Sorry Drive.
Watching McLeod the last 2 years, the guy has a severe allergy to ANY physical contact.
I'm not suggesting he has to be a banger and fighter but even in this series I have called him out for peeling away from easy contact in easy spots where he could create a turnover or at least churn, especially with his speed . It’s just not in his DNA. I love his speed but without other capabilities, it doesn’t amount to anything. There are other NHLrs with 300 games that skated well and did nothing else. They are in HockeyDB under the KHL heading.
He has been in the NHL for 260 games. He’s not a newb anymore.
I'm on a freaking island of one here son. Be a pal and throw me out a line! heh
Not prepared to cut bait and give up on the player just yet. and like I said he isn't costing the team anything EV, was +10 just this season, and put up 30pts while being mostly bottomsix. Yams peak year here for instance, glued to Drai most of the season was 40pts. his average was something like 20. Without the speed, without the premium pk (Yams was on it but not good)
Next, this McLeod never hits anythign, shies away from everything is a view on the player. Its not exactly accurate. Ryan Mcleod both playoffs and regular season is middle of the road when it comes to hits. 65 in regular season which is twice as many as Connor Brown who does absolutely nothing. 10 in playoffs Connor Brown last on team with 2 hits.
last two postseasons combined? McLeod 36 official hits. Again middle of team stuff. Cody Ceci, last 2 postseasons, a D that should be hitting has only 4 more hits.
This was one of our top bottomsix producers this season. Because he hasn't had pts in playoffs people talk as if no production has ever occurred.