Five Questions with Patrik Laine

NHL.com's Q&A feature called "Five Questions With …" will run every Tuesday through the 2017-18 regular season. We talk to key figures in the game and ask them questions to gain insight into their lives, careers and the latest news.
The latest edition features Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine.
NEWARK, N.J. --Patrik Laine refuses to settle for second best.

Don't get Laine wrong. The 19-year-old Winnipeg Jets forward said he was honored to be named NHL Second Star between Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers for the week ending March 4.
But Laine is getting used to that winning feeling and won't accept anything less.
"I wanted to be first," Laine said. "Nobody likes to be in second place. But it's an honor for me because there were so many other good guys who scored a lot of goals and points. It's nice to get that."
Laine has helped power the Jets toward their second Stanley Cup Playoff appearance in four seasons. Winners of seven of their past nine games (7-2-0), Winnipeg (39-17-9, 87 points) is second in the Central Division, six points behind the Nashville Predators, and on target to break the franchise record of 99 points, set in 2014-15.
Management also sent a message it was serious about winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history with the trades for center Paul Stastny and defenseman Joe Morrow prior to the NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 26.
"I think before the trade deadline we had a really good chemistry in our locker room," Laine said. "But now after Paul came, it's been even better. He's a veteran guy and he talks a lot, so he brings a lot of good energy to the locker room."

Laine, the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, has 10 goals and six assists during an eight-game point streak, including seven points (four goals, three assists) in three games since joining a line with Stastny and Nikolaj Ehlers. His 35 goals are tied for fourth in the League with Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson behind Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars (36), Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins (37) and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (40).
"He has a real keen interest in getting better," Jets coach Paul Maurice said. "The last stretch, his game has changed, he's stronger, he's faster. The shot has always been there, but with extra speed and, I think, the excitement with Paul being there, all his timing is right and he's getting that shot off. Nobody can understand it. I'd like to tell you I've been working with him on it. He has a unique gift."
Only Jimmy Carson (92), Dale Hawerchuk (85), Wayne Gretzky (76), Brian Bellows (76) and Sidney Crosby (75) are ahead of Laine (71) for most NHL goals by a teenager. Laine, who turns 20 on April 19, said a future 50-goal season is not out of the question.
"You're going to need a lot of help from your teammates to get there, but with this team and these guys, and with my abilities, I think that's possible," Laine said
NHL.com caught up with Laine during a season-high six-game road trip that continues against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+ 2, TSN3, NHL.TV).
Here are Five Questions With … Patrik Laine:
How would you rate your chances of the Jets winning the Stanley Cup this year?
"If we're able to play our best game and play even better, I think we have a good chance. Everybody knows in the playoffs anything can happen. It's still 17 games away, so we have to focus on these games first. I would say the way we've been playing lately, I think we have a good chance."

Have you thought much about the atmosphere that awaits the Jets during home games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
"I've seen a lot of videos and pictures of the [Winnipeg] Whiteout, and it looks unreal. It's hard to think about that now, what it's going to be like to step on the ice, because it's not sure yet. But it's going to be so exciting, for sure. Everybody's going to be so pumped."
You're the seventh teenager in NHL history to score 30 goals in consecutive seasons, joining a group that includes Dale Hawerchuk, Steve Yzerman and Sidney Crosby. What does it mean to you to be in such company?
"It's an honor for me to be mentioned in the same sentence with those guys. I would not be on that list if not for my teammates and all the help I've got these past couple of years. It's just unreal for me to be there."

Winnipeg loves the Jets, and you love Winnipeg. Living and playing there, do you ever feel you're treated like a rock star?
"I don't know. That's a hard one. Overall, it's just awesome to play there. I think we have the best fans in the League. Hockey is the biggest thing in Winnipeg, and it seems everybody who follows hockey there knows something about the team. They can recognize you on the streets. I think that's awesome for me."
You agreed to grow a beard until the end of the regular season after a bet with a friend. What will you do with it once the playoffs begin?
"Nothing. It stays the same. I'm going to shave it off after the last game of the season. Hopefully, it's not soon."