Not that it was rock bottom, but it was certainly a low point.
When Andrew Peeke was a healthy scratch for two consecutive games just over a month ago, head coach Brad Larsen was most certainly looking for more from his standout defenseman from a season ago.
Missing from the Dec. 31 New Year's Eve win over the Chicago Blackhawks and the loss at the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 3, Larsen didn't deny Peeke's compete or effort, but he was looking for the 24-year-old to simplify his game.
"It's never a lack of effort," Larsen said on Dec. 31. "Peeke tries. He tries hard. He competes in practice, blocks shots, he does all those intangibles that you want. It's stuff with the puck and making better decisions that are there that are right in front of him.
"I know there's a better game with him. I watched it last year for a long stretch."
Since writing about Peeke's rough patch on Jan. 3, he hasn't missed a game since returning to action on Jan. 5.
The below chart courtesy of Evolving-Hockey showcased where Peeke rated on Jan. 3 prior to the game against the Senators.
Andrew Peeke, Evolving-Hockey
Here's what Larsen had to say about Peeke's game following the Blue Jackets last game before the All-Star Break—a 4-3 overtime loss to the Capitals on Jan. 31—in which Peeke also scored a goal.
"He's one of those guys you root for because he's all in," Larsen said. "He's physical at the puck. He'll block anything, it doesn't matter who's shooting it.
"He continues to work at his game as far as moving the puck and making quick decisions so I think he's certainly improving for sure."
Peeke leads the club with 100 blocked shots and is third with 105 hits.
As the Blue Jackets get ready to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, Peeke has 2.49 GA/60 over his last 15 games, dating back to Jan. 5—when he re-entered the lineup—which is tops among defensemen and among the upper echelon of the team over that span. He has 2.67 xGA/60 which is second among defensemen who have played at least 200 minutes and behind only Vladislav Gavrikov.
In the first half of the season through New Year's Eve, he had 3.76 GA/60 and 2.64 xGA/60.
Andrew Peeke, Evolving-Hockey
Individual players can only do so much in the middle of a tough season for the team on the ice, but it's nice to see players like Peeke start to resemble their form from a season ago.
