The Winnipeg Jets don’t have Patrik Laine as their captain. He didn’t lead the team in points last season, and he isn’t the best overall player on the team.
But damn is he good, and damn is he fun. In his rookie season –the one right before this one, in case you forgot– he scored 36 goals and finished second in the Calder race to Auston Matthews.
We then knew then that this kid was special. Eighteen year-olds don’t score 36 goals in the world’s best hockey league. But bam, here he was.