‘I Don’t Think I’ve Ever Had A Stretch Like This’: Tatar Focusing On Team Amidst Slump (+)

You can think whatever you want about Tomas Tatar, but I doubt even his biggest detractors could have foreseen the start of his Colorado Avalanche career going the way it has.

Tatar’s postseason struggles are no secret, but in the regular season? He’s been remarkably consistent over his 11 year career, tallying 20 goal seasons in seven of his last nine seasons in the NHL.

Barring an incredible run over the final 3/4 of the season, a 20 goal year seems highly unlikely in Colorado.

Through 23 games in an Avalanche uniform, Tatar has zero goals and eight assists. Dating back to the playoffs last year, he has now gone 28 games without a goal. His shot generation has plummeted to half of what he recorded last season in New Jersey. Because of this, his role with the Avalanche has been very different to what he’s used to in his career.

Still, this is a man who has scored 211 career goals in the NHL. What the heck is happening here?

The 33 year old winger was pretty honest when I chatted him after morning skate on Thursday.