I see both sides of the coin here. Because the simple fact of the matter is this, in my opinion. Has he had a down year? Offensively? Sure. All around? No. He’s crucial. He’s been good. Can he be better? Can he show up more in the goal scoring department? Sure.
I wouldn’t call his overall body of work even close to bad. He is a guy who plays in every situation for a team who’s special teams around the top of the league, and is the 1C on a team that many deem a Top-2 as far as Eastern Conference favorites go.
All of that being said, I will say this: in order for us to actually crack this code and win the Cup, as good as Mika has been away from the puck, I see no way we win it all unless he is a factor on the scoresheet. Our teams all around game is in a good place. But at some point, every team needs its superstar players to be superstars in the playoffs. Mika has shown he has what it takes to be a difference there. And he needs to do it again this year if we want this ride to end with a parade.