Toronto media playing the what if game on the talk shows today... will Matthews win the rocket? they figure the answer is yes but admit that there might be competion with laine and neal lol and of course Ovechkin {notice no mention of pastrnak?}
are we dealing with one of the leagues most underrated players here? does it matter? I have mentioned here now for over a decade how skilled players dont fare well if they are 'sawft'
I predicted seguin would fall out of favor and get traded... back in the joe thornton days I predicted he would fall out of favor and be traded... of course I was predicting kessel wouldnt last here... and I was sad to see dougie Hamilton not develop a snarl because I predicted without it, he would start getting booed and run out of town as wll.
so... along comes pastrnak and my warning radar has been up. I watched for the first signs of the fanbase turning on him... and of course it came during the playoffs last year when he was battling his hand injury. now early this season we have heard that he has his head up his backside... that hes passing too much... that they make too many bad decesions on the first pp unit...
its all a loosening of the fabric... making it ok for him to become a target of the segment of fans here in boston that have run too many talented guys out of town.
pastrnak's fans {and smart hockey fans here in general} need to make sure this guy doesnt become under appreciated. Having a 35-40 goal sniper in town is a much needed very good thing. its too bad he was hurt in the playoffs last year because I think a healthy pastrnak turns the tables on st louis and we win in 6.
would we all like to see him step up the intensity level 100% of the time... sure, I would... but it aint going to happen over an 82 game schedule. Hes on pace for 100 points after our road trip... thats a good thing. Hes the guy on our team we are hoping to get results from even when he doesnt have his A game going... the guy we want to get easy goals from. So far hes delivering what hes paid for {and remember his contract is a hell of a bargain compared to drasaitl and Matthews too}