Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
It's not, though. The reason it is not is because not all players are identical in how they develop and trend and learn and grow.
For years Pavol Datsyuk was widely regarded as an excellent, highly skilled player who was just not gritty enough, big enough or tenacious enough to succeed in the playoffs. He did not start to break through in the post season until he was nearly 30-years-old, and after four playoff appearances.
Some players take longer than others to figure it out.
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So the Flames are just......slow on the uptake?
Mackinnon made the most of his 20 PO game experience while Johnny is still working on it after his 20?
Every player is a playoff bust, until they are not. Ovechkin couldn't get it done, until he did. Couldn't win with Kessel, until they did. Each players' experience is their unique own, which is why I think it can't be used as proof of winning or an excuse for losing.
I get that players develop along different trajectories. Some start hot and plateau early, while others don't hit their stride until much later. Cool.
But the "Not enough playoff experience vs COL was a factor" is a trumped up excuse for a 2019 first round loss. "What did you expect, CGY dressed half a team with no playoff experience" - Guess what, so did COL! "They dressed guys who have won it all before." - NO, we each had 1 player with a ring.
I think the "favorite vs underdog", along with play in the last 10 games of the season were more a factor than playoff experience. Teams that were fighting to get in took that momentum into the post-season in pretty much every series. Having something to prove also played a factor for a couple of teams (STL, NYI) & players.
Next year it's our guys who will have something to prove. Hopefully that and some forward, fighting momentum will lead to a longer run.