I have always said this and now it's been somewhat confirmed for me- PLD doesn't have the natural talent to be a top line center, he relies on his work-rate and physical gifts to put up his points. And when his work-rate isn't there he can't do much. The same happened last season and this season- he starts the season out like launched out of a cannon and then drops off in the 2nd half. Whether it is because he can't sustain that level of work over the course of the season or the physical toll catches up with him, it seems that he has a difficult time sustaining that night in and night out.
This is different from guys like Scheifele and Connor who many times esp last season feel like they are just out there for a casual skate and end the night with 2 points. Contrast this with PLD who I feel has to scratch, claw and take punishment for every point. This also makes me think that this is the type of player who may have a Ladd/Lucic like aging curve who rely so much on their physical gifts that once it falls off a bit they are no longer effective.
He has got to go this summer. I actually think that if he goes to MTL he is in for a tough time as that fanbase and media is gonna eat him alive. There will be a honeymoon period for sure at the beginning but eventually the PLD we see so often in the 2nd half of the season and the PLD that Torts used to rail against is gonna come out and the local media/rabid fans are gonna feast on him.