Patrik Laine is certainly proving his worth for the Winnipeg Jets.
The 2016 second overall pick recorded a hat trick Tuesday in a win over Dallas, marking the second three-goal performance of his career.
Laine leads the NHL with 11 goals in 14 games, and the offensive outburst puts him alongside a few names to accomplish similar feats early in their careers.
From NHL Public Relations:
- Laine is fourth player in the modern era (since 1943-44) to post multiple hat tricks in his first 14 career games, joining Bernie Federko (1976-77), Bernie Nichols (1981-82), and Bob Gaudreau (1992-93).
- Laine is also the fourth player in NHL history to record multiple hat tricks before his 19th birthday, following Jack Hamilton (1943-44), Dale Hawerchuk (1981-82), and Trevor Linden (1988-89).
- Thirdly, Laine is the first player to score at least 11 goals in his opening 14 career games since 1992-93, when three players - including Winnipeg's own Teemu Selanne - achieved the feat.
Not only does Laine have the goal-scoring lead among all NHL players, he's also three points up on Toronto's William Nylander in the rookie scoring race, setting himself apart as the early front-runner for the Calder Trophy.
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