Although hockey is very much regarded as a sport where teams live and die on the relationships they have with each other both on and off the ice, or lack thereof; teams can often be carried or let down by one particular player at any given moment.
Every Stanley Cup playoff team has their fair share of stars that have the ability to dictate each and every game with their superior abilities on the ice. However, in 2014’s edition of the NHL postseason, hockey fans all across the league have witnessed a certain few that have shined in recent history take a huge dip in regards to their overall performance, which ultimately has hurt their team’s chances of lifting Lord Stanley’s mug.
Here are five players that have had very disappointing first-round playoff performances in 2014.
Ryan Callahan- Tampa Bay Lightning
Many thought that the Lightning were the winners of their blockbuster trade with the New York Rangers when they acquired Callahan in exchange for Martin St. Louis. Although Callahan was supposed to compliment a very talented Steven Stamkos and provide solid two-way for the Lightning, the former Ranger did anything but that.
In four games against the Montreal Canadiens, Callahan didn’t record a single point for his new club and went a disappointing -2, while only recording five total shots during the series. Callahan proved to be nothing but a massive disappointment for the Lightning, a team that showed a lot of promise down the stretch run of their regular season play.
Ryan Miller- St. Louis Blues
After the Blues acquired Miller just a couple of days before the trade deadline, they instantly became an arguable favorite to win the Stanley Cup in 2014. The arrival of Miller was supposed to solidify the tea’s quest of putting together a team that was well balanced and good enough to make it deep into the playoffs. Although the Blues managed to go up 2-0 in their series against the Chicago Blackhawks, Miller failed to keep his team in contention during the next four straight games.
The soon to be free-agent allowed 12 goals over the final four games of the series, failing to steal a game against a relentless Blackhawks hockey club. Miller was supposed to be the missing piece to the puzzle that would ultimately lead the Blues to the promised-land. Miller’s performance was average at best, which doesn’t cut it at this point during the NHL season.
Johan Franzen- Detroit Red Wings
With Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg barely coming back from their injuries in time for the playoffs, Franzen was the player that fans of the Red Wings turned to, to lead the way for their club on yet another deep playoff run for one of the sport’s all-time top franchises. ‘The Mule’ wasn’t able to deliver as the big forward only managed to rack up two assists in five games while putting up a disappointing -2.
The Wings needed players like Franzen to step up in the end, which is something that apparently nobody on the Wings roster was prepared to do come playoff time. The Wings were a team that looked as though they were poised to prove that once again an eighth seed could do some damage during the playoffs. Due to poor performances such as the one had by Franzen didn’t do the Motor City any favors when it comes to advancing to the second round.
Sidney Crosby- Pittsburgh Penguins
Although the “best player in hockey” has managed to record five assists for his hockey club during the playoffs, Crosby has still been quite the disappointment for a Penguins club that has a chance to make some serious noise in the latter rounds of the playoffs if they can finish off the Columbus Blue Jackets in game six. Crosby has yet to record a goal against the Blue Jackets while playing a disappointing -3 in the first five games of the series.
If the Penguins are going to make a deep run on their quest for the cup, Crosby will have to start playing like the leader he is capable of being. If Crosby fails to lead by example in the very near future, the Penguins will be eliminated in no time.
Gustav Nyquist- Detroit Red Wings
Nyquist was arguably the hottest player in the NHL during the last two months of the regular season. He was able to finish the season with 48 points in 57 games played while putting up a very impressive +16. Things changed drastically for the native of Sweden as Nyquist didn’t manage to contribute on the scoreboard while finishing the playoffs going -1 in five games. Nyquist most certainly buckled under the pressure of the NHL playoffs and has to be considered the most disappointing player in the 2014 NHL playoffs.