What's up with seemingy every German NHL-player having a down-year?
Draisaitl is way behind his usual pace, even if he isn't playing badly now. Yes, the team had a horrible start with the system-change and McDavid and Ekholm playing injured, but even now that the team has improved, the production isn't quite what it used to be.
Stützle had a good start points-wise, but his play has been erratic throughout the season. He hasn't taken over a game since November, his goalscoring has vanished, and the last few games he has been largely non-existant.
Peterka showed nice improvements, maybe the only one who actually has been a bit better than before, but lately his scoring-tough has disappeared again
Reichel seemed to show what he could do at the end of last season. This season he started of as center, and he just hasn't shown anything the entire year. Way too passive and away from the net.
Sturm has lost all offense he had last season. Granted the Sharks are atrocious, but they weren't exactly great last year either.
Seider has been fine, but he isn't exactly taking the next step either.
Grubauer looked even worse than last season before he got injured. Not that his team played well at that time, but still.
I have not watched any NHL games this season, so take the following with a grain of salt, since it is based solely on extended highlight videos, what I read on the various team boards and in news articles.
Sturm seemed to just get going a bit when he got injured. We'll see what happens when he returns, possibly later this month.
Seider seems to struggle a little bit with his diminished role offensively with Gostisbehere taking over is place on the pp. And on top of that I believe he is facing some of the toughest competition of anyone in the NHL. Hopefully he can improve as the season goes on, and maybe even get a taste of the playoffs.
Reichel and Stützle appear to have lost all confidence. Stützle's shooting percentage is atrocious and he is making mistakes all over the ice, that I have never seen from him (and this is only based on highlight videos).
Reichel is not the type of player who thrives on a bad team. According to some Hawks fans he did alright when he got to play with Bedard for a hot minute, but otherwise he has been a non-factor.
I never really worry about Draisaitl. He will go on tear sooner or later, he usually does.
Peterka is in a bit of a scoring slump lately, but seems to be doing alright overall this season. The Sabres are still a very young team lacking consistency, and while this inlcudes Peterka., he has been remarkably consistent by comparison to some of the other members of their young core.
Grubauer situation is just weird. When he was healthy the Kraken gave up barely over 20 shots per game, but apparently a lot of them were of the more difficult variety. It was not just Grubauer who struggled at that time. Now they are routinely giving up 30 or more shots and Daccord is suddenly looking like a Vezina candidate. Grubauer will at most be the backup when he returns, unless Daccord's play falls of a cliff again.
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