You can’t say prospect Patrik Laine doesn’t have confidence.
The likely second overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft was talking with TSN’s Gino Reda and he told the hockey insider that it will take him five years to be like Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin. The 18-year-old compared his game to the Great 8 and said fellow prospect Auston Matthews compares to Jonathan Toews.
.@PatrikLaine29 just told me he'd compare Matthews and himself to Toews and Oveckin. Says will take him 5 yrs to be like Ovie @TSNHockey
— Gino Reda (@GinoRedaTSN) June 4, 2016
It’s a lofty comparison to make.
Ovechkin scored 50 goals in his first season with the Caps and by the time he was in his fifth year he’d already scored 50+ three times and scored 65 goals in 2007-08. If Laine wants to get to that level, he’ll have to come out of the gates in historical fashion. Besting Ovechkin will be nearly impossible.
Laine is a very good prospect. He put up impressive goal scoring numbers with Tappara Tampere, including leading the club with 10 goals in 18 playoff matches. He’s shown he can dominate internationally like he did at the World Juniors. Laine needs to show now that he can score at the NHL level. Emulating Ovechkin’s success won’t be easy.
The youngster clearly has all the confidence in the World. He told Matt Brown of Sportsnet.ca “I have the best ability to become the best player in the NHL someday.” That could be true. But, Laine needs to prove he can succeed at the NHL level before he makes lofty claims about what type of player he can be. He’s got the skills to be elite.
[theScore]
