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Laine expects to be the next Ovechkin in five years

Finland v Canada - 2016 IIHF World Championship Ice Hockey: Gold Medal Game

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - MAY 22: Patrik Laine #29 of Finland skates against Canada during the 2016 IIHF World Championship gold medal game at the Ice Palace on May 22, 2016 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Anna Sergeeva/Getty Images)

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Patrik Laine will likely be the second overall pick in this month’s NHL Entry Draft. The Finnish forward has had a fantastic year with the national team and with his club team Tappara Tempere.

Laine won gold with Finland’s World Junior team in January and although his team came up short in last month’s World Championship, the 18-year-old was named the tournament’s MVP.

As prospects and hockey minds gathered in Buffalo for the Draft Combine this weekend, it was Laine who provided one of the more interesting quotes to TSN’s Gino Redo.

That’s some serious confidence from Laine. But you have to love that kind of attitude if you’re a fan of the Winnipeg Jets (they have the second overall pick in the draft).

As for Auston Matthews, he has no problem being compared to current NHL stars.

“I think I can definitely be a No. 1 centerman, a franchise centerman in the NHL,” said Matthews, per the Toronto Sun.

“Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Toews — those are two guys I really like to watch. I admire just the way they compete, they are leaders, they win. Two Stanley Cups each, two guys I look up to.”