Patrik Laine is going to the bank.
José Théodore is convinced that he will not do any favors for CEO Kent Hughes.
Théodore is in love with Patrik Laine, a player he compares to legends like Alex Ovechkin.
“That’s where we see why he’s a second overall pick after Auston Matthews. Why in his first match in the National League, at 18, he scored three goals. It reminds me a little of Ovechkin.
With six goals in seven games, Laine gives hope to a team that seemed in search of an offensive shock. And according to Théodore, his impact is not limited to the scoresheet.
“I really think that Laine is currently giving a second wind to the team and especially to Martin St-Louis, who needed a guy like that to, a little, help his team.”
Such praise from a former star player shows how essential Laine has become in this room.
Théodore did not hesitate to approach Laine’s personality, which he describes as perfect for the Montreal market. With his experience in another Canadian market (Winnipeg) and his relaxed attitude towards the media, Laine seems to have found the balance necessary to perform under the spotlight at the Bell Centre.
“He has experience in a Canadian market. The way he responds to the media and the way he acts, it’s like he’s taking a little pressure off himself. And I think his strategy is well thought out.”
But Théodore warns the Canadian: Laine is a superstar, and a superstar must be paid accordingly.
“If he continues his season like this and he finishes with 25, 30 goals. I just hope the organization doesn’t try to sign him at a discount because he loves Montreal.
He likes the attention, but we’re going to have to pay him what he’s worth, that’s for sure.”
Georges Laraque spoke of a contract of 7 years and $49 million, or $7 million per year.
Listening to Théo, Laine will become the highest paid player in CH with at least $8 million per year. Especially since he can negotiate this summer, when he will have one year left on his contract.
If the Montreal Canadiens are hesitant to offer a lucrative contract to Patrik Laine, several reasons could explain this caution, despite his impressive performance on the power play.
These hesitations are based both on financial considerations, questions of consistency in his game and lessons learned from similar situations in the past.
Here is why the CH could think twice before giving him a long-term and very expensive contract:
Patrik Laine is a player who, while extremely talented, has shown ups and downs throughout his NHL career.
He can be spectacular over several games, as his recent hat trick shows, but he has also gone through long periods of offensive drought in the past.
In both Winnipeg and Columbus, Laine was sometimes criticized for his lack of effort or consistency, especially when he was not lined up in a role that highlighted him.
Offering a massive contract to a player who has not proven his consistency over a full season could prove risky.
If Laine doesn’t maintain his current level of performance, the team could end up with a contract that’s difficult to justify.
Laine is recognized for his offensive talents, notably his fearsome shot and his ability to produce spectacular goals.
However, his defensive shortcomings and limited involvement in the fuller aspects of the game are well documented.
The Canadian, who is looking to build a balanced and robust team under the direction of Martin St-Louis, could hesitate to commit long-term to a player who requires constant attention to compensate for his errors in the defensive zone.
Although his goals may mask these weaknesses in the short term, they could become problematic over a full season.
An overly generous contract for Laine, based on a relatively short period of success, could bring back memories of these past mistakes.
Since his arrival, chief executive Kent Hughes has shown that he prioritizes financial prudence and strategic asset management. Expensive signings or acquisitions are only considered if they are part of a long-term plan for the team.
Laine could ask for a contract that reflects his status as a No. 2 overall draft pick and prolific scorer, which would put his salary among the highest on the team.
Hughes might be hesitant to offer that kind of contract if it compromises the flexibility needed to extend other key young players or add missing pieces in the future.
Although Laine seems to handle the pressure of a Canadian market well, as he showed in Winnipeg, the reality in Montreal is even more intense.
In Montreal, every mistake is amplified by the media, and fans expect an impeccable level of effort from their star players.
$8 million per year for Patrik Laine…accepted or refused?
