All those stats are great except they leave out the part where DK has a great game and gets 3 points and then doesn't do squat for the next three games. But it sure makes your PPG average look good.
you are going to have to find me more than 30 examples of guys that don't do that before I take your objection for much merit.
is krejci an elite front line point producer? obviously the stats say no... would he be considered elite second line point producer? obviously the stats say yes
does his intangibles allow him to take a couple good wingers and go head to head against the best centers in the nhl and either hold his own/or even win the matchup? if you watched the same games I did... then you should say yes unless you are pr ejudice against this guy and refuse to accept reality.
over the past 3 seasons krejci lost his wingers Horton/iginla/lucic and his production has fallen off a bit. but its strange how production will fall off for most guys when the quality of their wingers falls off. krejci has also gone from near 20 mins of icetime when he was a young horse down to around 18 or so... you might allow him a 10% reduction in points just based on the 10% reduction in icetime.
he was never an elite option as a first line center but hes a big game player... he thrived in our 2 runs to the cup finals and led the team in scoring.
as for backes… icetime/linemates are a lot lower quality for him too then they were 3 seasons ago... injuries have definitely been a factor.
backes is older now, so he might not bounce back. maybe age is playing a key role in slowing him down? but age doesn't take away grit/leadership. luckily we don't need the cap room right now and backes intangibles... his defense... his pp ability... still makes him a serviceable 3rd liner. he can play at a decent nhl level. he will get his 35-45 points before the season is over and that's very good production for 3rd line. when you add in the defense and the phyiscial and the leadership we are lucky to have him