I was just watching Dylan Holloway highlights and noticed something interesting. Holloway only scored 6 goals last regular season. The goals were as follows:
1. Holloway scores to put the Oilers up 4-0 over Seattle. The puck bounces off the end board and on his stick in front of the net.
2. Holloway scores to put the Oilers up 4-1 over Columbus. Holloway stuffs away the rebound while he's alone in front.
3. Holloway scores to put the Oilers up 4-3 against Detroit. He puts away a rebound where the goalie has no chance in front of the net.
4. Holloways scores to put the Oilers up 5-1 over Vegas. Goalie leaves the puck behind the net to Holloway and Holloway does a wrap around.
5. Holloway scores to put the Oilers up 4-0 over San Jose. Holloway is alone out front with a sick pass from Henrique.
6. Holloway scores on the powerplay against the Avs when the game was 5-0 avs.
So 5 of his 6 goals were when the game was already out of reach. He only scored 1 meaningful goal during the regular season. Also the types of goals he scored weren't really because of his physical play or speed. It was because he was standing in front of the net.
I think we are all suffering a little recency bias and only remember how well he played against LA and Vancouver in the playoffs.
Fair points. But there's other ways to look at his production and trending. On a bad Oilers team to start the season he was 0 points and -3 in October with 12:07 toi (his 2nd highest monthly ice-time). His production 5 points (3 G 2A) came in April on 13:06 toi.
He build on that late season surge and confidence to deliver a solid playoff in which he moved up the line-up with earned time on the second line with still managed ice-time averaging only 11:30. 285.8 of his 287.7 total time on ice were at EV. His 6 playoff goals tied him for 6 on a Cup Finalist veteran team. He outproduced the next youngest roster forward McLeod who is 2 years older. More goals and 1 point back of Foegele who is six years older. In the hardest phase of competition, the youngest roster guy largely kept his head above water.
Lots of ways to skin the cat with numbers. Don't get me wrong, I hope the player doesn't reach his potential now that he made the decision to move on.