Those players don’t belong lumped together, their situations aren’t all the same.
To say you are jumping the gun with Olofsson would be a massive understatement. He’s only played one game. He would need to score 30+ goals in Vegas to do something he didn’t already do here. So let’s wait and see.
Jack/Mitts are the same players they became here. The change was they went to teams with better talent, leadership and coaching. Jack’s best season is still his last full season with us. Considering we were basically a one line team, it makes it even more impressive.
Sam took his goal scoring to an entirely different level last season. But the 30+ goalscorer he was prior already emerged as a Sabre. He also went to a team with better talent and coaching.
Montour got an opportunity he never got here or in his first season in Florida. Which was to be the top 5v5 RHD and the PP workhorse. Which were products of a new Maurice taking over as coach (PP+5v5 ice time) and Weeger leaving (5v5 ice time). Obviously on top of the opportunity he was given he was playing for more talented team with a better coaching.
ROR was also given an opportunity he was never gonna get here. Which was the role of #1 all situations center. That was never happening here with Jack on the roster. He took that opportunity and turned it into the best season of his career. He also went to a team with a great veteran leadership group and better coaching than he had here.
Erod doesn’t even belong in this conversation. He won a Stanley Cup playing for his 4th team in 5 years. Clearly we weren’t the only team that didn’t see him fitting into their plans.
If there is a common thread with the ones who went on to have team success. It’s better coaching, rosters, leaders and/or more vets. The ones who went on to better individual success were getting an opportunity they didn’t or weren’t going to get here.
