Players that never lived up to their 1st year success

[NullDefault]

This thread is open to the discussion of players who never repeated 1st year success or even players who underperformed throughout their career despite high expectations coming into the league.

To start it off, does anyone remember Marek Svato's first year? He really turned some heads that year and I haven't really heard much since. I think he sustained an injury sometime during that first year and his production dropped significantly from then on. He's now playing in the KHL, but his first year seemed like he was on his way up.

 

[dash]

Jim Carey (The Net Detective) comes to mind...

 

[pixburgher66]

Yeah, the injury KILLED Svatos. Honestly, I was hoping the Pens would sign him this offseason (but i'm happy with the comrie/asham deals instead)...As far as other's similar to that...I suppose Steve Mason had a bit of that this past season. His was more of a sophomore slump though...I think he'll rebound.

 

[JustAsking]

I don't have the greatest hockey knowledge.. but decent penguin smarts...

I would say alexei morozov and milan kraft.

 

[IPostedWhat]

So far Tyler Myers.

 

[NullDefault]

So far Tyler Myers.

The season is still young. For only a second year defenseman and given his age I would say the jury is still out, at least for me.

 

[GagneFire12]

Brian Boucher.

 

[anderwho2513]

If we change it to "never lived up to the hype after their first start", Sergei Bobrovsky.

 

[devs30rko]

maybe scott gomez to a small degree, even tho he's been relatively consistant his first year set the bar high

 

[NullDefault]

I don't have the greatest hockey knowledge.. but decent penguin smarts...

I would say alexei morozov and milan kraft.

The weird thing about both of those choices is that they are both doing really well in the KHL and the Czech leagues.

 

[naslundfan19]

Would Kevin Bieksa qualify?

 

[IPostedWhat]

maybe scott gomez to a small degree, even tho he's been relatively consistant his first year set the bar high

He's too busy taking out goalies behind the net nowadays.

 

[NullDefault]

If we change it to "never lived up to the hype after their first start", Sergei Bobrovsky.

You aren't the first Flyers fan that I've heard lamenting this exact thing. Time is on this kid's side, there isn't a whole lot of stiff competition in goal for Philly right now and I think it would only take a couple bounce back starts to have momentum on his side again. Experience breeds confidence and for goalies most of the game is played against themselves, if that makes sense.

 

[NullDefault]

Would Kevin Bieksa qualify?

Was he ever really that good? JK

 

[dash]

Don Murdoch - Rookie season with the Rangers was going great when it was cut short by an ankle injury. Then he was caught in the summer of '77 with cocaine at the Toronto airport and it was all downhill from there.

New York Rangers Legends: Don Murdoch

 

[GagneFire12]

You aren't the first Flyers fan that I've heard lamenting this exact thing. Time is on this kid's side, there isn't a whole lot of stiff competition in goal for Philly right now and I think it would only take a couple bounce back starts to have momentum on his side again. Experience breeds confidence and for goalies most of the game is played against themselves, if that makes sense.

I think Bobrovsky is fine. He still looks confident in goal. The defense has been directly responsible for a few of the pucks that got past him. Of course, he'd love to have a couple back - but he's a 22 year old kid living in the US for the first time. He's trying to learn the language and the North American game. Four starts is a little early to pass judgement.

 

[NullDefault]

I just thought of another recent one:

Andrew Raycroft "Razor"

Had a couple good game for Vancouver while Luongo was injured but that's about it. Phenomenal first season though.

 

[GagneFire12]

Tuukka Rask.

 

[NullDefault]

Tuukka Rask.

Hey now!!!!!

 

[NullDefault]

:p