Laine trying to deke hype, take aim at roster spot

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This article was published 26/09/2016 (3329 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Patrik Laine is well aware of the expectations he faces from the Winnipeg Jets and the team’s eager fans.

But Laine, the second-overall NHL draft pick, is doing his best to ignore the hype.

“I just want to focus on what I’m doing here and my job, which is playing hockey,” the 18-year-old Finnish forward said after his Jets training camp debut Monday. “I’m good at it, and I just want to play hockey and give myself the best shot every time I’m on the ice.”

His mission is to obtain an opening day roster spot, although for many fans that seems like a foregone conclusion.

“That’s my only goal, to make it to this team and play in the NHL the whole season,” the Tampere, Finland native said, making him one of roughly 60 camp attendees with the same ambitions.

Surely he wants to drop 30 goals on the league during his rookie season… perhaps take a crack at the Calder Memorial Trophy?

“No. Everything else is just a plus,” he said. “(I’m) just (working hard) every day and hopefully I can make it to the team.”

The 18-year-old’s world was turned upside down after the draft. Since then, Laine has been caught in a whirlwind of obligations, including the Jets’ development camp in July and the recent World Cup of Hockey. After getting a pretty stiff test against the world’s best, Laine said he managed just fine as the youngest player in the tournament.

“It’s the best tournament in the world, that’s what it’s like to be on the ice,” said Laine, who was held pointless in Finland’s playoff hope-killing trio of preliminary-round losses. “I think the pace was just good. I think I (played) pretty well.”

Laine arrived in Winnipeg Friday and, for the time being, he’s living out of a hotel room until he finds a more permanent residence for the season.

“It’s awesome to finally be here and battle with these guys and have fun and practise hard,” he said. “Of course, everything is new and bigger. I think it’s going to be my home soon, I’m going to feel like that. (Winnipeg) is not that big, it’s exactly what I like.”

Laine was seen having a couple of friendly conversations with Blake Wheeler. The left-winger said he’ll be picking the new captain’s brain at every opportunity.

“Yeah. He’s an awesome guy and knows how to play this game and he’s been here a long time,” Laine said. “I think that I’m going to get a lot out of him, a lot of tips, and that kind of information about games. That will be great.”

Just a few feet away, Jets alternate captain Dustin Byfuglien was holding court with several members of the media. When Laine’s name was brought up, however, Byfuglien turned his body to his right, sized up the rookie and issued a scathing assessment.

“Terrible tape job. Really clumsy,” Byfuglien deadpanned. “He seems to shoot the puck OK. I didn’t pay attention too much but he seemed to be able to get up and down the ice OK.”

Of course, No. 33 was joking, hoping to draw the attention of Laine who, perhaps surprisingly, continued answering questions.

“It should be good. It should be a lot better,” Byfuglien said of having the No. 2 overall draft pick on the team. “It gives us a different look. It can change things up.”

Oh, and Laine’s thoughts on the trade request from Jacob Trouba?

“I’ve read it. I don’t have an opinion about that. It’s not my situation, not my deal. I don’t have to think about it,” he said. “Obviously, we’d like to keep him here.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @scottbilleck