2016 Draft: Winnipeg Jets select Patrik Laine 2nd overall

Despite all the rumours and whispers about the Jets moving the second overall pick or preferring the other Finn, Jesse Puljujarvi, the Winnipeg Jets select Partik Laine from Tampere, Finland.

Here’s some quick notes:

The 6’4, 201 pound winger dominated the SM-Liiga, putting up 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points in 46 games. Laine’s 0.72 points per game pace was the highest in the SM-Liiga for an under 18-year-old player since Aleksander Barkov in 2011-12.

Laine had quite the successful year, as shown by his noted awards on his eliteprospects page:

Laine is a goalscorer and shot volume contributor extraordinaire. He protects the puck well with his size both down low and when gaining the offensive zone. While not known for it, Laine is fairly underrated for his vision and playmaking skills, which have been improving quickly as did his skating throughout the season.

Welcome to the organization Patrik Laine. Winnipeg unlikely have seen a goalscorer on their team like you in quite some while.