WINNIPEG – When a player is as good as Patrik Laine, it’s a little tough to find a flaw.
“He’s got a terrible tape job,” joked Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien. “Really clumsy. He seems to shoot the puck OK.”
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Laine skated in his first training camp session with the Jets Monday morning. The forward missed the opening weekend as he was finishing up his time with Finland at the World Cup of Hockey. Laine is currently living in a hotel as he didn’t have a chance to settle into Winnipeg before the tournament.
“It’s awesome to be here finally,” Laine said. “To be here with these awesome players and get a chance to get to know each other.”
Laine was held pointless in the World Cup of Hockey but did manage a team-high 10 shots in three games. It was the first time the 18-year-old faced off against NHL players.
“The pace was pretty good,” Laine said. “They’re really good players. You have to be all the time on your game.”
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Winnipeg grabbed Laine second overall in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft. He scored 17 goals and 16 assists in 46 games last season in the Finnish Elite League. The promising prospect plans to ignore the expectations fans may have of him as he tries to fulfill his goal of cracking the club’s roster.
“I just want focus on what I’m doing here,” Laine said. “(I plan to) work hard every day and hope I can make the team.”
The Jets play their first exhibition game of the pre-season on Tuesday at MTS Centre. It’s not known if Laine will dress against the Calgary Flames.
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