I've just about had it with "live the life". I was lucky enough to be drafted to the Panthers 1st overall and put on the 1st line. Even though I'm a Lightning fan I was ecstatic! Things were going well and I was outright addicted. Couldn't wait to get home and tear it up. After 8 games or so I had somewhere around 5 goals, 3 assists and just came off of making a nifty pass to Barkov in the dying seconds of the game to tie it and then scored the OT winner. Next thing you know for no reason whatsoever I'm demoted to the 2nd line because "When you play for the Florida Panthers we expect your best every night. If you thought you could get by on positioning alone you are mistaken." My team play lowest total had been a B and one or two stinker nights where I was a D or an F because I didn't score and had a minus. This is despite a 6-2 record.
I have now ZERO PP time or PK time, I'm not an extra attacker, I'm not on the shootout list. I'm generously listed as a forward in the 2nd 4 on 4 group with Nick Puke-stad who can't finish to save his life. I'm somewhere around 11 goals, 14 assists +6 in the 25 games we've played. It's nothing special but still leads the team. But I'm stuck at 2nd line LW behind the great Jussi Jokinen with 4 goals and 7 assists 0 +/-
What's worse is that I swear on life itself that the Panthers will either take a penalty or are on the PP for 5 to 8 minutes at a time and this will happen twice, sometimes three times a game. And I don't see a second of it. It's gotten to the point where I just simulate and to chop 7:42 off the clock. If we take another penalty then that's another 3 minutes and change off the clock.
In my most recent game, after 50 minutes of play in an eventual 3-0 loss to the Red Wings I had about 9:03 of ice time whereas my buddy Huberdeau (who is the ONLY reason I haven't given up yet) is logged at about 15 already. He finished with 18 minutes, I finished 11 with and change. The best part of my night was when I get to hear Eddie Olczyk remark about how bad our PP is. We are currently ranked 30th in the league and operating around the 10% range. Hey... at least I know my place right?
And when the game ends after a thorough ass kicking I get "We expect better from you, we don't accept losing" It's been 17 games since my no reason 2nd line demotion and I'm stuck on the bench for EVERY critical situation we face.
I've nearly lost all patience with this game. Not even Huberdeau finishing my behind the net passes is gonna get me through my rookie year if things don't change.
/rant