Quote:
Originally Posted by djsFlames
Because the first couple weeks of games were the first of his career? 
He's had more "OK" ones because he's been adjusting to the league. Prior to coming down with the flu, he had a solid stretch (8pts in 7gp) where you could see he stepped his game up to another level. An indication that he had a much better handle of the NHL game as opposed to earlier when he was still very much adjusting.
Was he supposed to come in and light the world on fire in his first bunch of games? I'll say he gets back to the level he as playing prior to this week because that's what he's capable of. It's not getting "too high" it's seeing with your own eyes what the kid can and will do. He's proven he can dominate the ice when he's feeling it. I think you missed all of the past two weeks or something, cause you probably one of two or three people anywhere that isn't sold on him. |
Why the vitriol?
I'm sold on him as an NHLer. I'm just making the factual observation that his first 5 games were just OK and his last 2 were just OK. His games against Carolina and Washington in Calgary were sort of in the middle.
I fully understand the explanations for the last two games, and the first 5. I thought he was better in the first period last night, but tailed off, which is down to the flu I'm sure.
I hope he gets back to the level he was at just after his scratch. I think he will, but I also don't want to be too unrealistic and I think everyone should remember that he played a 40 games schedule last year (although he also played the WJC so there's that).
Bottom line for me - let's not be fanboys who ignore weaker efforts or haters who ignore good efforts.