Laine eager for playoff push

WINNIPEG -Two weeks from today, the Winnipeg Jets will play their one and only exhibition game against the Vancouver Canucks before they begin the Qualifying Round against the Calgary Flames.

For Patrik Laine that might be the game where he gets himself up to speed for playoff hockey. The Finnish forward joked Wednesday that he might not be where he should be on August 1.

"I'm kind of far away. Hard to see myself playing playoff hockey in two weeks but I'll just try to make the most out of (training camp) and try to be as well prepared as I and we can," said Laine.

"Just try and work hard these next two weeks so we'll be ready when the puck drops."

Head coach Paul Maurice went a little easier on Laine with his evaluation three days into Phase 3.

"He kind of looks like everybody else. I probably would have anticipated a bigger gap in their games. There was a spectrum of where I thought they would be based on how much ice time they had had in whatever city they were in," said Maurice.

"But he looks good. He's shooting the puck right. He's running his routes. Today we had a pretty good pace, we had some battling today. I don't think anybody looks like they will in two weeks, we all expect that."

Considering the short time frame that players will have in Phase 3 to get in game shape there might be some added stress of that and trying not to get injured in the process.

"If you worry about injuries and that kind of stuff on the ice, it's just going to slow you down," said Laine.

"Just try not to think out there and try to get ready for games and getting that game shape back and try to work hard every day."

Laine didn't attend training camp back in the fall as his contract was being negotiated. So being at summer camp has been a bonus in his mind and considering all the changes with social distancing and having to wear a mask thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, it's been a strange week for the 22-year-old.

"It's kind of weird and different than what we're used to. We're obviously trying to take care of each other and try to be safe," said Laine.

"Our health goes first and there's just hockey so these are the more important things."

After signing his two-year, 13.5 million dollar contract back in September Laine requested more responsibility. His average ice time shot up from 17:14 in 2018-19 to a career high 19:25 this season. He was much better in his own end at five-on-five as well bumping up his plus minus from -24 to a plus 8.

"All the stats and ice time have been up but I'm always looking for more responsibilities and try to be worth it," said Laine.

"I think I've shown everybody that I'm capable of playing top minutes against top players. Hopefully I'm going to get more responsibilities in the future and just try to be worth it."

NEXT UP, OLYMPICS

Laine has played for his country numerous times including the 2016 World Junior Hockey Championships, the 2016 World Cup and the World Hockey Championships. With the CBA extension including NHL participation in the Olympics starting with 2022 in Beijing, Laine hopes to add that to his resume.

"That's the dream to play in the Olympics, it doesn't matter which sport you are doing," said Laine.

"Obviously I've been at the World Champs once, done the World Juniors and stuff so that (the Olympics) would be the next step in a Finnish jersey so that would be pretty sweet."