Laine has been such a force in the playoffs, much much better than his stats would suggest (3+1 in 5 games). Now with that said, the best part of it all is that he's accomplished this despite of playing in the worst possibly combination for him, meaning ELL.
Somehow, despite of this unit having absolutely horrendous track-record, they still seem to find away to each other - sadly. Which alone speaks volumes about the ridiculous asset management from the Jets staff, mainly Maurice. Ehlers disappeared entirely last year in the playoffs and he's been one of the worst Jets wingers in this year's playoffs as well so nothing new there. Little is Little, a good 3rd line center. Meanwhile Laine and Connor have shown incredible chemistry along the year, but because Scheifele and Wheelers cannot function with Ehlers, that means he falls down for Laine to carry. Hayes - eventhough one could argue with a good conscience that he hasn't been all that great since arriving to Jets - just had a fantastic game against the Blues and is much better player than the early declined Little.
Laine could be playing with line mates such as Hayes, Connor, Perreault or even Roslovic. The Jets have a deep offensive pool. But no, he absolutely has to play with the dysfunctional mess known as the ELL. I cannot but help to wonder how it is even possible (when the team is fighting in the playoffs), let alone be baffled about Maurice's train of thought, or rather the lack of it. He seems like a man who doesn't accept the reality of something just not working even if he had a full season worth of experience watching the mess first hand and all the statistical data right under his nose. To waste away his best goal scorer day after day after day, of which does nothing but decrease the team's chances of running deep into the playoffs (let alone be bad for his development), just pushes the standards of incompetence to another level.
Anyway, this young man will be taking the first ship out of Winnipeg that becomes available. He'll be RFA after this season and probably already contemplating about the possible avenues while his agent is looking for teams' to sign him (with the cost of course) unless Jets come around and agree to trade him. Laine's inner circle wasn't happy about the way he had been handled, while this was some half a year ago, so I'm certain they are even less now. There's absolutely no way he will look up for yet another year of playing with inferior line mates, low and inconsistent ice time. Normally the first line plays 20 minutes a night no matter what, while he just might get 17+ if he happens to be absolutely terrific. If a trade or move doesn't work and he's stuck with the Jets, he'll sign a bridge deal and take the Trouba route out. Really saddens to see how he's been treated and misutilized.
The Jets have one game left to fix their line up, starting by dropping Little and Ehlers (if he's not injured already), then replace these guys with maybe Hayes and Perreault, that is if Connor isn't available. Otherwise we might be looking at Laine's last game in the Winnipeg.