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.
.@PatrikLaine29 just told me he'd compare Matthews and himself to Toews and Oveckin. Says will take him 5 yrs to be like Ovie @TSNHockey
— Gino Reda (@GinoRedaTSN) June 4, 2016
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.”