Laine Needs a Better Center To Be Effective

Patrik Laine is a game-time decision for the first game coming out of the trade deadline. Ok, stuff happens but when general manager, Kent Hughes decided to stand pat, he knew he didn’t have a proper center to get the most out of his winger. Why? 

He chose to ignore this need at the deadline but still wanted to compete for the playoffs and it’s hard to do that when you don’t have a real second-line center candidate. 

Enter Owen Beck. Is he ready to help support a player like Laine? At 21, it might be. This could be the future hope for him, but this team is trying to make the playoffs, and that changes how you set a lineup. Beck spoke to the media before the game against the Calgary Flames.

“I’m looking to build my game and adapt to this level contribute as much as I can and be a big piece going forward,” Beck said before the game. “I would love to generate more offensive zone time and some offensive chances.”

If the Canadiens fall short, this is one of the shortcomings of the team. It might get filled in the future but they’ve been trying for years now with no luck. Beck is just the latest hope that this will happen even though his experience doesn’t support the role he’s been given.

I like Beck and Laine deserves more. He has six points in his last six games but only two of them are goals. 

If you want to know why he only has three goals five-on-five, this is one of the reasons why.