Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
It's limited sample size with 4 playoff runs to look at and 26 games in total
2015-2016: 3 points in 6 games
2019-2020: 3 points in 4 games
2020-2021: 10 points in 6 games
2021-2022: 5 points in 10 games
I think people largely look at the 2021/2022 run coming off his 115 point regular season as the basis for saying he didn't perform in the playoffs. But just a year earlier his production was strong.
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In totality, his point production was not terrible in the playoffs, but wasn't great either and didn't quite meet expectations particularly in his last run. I recall after the Panthers were eliminated, people in the media questioned his overall intensity when it came to the playoffs especially in the last game. He didn't have a shot on goal until late in the 3rd period and after the game, he was apparently dressed and out the door within minutes of the game ending while the rest of the team was still in shock. It wasn't a surprise that Zito saw him as the weak link to being a championship team despite having a 115 point season that year.