He did look like this all season, and part of last season. The points are nice - but like I said in another thread, a week ago, I’d rather have an 8M 75 point guy who is tenacious and goes to the dirty areas than a guy who racks up glitzy numbers but plays a sloppy and lazy game. He’s been worse in the playoffs, partially because the intensity is ramped up and he was playing lazy, sloppy hockey all year, partially because he seems to be playing even lazier and sloppier.
I’m sure he’s injured. I’m sure 60% of the guys still playing by now are injured. Maybe his injury is significant. It doesn’t excuse anything. People aren’t bitching about him not producing. We’re bitching about soft, blind passes and forced cross ice passes shift after shit. Trying to dance around defenders in his own end and giving the puck up instead of just making a fundamental play. He’s hurting the team with his decision making, night after night.
And even if somehow, some of that can be pinned on an injury, he did this all season. The numbers might be great, but the only season Artemi was truly worthy of the love this fanbase has showered him with was his first season here when he was a tenacious puck hound. If he lost it, he got it back. He drove the net. That player hasn’t been seen in a season and a half. The player in his jersey has been slowly getting lazier and more complacent ever since.
