I think it was the concussions that did him in. Vats looked to be on a roll and regain his mojo with Devils in 2017-18, oversized role or not, but then Kucherov's G4 blindside happened. Add Brassard's elbow next year and he was never the same really. Maybe it was physical, at least for a while, or maybe it was mental and motivational, who knows. The end result is that he regressed, and stopped getting (or earning) chances showcase to his skills.
Vats still had his moments: for Canes he again punched above his weight momentarily (until Hamilton was rushed back from injury to what become a failure of a series), and in the trainwreck that was Devils' 2020-21 season he was in fact seriously decent after a dead slow start hampered by COVID, taking on an unexpected role in steadying the PK that had been a dumpster fire. But the Stars stint was forgettable and a sign of things to come.
He's a fresh father just now, and that may well have been the last straw that steered him away from the risk of another journeyman season, or the uncertainty of a PTO. In Switzerland the season is less taxing, the travels much shorter, and let's face it, quality of life for himself and his family is excellent. I'd be surprised if we don't see him in rejuvenated form in EHT, and he should certainly make an effort to make it to Beijing. We'll see.
Vats still had his moments: for Canes he again punched above his weight momentarily (until Hamilton was rushed back from injury to what become a failure of a series), and in the trainwreck that was Devils' 2020-21 season he was in fact seriously decent after a dead slow start hampered by COVID, taking on an unexpected role in steadying the PK that had been a dumpster fire. But the Stars stint was forgettable and a sign of things to come.
He's a fresh father just now, and that may well have been the last straw that steered him away from the risk of another journeyman season, or the uncertainty of a PTO. In Switzerland the season is less taxing, the travels much shorter, and let's face it, quality of life for himself and his family is excellent. I'd be surprised if we don't see him in rejuvenated form in EHT, and he should certainly make an effort to make it to Beijing. We'll see.
