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 welcometotheOC
Messages: 617
Registered: April 2010
Location: Also, sadly, Cowtown
No Cups
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| Skookum Jim wrote on Mon, 01 November 2021 13:24 |
| Mike wrote on Mon, 01 November 2021 12:13 |
| RDOilerfan wrote on Mon, 01 November 2021 15:27 |
I think that is proving to be a bit of a fluke. I don't think he is as bad as he's been but to me, he's looking more and more like a very undersized probably 3rd liner that can kill penalties.
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Might be semantics or different interpretation of the word, but, I don't think it was necessarily a fluke - the kid had produced at all levels, was a first round pick. There is definitely something there. I think it might be more him resting on his laurels. After that almost PPG stretch and everyone heaping praise on him, he seems to have dialed it back and put things on cruise control. Problem for him, him being a sparkplug is what has allowed him to have the success he has had. He needs a spark. Maybe a few games on the 4th line or in the pressbox would help.
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He used to be better on the forecheck/back-check during that streak, was really good on take-aways, hard on the stick, created his chances off of that, looks much weaker at that now, smaller, slower. Not sure if its intensity level or focus, he had it at one point, he could get it back, needs to dial it up a few levels. He's had a few injuries, might've started to hear the pitter-patter of big angry foot steps.
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I may be misremembering (well, probably!) but didn't he have a concussion near the end of that streak? That would explain a lot.
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