Some hockey analysts wonder whether Patrik Laine will be able to excel at center after thriving on the wing since his National Hockey League (NHL) debut, but he believes he has all the answers, to silence the skeptics.
• Also read: Joe Thornton may not have said his last word in the NHL
• Also read: Connor Bedard looks back on his dream evening
The 25-year-old Finn begins his eighth career on the Bettman circuit and is best known for the quality of his play on the left wing. However, his head coach Pascal Vincent intends to use him at center for Cole Sillinger and Johnny Gaudreau for the time being.
Laine doesn’t have the reputation of Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid, among others, except that he thinks he can stand out now.
“I’m not going to start kneeling in front of everyone or being an antagonist. I know I can compete with these guys and that’s why I want to be successful in the first place,” he told the Columbus Post-Dispatch.
The former Winnipeg Jets, who scored 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points in 55 games with the Jackets last season, will be the key player on a team that also counts Boone Jenner, Adam Fantilli and Sean Kuraly at the position.
His -12 differential and questionable effectiveness in the faceoff circle raise certain questions. On the other hand, Laine seems to have convinced Gaudreau, even if the recent past has not been particularly glorious, as the first of the two suffered injuries.
“We had a few rehearsals together last year and it looked like what I had [Matthew] Tkachuk [chez les Flames de Calgary], he estimated. We did a good job in pre-season playing efficiently and he is doing a solid job in the centre. That will help us tremendously this year.”
Columbus will face the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday to start the 2023-2024 season.