Sophomore season: Improved, normed, or slumped?

[SEALBound]

For the Penguins, we don't have many rookies but Despres took his game and ran with it.

He was so hampered by Bylsma last year so when Johnson gave him a chance I think he excelled. Bumpy games here and there yes, but I would say for his "second" year as a mostly regular player, he's improved.

Olli Maatta I would put almost put in the slump region. Obviously the kid is dynamite and rock solid defensively, but there were a few more shaky times. Course, the expectation and bar is set higher so that factors in as well. He's been as good as last year overall though. Really sucks to have him out.

 

[Aceboogie]

Klefbom played 18 games games last season, so maybe he counts

He finished the year pretty strong, but came into camp this year and didn tlook as good. He went to the AHL and got 8 points in 9 games, then got called up the NHL and hasn't looked back. Hes looked even better than last season. Hes smarter and more calm out there and now starting to put up points. He and Schultz have been logging 20+ minutes a night recently and Klefbom has looked really impressive

 

[Rebels57]

Michael Raffl of the Flyers, up until his recent bout with neumonia, has improved upon his rookie season. He registered 9 goals and 22 points in 68 games as a rookie last season. This year, despite being shuffled up and down the lineup because of his versatility, he has 12 goals, 15 points in 49 games. His defensive game, which was solid right off the bat, and forecheck have also improved. He should be a top 9 contributor for many years.

 

[tucker3434]

Nathan MacKinnon is in a Sophomore slumped , he's nowhere near our expectations .

He has been below expectations, but it would be worse if everybody was performing but him. The whole team sucks. It's still disappointing, but not as much so. If I were to make a list of disappointing Avs, MacKinnon would be near the bottom with EJ and Varly.

 

[Sam Spade]

Nathan MacKinnon is in a Sophomore slumped , he's nowhere near our expectations .

I would have taken Jones, seriously.

 

[Sam Spade]

For the Penguins, we don't have many rookies but Despres took his game and ran with it.

He was so hampered by Bylsma last year so when Johnson gave him a chance I think he excelled. Bumpy games here and there yes, but I would say for his "second" year as a mostly regular player, he's improved.

Despres has played parts of three previous seasons in the NHL before this one, 85 games, he'll be 24 this summer, he is not really a 'sophomore'.

That being said, completely agree about DB messing up his development. I think he and Letang are the top dmen on the Pens this season. Young mans future looks bright now that he has a coach who believes in him.