Maybe Heiskanen, having to play his offside and with some middling d partners. I don't think he's gotten enough flack for how bad he's been this year and not taking that next step into a bonafide Top5 dman.
Players that don't play up to their potential due to confidence issues?
- Thread starter SnowblindNYR
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jetsforever
Registered User
- Dec 14, 2013
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Cats2TheCup
Registered User
The player that comes to my mind is Josh Bailey. He played in the NHL way too early, would show flashes, then make a mistake, get down on himself & disappear for *long* stretches of time. He'd defer constantly, and wouldn't show the creativity, and skill he had. He always had pretty flashy mitts.
It really took him years to figure out that he could play with (and shoot) the puck, and by the time he did he was getting past his physical prime. Even then he deferred too much. It's not like he would have been a point per game player or anything, but he could have been a 60 point guy far sooner than he became one, and had a much better career overall. He should have had at least 1 year more in junior.
It really took him years to figure out that he could play with (and shoot) the puck, and by the time he did he was getting past his physical prime. Even then he deferred too much. It's not like he would have been a point per game player or anything, but he could have been a 60 point guy far sooner than he became one, and had a much better career overall. He should have had at least 1 year more in junior.
Pucklington
Registered User
Rename this tread Jack Campbell, crumple it up and throw it in the garbage can, burn that garbage, and melt the garbage can for scrap.
cowboy82nd
Registered User
I know someone mentioned Spencer Knight for the Panthers (and I agree), but I also think Anton Lundell belongs on this list. He shows flashes and at other times it looks like he's second guessing himself.
A whole bunch of Panthers players. I think it effects a lot more players than I think people may realize. Even players who still managed to be good.
If it's not taken care of during the development process, a lot of players will have that problem throughout their careers. A lot of the time the source or building block if you will, for the low confidence issues, is a part of their game that's a weakness. Like not being a good skater etc.
If it's not taken care of during the development process, a lot of players will have that problem throughout their careers. A lot of the time the source or building block if you will, for the low confidence issues, is a part of their game that's a weakness. Like not being a good skater etc.
I'd figure Kakko was the biggest case of that on the rags.
Rich Nixon
No Prior Knowledge of "Flyers"
For the Flyers it has been Morgan Frost, which makes the Torts treatment kind of funny (in a "this is really stupid" way).
Last year after the season he spoke in his exit interview about not knowing what the coaching staff expected of him; this year he frequently speaks of confidence in his postgame interviews and being "pumped up" by teammates. Which is why it's nuts that, after being one of their best players last season and leading the team in scoring in the preseason, Tortorella decided to use him as the 13th forward for the first 2.5 months of the season.
Kid produces when he plays consistent minutes with decent linemates and looks lost when he doesn't. His 200-foot game is pretty good, he is not and never has been a defensive liability. Basically every forward on the team other than Couturier makes more boneheaded mistakes with the puck or defensively than he does. So when Tortorella benches him, it's hard to discern why—and it seems to be hard for him to figure out, too. Usually it's after games when the whole team plays terribly.
So when he's getting jerked in and out of the lineup, he usually plays pretty shitty: ultra-short shifts, over-forechecking to throw hits and look engaged even though that's not his game and he's not effective when doing that. Just looks like a guy who isn't certain what the assignment is—whereas when he's gotten comfortable on a line and just been allowed to play, he's a perfectly good NHL 2C.
Last year after the season he spoke in his exit interview about not knowing what the coaching staff expected of him; this year he frequently speaks of confidence in his postgame interviews and being "pumped up" by teammates. Which is why it's nuts that, after being one of their best players last season and leading the team in scoring in the preseason, Tortorella decided to use him as the 13th forward for the first 2.5 months of the season.
Kid produces when he plays consistent minutes with decent linemates and looks lost when he doesn't. His 200-foot game is pretty good, he is not and never has been a defensive liability. Basically every forward on the team other than Couturier makes more boneheaded mistakes with the puck or defensively than he does. So when Tortorella benches him, it's hard to discern why—and it seems to be hard for him to figure out, too. Usually it's after games when the whole team plays terribly.
So when he's getting jerked in and out of the lineup, he usually plays pretty shitty: ultra-short shifts, over-forechecking to throw hits and look engaged even though that's not his game and he's not effective when doing that. Just looks like a guy who isn't certain what the assignment is—whereas when he's gotten comfortable on a line and just been allowed to play, he's a perfectly good NHL 2C.
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AngryMilkcrates
End of an Era
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I don't think he has the head for the offensive side of the game. So his offensive ceiling is low.
BenningHurtsMySoul
Unfair Huggy Bear
TheDawnOfANewTage
Dahlin, it’ll all be fine
- Dec 17, 2018
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JabbaJabba
Registered User
It's a mental health thing, He said so on his Instagram.
On topic, I think Kakko is the answer. He just doesn't play anywhere close to what he used to before he joined the NHL.
PavelBure10
The Russian Rocket
This year it's Pettersson. He has insane skill and a very accurate shot but he rarely shows any flash this season. Petey is still on pace for 100 point season but this year he looks different, showing signs of frustration in his play. Loses the puck or misses an attempt to score he puts his head down and kind of sulks about it. He is not beating players one on one with his insane dekes. I think Pettersson totally fits the bill here, when he's on he's on, when he has a bunch of bad games he really seems to take it hard on himself.
nowhereman
Registered User
Pettersson seems like a perfect answer here, as he has the talent to be a top 3-5 player in the game but his worst enemy seems to be between his ears. Mind you, it's not just this year. Pettersson has been so up and down since his rookie season and appears to go through long stretches where he's down on himself and his body language is terrible. Maybe he should pull a MacKinnon and hire a sport psychologist?
Neil Racki
Registered User
Mantha also continued to speak to a “mental coach” that he hired after being scratched by Peter Laviolette to try and restore his lost confidence.
“I did work with him all summer,” Mantha said. “I would say three calls a month. Zoom calls, everything’s on Zoom these days. But no, it’s been really good. Mentally ready and physically ready also.”
“I did work with him all summer,” Mantha said. “I would say three calls a month. Zoom calls, everything’s on Zoom these days. But no, it’s been really good. Mentally ready and physically ready also.”
I don't think it's because of confidence. I think it's because he sucks at offense. Maybe I'm just biased towards guys that have shown something in the NHL at times and other times look lost rather than someone who is who he is.
McGarnagle
Yes.
- Aug 5, 2017
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