Not absolving. But almost any star player, and sport, has resigned moments.. Lionel Messi has them almost any WC match. At the peak of Tysons career any opponents, no matter how good, would start to have knees creaking and buckling before the fight even started. It often stated that the fights were mentally over before they started. In Mike Tysons words; "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face"
There are times where the mental component struggles in players. Its easier to have that when you have a mop like Yamamoto playing on oneside of you and Nuge looking forward to babysitting horsies on the other. There must be times where Leon figures he's on his own.
That said, McD is more guilty of playing on his own and not utilizing linemates.
Go back to the Boston game, Drai has just scored 2 goals to tie the game. and Nuge doing nothing on his shift allows a winning GA while playing a shift with Hyman and Yama. 2mins left. I think thats the moment that broke the back. Or maybe Larsson punching him in the face and nobody even reacting.
This isn't a team. 80% of the players on this club routinely aren't even involved. Its guys punching a time clock hoping nobody notices effort level.
Thing is, whenever McDrai are bringing it, which is lots of the time, who really follows?