T.J. Oshie knows this feeling all too well.
Said feeling is a bitter one, sparked by yet another early playoff exit after lofty expectations to go all the way.
The Washington Capitals winger has reached the postseason in seven of his nine NHL seasons, but has never seen the Conference Finals, and after Wednesday's Game 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Oshie was left wondering what he has to do.
"You almost wonder how much disappointment you've got to put yourself through before you can find a way to get the job done," Oshie told Katie Brown of NHL.com.
Oshie played for the St. Louis Blues - another much-maligned playoff team over the years - before a trade to Washington in 2015. Two first-place finishes and two eliminations from the Penguins later, the 30-year-old's time with the Capitals looks to be over, as he's scheduled for unrestricted free agency July 1.
In 13 postseason games this spring, Oshie ranked second on the Capitals with 12 points, and set career highs with 33 goals and 56 points in the regular season.
He'll likely have plenty of suitors for a new contract, and it's a safe bet Oshie will look to join another contender.
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