Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.
That pass to Weegar in the third to force the Kings penalty was phenomenal. On the replay you could see how nicely he threaded the pass and how perfect the weight was.
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Exactly! He is making high-level plays often now. I argued posters pointing at his points at the start of the year as evidence that he was somehow doing well, but all I saw was inadvertent points at times with turnovers caused by unforced errors trying to thread passes through three or four opposing players when there was a better pass available. I saw an inability for long stretches in which 5 foot passes were either in skates or out of reach. He was the worst player on the team for long stretches, and by far the worst passer.
This is why I call this - so far - a really great redemption story. He is starting to really be a catalyst out there, and is starting to really look like a high-end player. Forget about the points - it is certainly good that he is putting up the points in the last 20+ games - but he seems on the cusp of just taking over a game offensively. We have seen him have 'good games' now and then, but he is starting to really look like an actual top line player, he isn't over-thinking passes and trying to force passes with almost zero chance of connecting. He is finding guys open and making tape-to-tape passes with perfect weight more and more often. He is looking much more difficult both in open ice and along the boards. He is starting to look like a threat on the PP.
This is really great to see. I do think that the style of play is fitting him better - more plays created off the rush which plays more into his vision. It isn't just that, however. He is better at cycling, on the PP - basically everywhere - more often now. When he is on the ice, I want the puck on his stick.
Also, I didn't mention it before - hats off for Mangiapane scoring such a beauty on his 400th. There's another player finding his way back as well. Underlying numbers are strong, 5 on 5 numbers are pretty, but he wasn't putting the puck in the net. I hope this gets him over whatever line he seemed to be on the other side of. I still think he is a 30 goal scorer in this league that plays a relentless brand of fearless hockey.