Photo Credit: Rodney Braun
When Jets (super) rookie Patrik Laine scored his third goal of the game last night I checked his goal scoring pace against that of his countryman Teemu Selanne’s pace from 1992-93 and lo and behold I discovered they were on the exact same pace:
For those keeping track at home:
Selanne first 14 games: 11 goals
Laine first 14 games: 11 goals #NHLJets #Itshappening— Dave Minuk (@ICdave) November 9, 2016
Apparently some folks liked that comparison.
Selanne had a total of five hat tricks during his rookie season (including a four goal affair) however Laine has already managed to get his first two hat tricks in his first 14 games (Took Selanne until game 27 to get his second hat trick). Also worth noting is that Laine is 18 while Selanne was 22 at the time they were both rookies (Teemu had the obligation of joining the Finnish Army). Something else to consider is that these are two very different eras in which they played/are playing.
Following the game (you can hear entire scrum here) I spoke with the Jets rookie about keeping pace with Selanne’s goal total:
I asked Patrik Laine after the game about being on same pace as his countryman Teemu Selanne (11 goals in 14 games). #NHLJets @IllegalCurve pic.twitter.com/EDDye2Hc7j
— Dave Minuk (@ICdave) November 9, 2016
Worth noting that Patrik Laine now leads the NHL in scoring with 11 goals and has the most points of any rookie with 15 (three more than Toronto’s William Nylander who has 12 in 13 games). His shooting percentage is a lights out 25%.
Some other interesting notes via Elias Sports Bureau:
– Patrik Laine (18 years, 203 days) is the youngest player with 4 points in a game since Sidney Crosby (18 years, 171 days) on January 25, 2006 against the Capitals
– Patrik Laine is the 1st rookie in NHL history with multiple hat tricks through 14 team games.
– With 11 goals, Laine has scored the most goals through 14 team games by a player younger than 19 in NHL history
– Patrik Laine is the first rookie with at least 11 goals through 14 team games since Alexi Yashin had 11 in 1993-94
Most Goals Through 14 Team Games – Players Younger than 19 in NHL History
2016-17 Patrik Laine 11
1983-84 Steve Yzerman 9
1981-82 Dale Hawerchuk 9
1993-94 Alexandre Daigle 8
With the start to the 2016-17 season for Patrik Laine I just hope Lids has some good sales on hats because at this pace Winnipeggers are going to need it.
