Update: Paul Postma is now in 4th place among all KHL dmen in scoring. 18 points in 24 games.
- Rexypoo

It's the KHL.....give it a rest. Patrice Cormier is a point a game man there as well.
Whoopie !!

So top notch, he’s made the playoffs six times in over 20 seasons, and is currently playing the best goal scorer of the generation on his 4th line
- Rexypoo

Laine is close to playing 5th line. Wake up and watch the games that we watch.

Laine is close to playing 5th line. Wake up and watch the games that we watch.
- bennythehat

My gut feeling on Laine is that we see him in Finland give it everything he has and look like the star he can be. At that point forward we will all know , including the coach ,that he has it in him and needs to bring that same game every night.

If he flops in Finland then I'd say we have some problems as to what the next move for him might be. Maybe ban him from playing Playstation and make him study more game film.....lol. One must consider though that this is the same kid who at 19 scored 44 goals. He will bounce back from his slump just like Ehlers is starting to do. Lots of players go through it. Even Gretzky went 23 games without a goal .

My gut feeling on Laine is that we see him in Finland give it everything he has and look like the star he can be. At that point forward we will all know , including the coach ,that he has it in him and needs to bring that same game every night.

If he flops in Finland then I'd say we have some problems as to what the next move for him might be. Maybe ban him from playing Playstation and make him study more game film.....lol. One must consider though that this is the same kid who at 19 scored 44 goals. He will bounce back from his slump just like Ehlers is starting to do. Lots of players go through it. Even Gretzky went 23 games without a goal .
- jetsnation

It's not so much the lack of scoring, it's the lack of perceived effort.

It's not so much the lack of scoring, it's the lack of perceived effort.
- bennythehat

I think a large part of it is a sudden lack of confidence which grows worse each game. Puljujarvi is experiencing the same thing. Suddenly you hesitate on decisions, or shoot the puck from the outside or dump it in because of its the safe thing to do. It also affects your concentration. When the other team sees you on the bench cursing at yourself they feed off that . They'll bump and grind him and chirp at him even harder. When your frustrated and beating up on yourself your not concentrating. ...and we know what Gretz says....the game is 90% concentration.

This Finland trip couldn't come at a better time for Laine. With 18,000 fans screaming their lungs out every time he is on the ice it can't do anything but be a big confidence booster for him. I'm always glass half full.

Do you agree though that Maurice had them sitting back in protect mode to start the third and that was a mistake?
- Ross77

no - he didn't ask them to sit back. They were a tired team, 4th game in the week and back to back in a tough arena against a good team. Toronto had more to give in the 3rd and it showed.

He doesn't seem to be trusting Perreault very much either these days. I think he's got one goal or something in the last 25 games played. There was a game few games back where he to got less than 10 minutes.

Its clear he didn't trust Connor either last year. Than he makes a fluke move and puts him on the top line once Perreault got injured. That decisions was never explained. My stuff is not armchair. I do know that playing your top line in excess of 20 minutes a game is going to hurt down the road, no matter how conditioned of an athlete one is.

Top coaches roll four lines and nowadays teams have a top 9 that can score. We have the ability to be that team. Maurice has archaic thinking, whereas he plays the crap out of his top line. Has a traditional 3rd line as a checking line and a non-existent 4th line. I don't see how guys playing only 6 minutes a game or less can get into the groove of a game, especially when they are used to getting 15 minutes plus.
- TheUltimateJet

It wasn't a fluke decision. It's the process. If placed there by the coach from a napkin there is pressure on Connor to perform. If it comes up because of need due to injury its opportunity. It's a great way to develop while protecting confidence and the player's image. The same thing is happening right now with Rosy. He will get his chance as a 16 minute/night centre as injury happens and he will either run with it or not.

I think a large part of it is a sudden lack of confidence which grows worse each game. Puljujarvi is experiencing the same thing. Suddenly you hesitate on decisions, or shoot the puck from the outside or dump it in because of its the safe thing to do. It also affects your concentration. When the other team sees you on the bench cursing at yourself they feed off that . They'll bump and grind him and chirp at him even harder. When your frustrated and beating up on yourself your not concentrating. ...and we know what Gretz says....the game is 90% concentration.

This Finland trip couldn't come at a better time for Laine. With 18,000 fans screaming their lungs out every time he is on the ice it can't do anything but be a big confidence booster for him. I'm always glass half full.
- jetsnation

Well said.

I like Laine on the 4th right now because we need production from the top three lines immediately. I noticed he was getting extra minutes with Lowry and Tanev, I liked that too. He can join that line on offensive zone faceoffs while Copp joins them in d-zone.

Well said.

I like Laine on the 4th right now because we need production from the top three lines immediately. I noticed he was getting extra minutes with Lowry and Tanev, I liked that too. He can join that line on offensive zone faceoffs while Copp joins them in d-zone.
- 2.0

Thanks 2.0. I predict Laine will be back on the second line for the two games in Finland. Florida is really struggling this season but Barkov will be top line too. I'm still absolutely shocked that Vesalainen didn't get the nod. Maurice implied it would be Vesalainen going in around the Detroit game. Something must have changed other than his decision to go with eight D. Petan could have stayed at home but maybe Maurice decided that Petan could use a nice break and some bonding after what he's been through with his father. Just guessing on that.