If Patrik Laine’s presence in Montreal was the only way to be in the mix this year, that means the Canadian wouldn’t have been in the mix anyway.
First of all, the story of the “mix” does not date from the Canadian’s golf tournament before training camp when Patrik Laine had just been acquired.
It first came from Geoff Molson during an interview with Renaud Lavoie last April, well before Laine’s arrival. “We can dream of being in the mix next year,” said the club’s president and CEO.
We must therefore understand that the big boss believes in the “mix” even without the Finnish counter in his team.
Also, there is no logic in hoping to go from one of the worst clubs to a team that is in the race for the playoffs with the acquisition of a player that was given to us. This is insane.
a “nanane”
I was very happy with Laine’s arrival. I’m convinced he would have found his touch again. He missed a lot of games in recent years, but injuries were never that worrying for his future. However, it remains a given player. This is not part of the grand Gorton-Hughes plan. It was just a little unexpected incident for the players and fans. No one from management counted on him to think about the series.
I can believe, in my living room, that it would have been a success, but as the management of an NHL club, it was a gamble to give $17.4 million to a player who did not play a season complete for five years, who almost didn’t play last year, who has major defensive deficiencies and who went through the player assistance program.
Photo MARTIN ALARIE
Even if he were excited like me, I am convinced that the Gorton-Hughes duo did not tell themselves that Laine was the key to access to the playoff race. And if that were the case, I guarantee you that that means that the CH would not have been in the “mix” anyway.
The defense of’on board
Defensively, CH was one of the worst teams in the league last year. Since 2020, in 174 games, Laine has a differential of -58. The differential sometimes means nothing. When it resembles the temperature in the Arctic, however, it starts to be significant. In short, it wasn’t Laine who would have helped the CH with that.
It’s a big step to move to one of the worst clubs to a team that is fighting for the playoffs. It’s going to take a lot more than Laine. That’s not a little improvement. This is a much better penalty kill. This is a second trio worthy of the name. It’s depth that can change the game. They are effective and consistent defenders.
Nobody really sees the Canadian in the race this year, except in Montreal. I wish it for us. It makes our winters warmer. But if it only depended on Patrik Laine, we’re a long way from the cup to the lips. Rather, it’s what the young core the team is growing that will dictate how competitive this team will be.
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