Why Patrik Laine will lead your fantasy team in goals this season

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Before Patrik Laine was drafted second overall by the Winnipeg Jets, scouts drew up comparisons to one of the greatest goal scorers of all time - Washington Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin. It's a logical comparison: both left wingers have right-handed shots, possess great size and have lethal shots - specifically on the one-timer.

Laine has only 14 NHL games under his belt, so it is still premature to be making comparisons to one of the greats, but given how well he has acclimated to the North American game - let alone the NHL - I wouldn't be surprised if he became the first rookie since Ovechkin in 2005-06 to reach the 50-goal plateau.

If Laine were to reach the 50-goal mark, it would instantly be much more impressive than Ovechkin's 52 considering goal-scoring was at its peak during the first season of the post-lockout era.

What makes Laine a potential Ovechkin-like goal scorer is not only his ability to score from anywhere on the ice based on how hard and accurate his shot is and how quickly he can release it, but his 6-foot-5 frame allows him to be physically dominant down low and around the crease. It is a dangerous combination.

Unlike Ovechkin, and most first- and second-overall picks, Laine isn't coming into a situation where he has little help around him. Winnipeg made the playoffs in 2014-15 and was only the sixth-worst team last year, but moved up to second overall thanks to the lottery system.

Laine is currently skating alongside the NHL's leading point-getter, C Mark Scheifele and speedy second-year player W Nikolaj Ehlers. Winnipeg also has offensive playmakers like D Dustin Byfuglien and RW Blake Wheeler. The five form a pretty dynamic power-play unit, where Laine's one-timer has been on full display. Five of his 11 goals have come with the man advantage.

Laine's 25 percent shooting rate is unsustainable, but he takes enough shots on goal, and he has a good enough shot for 50 goals to be very plausible. When it comes to fantasy, this is how to approach Laine's red-hot start:

If you own him

This is quite simple: hold onto him. In fact, love him. Cherish him. Name your fantasy team after him. Name your first-born child after him. Okay, the last one may be taking it too far, but you see my point.

If you aren't already receiving offers for Laine, you surely will be bombarded with them soon enough. Don't overthink things and sell high on him just because of his hot start. The kid is for real.

If you don't own him

As of now, it may be extremely tough to pry Laine away from his current owner considering he has five goals in his last three games. Wait until he goes three or four games without a goal and then throw your best offer at his owner. Hopefully this scenario is sooner rather than later so his owner might be convinced Laine just had a lucky start.

This issue is, even if you wait until Laine cools down a bit, he'll have already done enough damage for it to still take significant value to trade for him.

The best way to acquire a premier player like Laine is via the old 2-for-1. Try and convince Laine's owner that giving him two very solid players picked in rounds 6-8, such as New Jersey Devils LW Taylor Hall and Colorado Avalanche C/RW Matt Duchene, make his team deeper and more balanced. More often than not, the owner getting the best player in the trade usually wins the deal. Bank on Laine being the better player.

Taking two proven players like Hall and Duchene is definitely the safer move, but Laine's upside is substantially higher. Hall is one of the most injury-prone players in the league, and Duchene plays on an overrated Avalanche team struggling mightily in possession metrics, therefore limiting his upside.

If you're as confident as I am in Laine's ability, don't be afraid to pull the trigger on a move like this in standard, banger or keeper leagues. His value in keeper leagues is obvious, and his 17 hits make him multi-dimensional in banger leagues.

Daily Fantasy

Daily fantasy hockey prices usually take longer to catch up to a player's performance compared to other leagues. Heading into Thursday night, Laine was just 49K on Squad Up. This essentially makes him a matchup-proof bargain given the current tear he is on.

However, if his price begins to creep up to where he is listed as one of the top few players at his position on large slates, you will need to start evaluating matchups and try to maximize his value. The only truly elite netminder he has scored on is New York Rangers G Henrik Lundqvist. Mind you, he hasn't faced many to begin with, and he can't be slighted for his soft schedule.