Why would he be playing if he's in so much pain that he can't even think the game at near an NHL level?
Again I am at a loss. His injury/bruise, or whatever you want to call it, affected him in that at times when hit or involved in physical play he got very sore and had to eat meds for the pain (or get injections). This is fairly clear from what he said. What is also clear, was said and makes sense (at least to me) is that the effects of this, or the consequences of it, was that he could not play his game, i.e. he was not 100%. When things went south (according to himself from game 2 and onwards) it went to his head and he didn't manage to get out of it... His confidence at an all time low according to TM and also the media/constant questioning getting to hjm.
Seeing as he had his break in end of December I suppose he had troubles until then, and I could imagine that he is still not 100% but I don't know that obviously.
He is struggling of course, it started out because of his injury and keeps on because it got to him. I don't see why that has to be contested by calling him stupid etc., it is easy to see how he got there as a young D supposed to be #1, imo of course. Same as any player having a down year he needs to get out of it, that is on him.
What I don't get is the constant questioning of how/why this started (which was evident to the majority even after 20 or some games even though he/TM didn't comment) and also how people don't see how a physical ailmemt can have severe impacts on the head, i.e. decision making.
See goalies, the biggest head cases of all. They can go from nothing to borderline Vezina (and back again) in no time. And they are the first to admit it is in their heads.