How can I miss the point of my own post? Yes, Tatar is obviously getting paid to play the game of hockey, which involves scoring. There's no need to devolve into making such obtuse comments. But Tatar is making less than $3M. Implicit in the bridge contract that he signed is doubt. It's a "maybe he will, maybe he won't." And if he keeps playing the way he has been, he won't get fat money as an RFA.
Everyone having their panties in a wad about Tatar is a testament to how hyped up people get about young players who have a few productive years. Tatar wouldn't be the first person to shine bright and burn out after the league got the book on him. He might do that, he might not.
It's just too obvious, that Tatar was a heart-and-soul guy, when he was earning what 670k(?) and playing for that next contract. He was also heart-and-soul guy, playoff MVP, when he wanted out from AHL for bigger NHL bucks.
Now, currently, he is earning 2.7M and guy looks satisfied. Heart-and-soul gone. I can almost say same about Nyquist. Relative to caphit, Nyquist is probably worse, but I see less attitude problem on him. More of pressure about the demands he should be, 3rd best offensive player on the team.
This Tatar case will remind me of Jiri Hudler. Point-scoring and 100% every-night-effort interested only on contract years. That talks about an attitude problem. Maybe Tats isn't an "everydayer", like Babcock used to use that word. He has too many 0-1 scoring attempts night on my eye-test data, when others do their duty. Many good games mostly, but also total disappearings.
WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED. That reads on the top of their lockerroom door. That's what we fans demand and pay your paychecks for this entertainment sport.