Quote:
Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan
He's the exact type of player you do NOT want to build around. Soft and has no extra drive come playoff time. A regular season point fluffer who disappears at the most important time of the year. Also a potential locker room cancer. All for the cool low price of 11.6 million until *checks contract* 2031-32!!!
#### that noise. Stay far, far away from him.
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How quickly people's perception changes. He had 7G, and 18P in 17GP in his first playoff run with the Canucks, while playing 19:22 a night as a 21 year old. I agree that he was disappointing in the last playoffs for Van, and this year is a bit of a write off.
That said, I think this has more to do with the situation he's in than his actual drive. He did win the Le Mat Trophy in SWE where he was the MVP, and had one of the best U20 seasons in the SHL. Also won the Calder trophy despite being bullied like Bedard in his first season.
Anyway, I don't buy the narrative that you don't win with player X, especially when he's only 26, and had his first bad season in the NHL.
People were taking shots at PLD in LA, Chychrun in OTT, but both found themselves a nice home in WSH. The same can be said of Reinhart in BUF.