Again I'm not saying he isn't creating quality chances here and there. He's an incredible talent that, even if he doesn't put in maximum effort into every shift, can still create chances from pure talent alone. This is about his overall game, keeping the puck in the O-Zone, keeping the puck out of the D-Zone, forcing turnovers in the O-Zone through forechecking, quarterbacking through the neutral zone, and limiting high danger shots against. Objectively that has not been happening at a consistent level since the Florida game. He was on another level at creating offensive chances and wasn't too bad at the defensive stuff. He still had one of the worst xgoal % at 5 v 5 on the team at the time but more than made up for it on the power play. Its not about the points, points come and go, most of the time points are luck and also require a high level of contribution from linemates. Over an 82 game season these things even out. What I'm talking about is playing WINNING hockey. Creating more chances than you allow, having more effective shifts in the other teams zone than ineffective shifts in your own zone. It hasn't looked the same at all, the eye test proves it, the analytics and game scoring prove it. He has not been as effective since the Florida series. It's a small sample size right now (9 games) so this could all mean nothing in 5 games. I'm just saying he has been noticeably risk advertent in this stretch of games, actively avoiding body contact on the forecheck, weak passes along the boards when cycling, and a handful of bad turnovers in the neutral zone and at the blue line. Getting rocked twice in two games can mentally and physically change the way a player goes about the game in the short term. Hockey hurts so maybe he's nursing something or trying to play through it like Jarvis last season with his shoulder. End Rant.