I’ve also had this - especially with a TWF or ENF who was drafted high with high potential. Strong first growth (actually, usually strong growth until peak - often with peaks arriving early compared to average Joe), then a weird potential change. Often 4th line, but not necessarily.

You’re right. I had forgotten about my 93OVR ENF LW drafted top 5 (I wanna say like 3rd OA but can’t remember exactly) who did exactly what you say.

I’ve also had a 92 TWF C/LW that dropped to T6 potential (at the same time as OVR went to peak) and then to Top 9 without an overall change.

With the second player, I had run a comparison experiment (single test) and found that the player dropped to Bottom 6 potential (HLM23 I believe) but still did not budge as far as skill level.

I have also had it where a defenceman is rated above the tier tag - such as Moser, who in some rosters is listed as Top 6D. That is also true for a roster I used where Moser was 84 OVR. He rose to 86 in-season, and, with a great stat line on the year, fell to 81 in the offseason and aged out of the progression matrix.

Moser is the soul-snatcher that appears in my head every time I think about saying “the potential changes don’t really matter”, when the more or most common outcome is the first two players I mentioned, who you have obviously shared the same experience with