We got a glimpse of Patrik Laine at center for a brief few games last season.
So far in the pre-season, the Laine-at-center experiment is paying dividends.
- One goal and an assist on Wednesday in the 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
- One assist in the 5-3 win over the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 2.
- Two goals in the 4-3 win over the Sabres on Sep. 30.
- One assist in the 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sep. 24.
All total, six points (three goals, three assists) for Laine. The line consisting of Johnny Gaudreau, Laine, and Kirill Marchenko combined for six points in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. The trio each picked up one goal and an assist.
Early returns on the Patrik Laine center experiment have been positive. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/00p0Ip6A0L
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 4, 2023
It appears the chances of Laine cracking the opening night roster at center seem quite good. Of the Jackets' six pre-season games, Laine has played in four of them, with three games at center.
#CBJ coach Pascal Vincent on trying Patrik Laine at center, where he skated today: "He really wants to do it. ... If it doesnt work, we havent lost anything because he can go back on the wing and he has a better understanding of somebody elses job. To me, its a win-win."
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) September 27, 2023
Before a season-ending triceps injury late last season, Laine had four assists in two games at the center position in a 7-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights and a 7-6 overtime win over the Washington Capitals.
The early chemistry with Gaudreau and Marchenko is one of the line combinations to look out for.
| Corsi For/Against | Shots For/Against | Scoring Chances For/Against | High Danger Chances For/Against | Goals For/Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/5 | 9/2 | 5/0 | 5/0 | 2-0 |
| Corsi For/Against | Shots For/Against | Scoring Chances For/Against | High Danger Chances For/Against | Goals For/Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13/5 | 8/4 | 6/3 | 4/1 | 1/0 |
| Corsi For/Against | Shots For/Against | Scoring Chances For/Against | High Danger Chances For/Against | Goals For/Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/8 | 4/4 | 4/3 | 2/2 | 2/0 |
He played on the wing with Adam Fantilli and Alexandre Texier in the 4-3 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sep. 24.
As it appears Laine will be the opening night center for the Blue Jackets, he's up for the challenge as BlueJackets.com writer Jeff Svoboda wrote in his Q&A with Laine.
We actually had those talks sometimes when I was in Winnipeg. It’s been on my mind every now and then and never took off, and I kind of forgot about it. And then obviously last year when we were missing a lot of guys, I was talking to (Vincent) quite a bit about it. We were watching a lot of video and working on that, and then the opportunity presented itself. And now it happens that (Vincent) is the head coach and he can make those calls. I’m happy he’s willing to try it out.
It’s preseason. We have nothing to lose. Worse-case scenario, I feel like I’m learning the game from a different perspective, and you can always go back to the wing. But I like it. And I wouldn’t even be trying it if I thought I could just survive and be average. I really think that I can be a really good center. I have to work on faceoffs and all that kind of stuff, but that’s what I’ve been doing and that’s what I’ll keep doing even if I’m not playing center.
The Blue Jackets finish the pre-season on Saturday with a rematch against the Washington Capitals in D.C. on Saturday, Oct. 7.
The Jackets will ice the NHL roster so we'll probably get one more look of Laine at center before the real thing.
