Laine welcomes potential for rivalry with Matthews, Maple Leafs

For now, its existence is only in the mind of Patrik Laine. But that doesn't make it any less real to him.

Ahead of his first meeting with the only player chosen ahead of him at the draft last summer, Laine perked up at the thought of forming an authentic head-to-head rivalry with Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs, wishing to be a part of moments that he enjoyed while watching the NHL as a youngster.

"(Alex) Ovechkin was my idol," Laine told TSN's Mark Masters. "He had that kind of rivalry against (Sidney) Crosby so it was quite awesome to watch those Penguins-Capitals games. There was just so much, so much between those teams and between those two players and it would be quite awesome to feel that, feel that moment, and I think we could have that kind of moment today against Auston and Toronto."

Related: Why everyone should stop talking about a Matthews-Laine rivalry

Laine has picked his spots since the lead-up to the draft, when he promised he was the better of the two prospects. He took a team-first mentality when asked about Matthews' four-goal debut, and recently told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston: "I don't need a rivalry between us. I just focus on my own job."

Yet on game day, he can't help but daydream about starring in his own rivalry - much like the duels that once piqued his interest - and being entrenched in the narrative that makes this game the one to watch.

And perhaps having the opportunity to validate what he continues to believe, as well.

Problem is, the stone-faced Matthews is as proficient in avoiding the bait as he is in debuts. He's never indulged the second overall draft pick that considers him the Crosby to his Ovechkin, and is putting no extra stock into his first trip to Winnipeg.

"I don't think either side is making too much of it," Matthews told Jeff Hamilton of the Winnipeg Free Press. "We came here to get two points."