wasn’t there.

Despite being a shooting machine (always hitting at least 200 shots a year), the opposition always getting more chances at 5v5 than he himself was generating. That did a number on his shot suppression stats which aren’t flattering in the slightest finishing the year with a RelCA/60 of -5.46 meaning the other team was getting five chances on net when Laine was on the ice vs. off the ice.

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It’s not surprising to see why Paul Maurice didn’t trust Laine in his own zone or when the Jets needed to hold down a lead.

There’s no guarantee that changes. Ovechkin went through the same growing process with the Washington Capitals as he realized playing a more reliable team-friendly style will lead to winning. He’s been able to improve the art so much so that he’s still in the Rocket Richard conversation every season.

Laine isn’t there yet, and even if he takes as long as Ovechkin did, he’s still a top player in the league. The raw scoring is enough to generate interest, and the Montreal Canadiens would truly improve with having him on the team.

Half of Laine’s goals this season came from the man advantage, and he put up 20 power play goals the year before. He would provide the Habs with another lethal slap shot option aside from Shea Weber, and his regular wrist shot is still quick and powerful.

It’s hard not to imagine a future duo between himself and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and if the Montreal Canadiens can keep Cole Caufield in the weeds, the firepower in the roster will be unparalleled.

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