You keep cherry picking these negative stats apparently w/o ever watching the games, or considering who Schmaltz is and what his role is..... except of course that he's a first line wing and you as well as the rest of us, want goals. You're showing no regard for the fact that he's leaned on for zone entry and as such more susceptible to give the puck away, nor are you accounting for the fact that it is far easier to give the puck away than it is to take it and if you were being honest you'd admit no one on the team has the thievery craft down as well as Schmaltz. Finally, you're picking and choosing regarding your consideration of the first line role.... downplay the pk contribution all you want, but he's a first liner pk'ing, just the same.
I think we're all frustrated with Schmaltz not being the Schmaltz we know (and some have always been frustrated by), but not only does continually whining about it not solve the problem, it makes it seemingly worse than it is, particularly when the whiner's refuse to acknowledge the positive aspects of his game and the effort being made to contribute within said positives.
He really hasn't been the player we know since he came back after missing camp, with the exception of a few glorious moments. None of us know why he was not in camp, or if that is having any effect on him, but he's always been a good enough player that it would be prudent to show some patience.
Hell, if you watched the games you'd have notice Keller isn't quite the same either. I don't know if it's internal, or if other teams having researched them and are thwarting them defensively, but things with the two are definitely off from last season and it sure as hell isn't all on Schmaltz.
