After a season in which he registered 37 points in 47 games and earned a well-deserved NHL contract with Pittsburgh, Ryan Haggerty seemed poised to have a career year this season.
So far, that isn't happening.
Haggerty didn't score his first goal of the season until Dec. 7. Through 32 games this season, he's only recorded six goals and 12 assists. It's quite the drop off from last season.
"It's been pretty hard," Haggerty told me of his season. "I think the work effort is there for sure. But things aren't coming as easy, and that's when I think frustration comes in, and you think twice about some things. I think there's times when you've just got to simplify it, and that's what I've done. Just really simplify it and play a little harder, play a little simpler. Just try to get a little more pucks to the net."
It's definitely not an issue with Haggerty's work ethic. The 25-year-old is still playing hard, using his physicality, and driving to the net. With 2.63 shots per game on average, he's even shooting more than he did last season.
So ... what happened? What has been the difference this season?
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