'The moment I've been waiting for': Laine set for 1st game as Winnipeg Jet

Patrik Laine knows expectations are high but he's not promising any wizardry as he heads into his first-ever NHL game tonight.

"I know that everybody's expecting me to do something magical or something, but I just want to play my game and play the team's game and just give the best shot that I have on the ice, every shift," the Winnipeg Jets' highly-touted rookie said after a morning practice on Friday.

"I know that's enough for me and my teammates so I don't have to worry what other people are expecting."

The Jets host the Edmonton Oilers in a pre-season game at the MTS Centre at 7 p.m. CT.

Jets fans have been anticipating Laine's debut since the 18-year-old Finnish forward was drafted second-overall in the NHL draft earlier this year. So has Laine.

"It's the moment I've been waiting for — to put on that jersey. It's going to be awesome," he said. "First game here at my new home arena. I'm just looking forward to the first shift."

His grasp of English is strong enough to understand fast-talking journalists competing to get their questions across, but there are moments his words break, giving a Yoda-like feel to Laine's answers. It's a refreshing change from players used to speaking in cliched sound bites.

"A little bit nervous, I am right now," he said. "But I think it's going to be just fine."

​Asked what he wants out of himself, Laine said "just a good game and … be brave on the ice."

Jets star centre Mark Scheifele knows what Laine is going through. He was the Jets first-ever draft pick — picked 11th overall — after the team relocated from Atlanta to Winnipeg in 2011.

And Scheifele also came with a lot of hype, his abilities trumpeted by his junior team head coach Dale Hawerchuk, who is a Jets legend (from the first incarnation of the NHL team in Winnipeg).

​"It's obviously very nerve-wracking — your first game in front of fans that have been waiting for see you for a while now. But it's an exciting time," Scheifele said.

"Wearing a Winnipeg Jets jersey, it's something to be happy about and be honoured to be a part of that. He's a very special player and I'm sure he won't cease to amaze."

Jets' captain Blake Wheeler agreed.

"This is all new to him. The training camp's new to him, our system's are new to him," said Wheeler. "But once he feels comfortable I think he's going to explode because he's quite a player."​