It didn’t take long for the Winnipeg Jets to realize they struck gold with Patrik Laine. He scored 36 goals in 73 games in his inaugural NHL season, finishing second in the Calder race to the man who was the first overall pick, Auston Matthews.
But that’s just fine. Thirty six goals is a lot. But he followed that up with 44 in year two, when he was just 19. Before he hit his 20s, Laine had accumulated 80 goals. Not a bad start.
Two people seem like they’re attached to Laine: Alex Ovechkin, he of the similar play style and insane goal totals, and Teemu Selanne, the NHL’s top Finnish-born player.