Teemu Selanne thinks Patrik Laine could break his rookie record of 76 goals

October 22, 2016 5:47 pm

One of the most beloved superstars in hockey history, Teemu Selanne, was back in Winnipeg this weekend to participate in the Heritage Alumni Game between the Jets and Oilers. He had a great time.

“Two weeks training and I would be ready for the NHL,” Selanne quipped at the Jets’ alumni practice Friday, according to Finnish reporter Sami Hoffren.

While Selanne was not actually pondering a comeback, he did have some positive things to say about Patrik Laine, the Jets’ new face of the franchise. Selanne believes Laine could break his rookie record of 76 goals.

“Wayne Gretzky said one time all records should be broken,” Selanne said to the Winnipeg Sun’s Paul Friesen. “Seventy-six means a lot, though. The one thing is you’ve got to stay healthy. There’s no time for getting hurt. These days it’s the biggest challenge to stay healthy all year.”

“[Laine] has all the tools to score 76, or whatever – a lot of goals,” Selanne continued. “But it’s not going to be easy. You get only one chance. But those are just numbers. I’m just excited he’s doing good. I’m going to follow very closely.”

Through four games this season, Laine has four goals, including a hat trick against Auston Matthews’ Toronto Maple Leafs. That puts Laine on an 82-goal pace very early on in the season.

When looking at the numbers however, Selanne’s record would be nearly impossible to eclipse, especially in this day and age where NHL goal scoring is at a premium.

Since 1970-71, there have been only 39 instances of a player scoring 60 goals or more in the regular season.

Only two players have managed to score 60 or more goals in 21st century, Steven Stamkos (60 goals in 2011-12) and Alex Ovechkin (65 goals in 2007‑08). No player has eclipsed the 70-goal plateau since Selanne set the rookie record during the 1992-93 season. Alexander Mogilny also scored 76 goals that season for Vancouver.

On top of that, Laine’s shooting percentage is currently sitting at 40%. He’s scored four goals on ten shots. The NHL average shooting percentage last year was 10.18%.

Laine is on an unsustainable hot streak to begin the season. To have a chance at the record, Laine’s going to have to start firing way more rubber on net. He’d have to stay healthy all season and average 8 shots per game (700 on the season) while maintaining a league average shooting percentage of 10%. Alex Ovechkin, the league’s most prolific shooter, has never had more than 528 shots on goal during a season (2008-09).

So in short, Selanne’s record will remain safe and he’s being extraordinarily kind to the young superstar.

(P.S. – Selanne’s still got it.)