I think we're seeing with some of these guys why it's so impressive that McLeod has been able to maintain his role as an NHL regular for so long. When you don't have the talent to play with the puck, it's incredibly hard to keep your spot in the NHL because you have such little margin for error in the other departments that you bring to the table, and those are the areas that require the most work.
You have to maintain constant focus, and work hard every single shift to play well defensively, and forecheck hard to create energy. It's really a tough thing to do, to bring it like that every night. Guys that can play a role with the puck, even 3rd line tweeners have more leeway in the hard working areas, because they can chip in to help the team in other areas.
We've seen lately with some of these guys that looked solid early, not be able to maintain that level of play. Even guys that I was a fan of like Everberg and Rendulic, and now Martinsen. They've all had a bit of a drop off in play because they have to bring it every single night, or they lose their spot and it can snowball into being sent back to the AHL.
Marty had a similar dip earlier in the season. He regrouped and started bringing it again, and he's gonna have to do that after the break as well. It's impressive where he's gotten himself in his career, but he's just gonna have to keep working to stay here. That's what separates the McLeod's from most guys in his role.