Playoff players

When I was playing college hockey, my career started out pretty rough in the stats department. Although I played almost every game, I didn't score a single point my freshman year. My sophomore season didn’t start out much better, with no goals by Christmas. It's hard to believe now, looking back, that I ended up scoring 7 of my 11 total points that year in the playoffs and the national tournament.

Though I’m sure I didn’t realize it at the time, that’s when I became a playoff player. I worked hard throughout the entire season, of course, but I seemed to hit a different gear when it mattered most. You see this all the time in professional leagues — there are men and women who might not contribute much during the regular season, but come playoffs, they are indispensable. It's hard to describe, but they bring another level, an edge to their play, that benefits not just them but, more importantly, the team.

I think about this playoff player concept a lot. I'm drawn to athletes I watch on TV now, feeling a connection with them because I believe we share this trait. We have this confidence, knowing we will step up and meet the moment when it arrives—not just in sports but in life.

Note: Pat Maroon is one of the recent NHL players I believe is a true playoff player. Pat won a Stanley Cup in three consecutive seasons (2019, 2020, 2021) with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the St. Louis Blues.