From lottery pick to all-star: A timeline of Laine’s dazzling debut season

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This article was published 26/01/2017 (3168 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s difficult now to believe there was a difference of opinion about which Finn the Winnipeg Jets should, or would, select with the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. Patrik Laine was the guy.

The lottery draft gaveth, and the Jets didn’t waste the pick. Ultimately, history will show what kind of Jesse Puljujarvi develops into for the Edmonton Oilers.

But the early returns say the Jets did everything right in grabbing the right-shooting sniper ahead of him. It’s been an eventful seven months for the 18-year-old rookie sensation, who scored his 22nd goal of the season Thursday night in Chicago a couple of days after coming off the injured-reserve list following a concussion.

Though he could probably use the weekend off, Laine is in Los Angeles this weekend as the game’s best players meet up for the NHL All-Star Game festivities at the Staples Center. It’s just the latest achievement for Laine in what’s been a remarkable beginning to an NHL career.

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  June 24, 2016

  Patrik Laine, a 6-4, 205-pound winger from Finland, was selected with the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Winnipeg Jets.

  “It’s a very exciting time for the franchise, from the time we won the lottery we knew we were going to have the opportunity to get a very special player," Cheveldayoff gushed after Friday’s first round of the NHL Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo.

  "Meeting (Laine) at the combine, we had some great conversations and some good laughs and I think it’s going to be a really good fit for the city of Winnipeg and our franchise."

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWFqmnAFjYY

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  July 3, 2016

  Jets ink their prized draft pick to a three-year entry level contract. The 18-year-old Finn got the maximum salary allowed under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement, US$925,000, which includes the maximum games-played bonuses and a maximum 10 per cent signing bonus.

  “It’s quite awesome to sign my first NHL contract," he said. "I’ve always wanted to do that, and now I have done it, so I am proud of myself."

  

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  Sept. 18, 2016

  Laine, the youngest player in the tournament, and Team Finland open the World Cup of Hockey with a 4-1 loss to Finland. The team is then shut out by both Sweden and Russia to finish the round-robin with a disappointing 0-3 record.

  Laine was dangerous at times, firing 10 shots in three games but finished pointless. "Maybe you just have to be on your game all the time,” said Laine, when asked what he learned at the tournament.

  “You can’t have those sloppy shifts and you have to be quick all the time and play your best game all the time.”

  

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  Sept. 30, 2016

  Laine makes his preseason debut against the Edmonton Oilers, after returning from the World Cup.

  He had a couple of scoring chances playing on a line with Nic Petan and Joel Armia but was held off the scoresheet. "Of course it’s nice to get it over with and focus on the future and help my team to win," he said.

  "It’s nice to get some feeling on the power play, but the shots weren’t so good. I have to improve my game a lot. I will improve my game."

  

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  Oct. 13, 2016

  Laine registers his first NHL goal and his first NHL assist in his first NHL game — the season opener at home against the Carolina Hurricanes. His power-play goal with less than seven minutes left in regulation time came on a wrist shot from the point that sailed over goalie Cam Ward’s left shoulder. Laine then got a helper on Mathieu Perreault’s game-tying goal with 1:29 left in regulation. "It was unbelievable.

  You score the first goal just once, it was just special," said Laine. "I was happy with my game before the goal and I think I played pretty well.

  But it was nice to get the goal and the assist. I was just getting more and more into the game in the third period and after the goal, it was easy to go out there and do my thing and get the confidence back."

  

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  Oct. 19, 2016

  In a head-to-head battle with No.1 overall pick Auston Matthews of Toronto, Laine records his NHL first hat-trick in just his fourth NHL game. His third of the night was the OT winner as the Jets beat the Leafs 5-4.

  "I’ve never seen anybody score goals like Patrik Laine does in practice. Ever, in 20 years," said Jets head coach Paul Maurice.

  "There are guys that are good shooters in practice and they can’t seem to find a way to translate that into a game. But he has a gift, there’s no question about it."

  

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  Nov. 8, 2016

  Laine rips his ninth, 10th and 11th goals of the season for second hat-trick of the season in an 8-2 victory over the Dallas Stars to take over the NHL goal-scoring lead. “If you get the puck on his stick, you know he’s going to score,” said centre Mark Scheifele.

  “He’s a special player and he’s been doing awesome. He’s on the puck, he’s got a good stick. He’s getting in on guys, he’s physical and that stuff leads to creating chances for himself.”

  

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  Dec. 11, 2016

  With the score tied 2-2, Laine accidentally fires the puck into his own net midway through the third period to give Edmonton the lead. Oilers forward Mark Letestu was credited with the marker, which stood as the game winner.

  "He’s 18 years old and he feels terrible. These things happen. I’ve done it many times, it’s just a bad bounce," said Jets captain Blake Wheeler. "He’s done a hell of a job for us this year. He’s obviously a huge part of our team and you hate to see a guy have to feel that way after the game."

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hNOJqiJb-E

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  Jan. 3, 2017

  Laine registers his 20th goal of the season but didn’t have to display his usual rifle of a shot, sliding the puck into an empty net from just outside the blue line to solidify a 6-4 win over Tampa Bay. He also had a pair of assists.

  

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  Jan. 7, 2017

  Trying to corral a pass in the neutral zone from Mark Scheifele five minutes into the third period, Laine is levelled by Buffalo defenceman Jake McCabe, suffers a concussion and is out indefinitely.

  The Sabres eventually won 4-3. "He’s got a concussion," said Jets coach Paul Maurice. "He’ll start the stages of recovery with that, we’ll wait until the symptoms subside and then you start increasing the workload and then get back on the ice.

  There can’t be (a timetable) on any of these. We’ve had players this season that have gone through it, there’s no timeline."

  

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  Jan. 10, 2017

  Laine is the lone Jets player selected to participate in the 2017 NHL All-Star Game. The weekend celebration is to be hosted by the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Centre, Jan 28-29. "It’s not surprising to me," said veteran Winnipeg forward Mathieu Perreault.

  "I think, with the pace of the goals he’s been scoring and the ways he’s been scoring his goals, the skill set that he has, he definitely deserves to be in that game."

  

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  Jan. 24, 2017

  The Finnish rookie returns to the lineup against San Jose after missing eight games with a concussion. He helps set up a goal by centre Brian Little as the Jets pull ahead 3-2, but the Sharks rally for a 4-3 triumph. "It’s always hard (returning from an injury).

  It’s so much different to just do some bike workout and then come to the game. It’s so different, even though you’ve been skating by yourself or a couple times with the team," he said. "Just keep up the pace. It’s a fast game and (you) just have to be on your game all of the time."

  

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