First paragraph is completely reasonable as a criticism. I share the concern and have talked about that extensively as well. Without excusing it, and I'm not, Drai's fire burns a certain way and I think he gets his wires crossed at times. He shortcircuits. In that way he reminds a bit of Thomas Mueller, footballer, and sometimes really a dick on the field. It does come from the fire, it does have to be better directed, but it probably may never be.
The second paragraph has more to do with risk/reward. Both McDrai feint and no look passes because they are intentionally surprising opponents and refusing to telegraph their play. The claim to know more than the players do in terms of that risk/reward is errant, sorry, at best and both players, who are 1.2 in NHL production across the last 9 seasons know that.
That these are even considered "low percentage plays" discredits how many times said plays work to create goals or HDSC.
Messier was one of the best players I've seen in my life and he would throw more danger passes across ice than either McDrai do. Passes that often enough resulted in GA. But that too is the risk/reward, and it was still something Mess should do, generally speaking, because it worked many more times than didn't.
I do though want to highlight your final sentence which is bang on. So its a matter of when to, when not to, etc and according to game score and such. I respect that view. But on this team both Mcdrai know that a one goal lead often isn't good enough. If McDrai played on a club that could protect a one goal lead and had the D and G to do that we would be seeing less risk plays. Fair?
