Columbus Blue Jackets sniper Patrik Laine should have no problem exceeding his own expectations for the upcoming season.
"I've never been a numbers guy, like I don't set certain goals before the year, like 'I wanna score this many' or whatever," Laine told The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. "I just want to be a better player than I was last year, and that's gonna be easy this year, because I was pretty (much) shit last year."
Laine, who averaged 35 goals per season during his first four NHL campaigns, found twine just 12 times in 46 games last year - two of which came in his one tilt with the Winnipeg Jets before he was traded to the Blue Jackets.
The 23-year-old's underlying numbers were also dreadful: he posted a 40.4 expected goals share, and the Blue Jackets were outscored 45-22 when Laine was on the ice at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.
A new season means a fresh start, and Laine should benefit from the offseason addition of established playmaker Jakub Voracek getting him the puck.
