Take out Thornton/Simmonds (Thornton preferably) and put in Gally on the PP
In terms of offensive talent ranking, on the Leafs,I have:
1) Matthews
2) Marner
3) Nylander
4) Tavares
5) Galchenyuk
6) Spezza
7) Rielly
8) Hyman
9) Kerfoot
Nylander does not have more offensive talent than Tavares.
Still going to patient on evaluating him complete, but
No idea where the "he has poor speed" narrative came from
I don't know about that.
Tavares just uses his strength to his advantage, and, at times he tries to force the play too many times.
Nylander has a higher offensive IQ. He has a decent shot, but, it's just missing the net a lot right now.
I think Nylander has a better shot and is a better playmaker also.
Nylander is better today no doubt really
But Tavares used to be a Hart candidate
I know he hasn’t been good this year and I’ve been a big critic but Tavares has talent and I think people are acting like he has no talent just cuz he’s not a great skater
It's not a speed issue. It's he's got a "shitty skating stride" narrative. He used to be either super hunched over or almost completely upright while skating and both limited his agility and the first step. I hope he realizes that this team is a good fit for him and it'll allow him to rebuild his career. Hopefully, we can resign the kid after the expansion draft and get him for cheap. He can really do some damage on that second line.Still going to be patient on evaluating him completely, but
No idea where the "he has poor speed" narrative came from
Apparently, his skating was so bad that users said that he's unable to play 5v5.
Quoting an HF user "His skating at 15 was better than it is now, he is completely unable to skate, his skating is OHL level ---- his only redeeming quality is his shot, and, he is a defensive liability".
He can throw his body around, pass, shoot, skate hard, and, make good defensive plays from time-to-time. I've yet to see him make an errand pass in the defensive zone, he has a calmness to him when he has the puck.
Gotta wonder if expectations were simply too high based on where he was drafted.I literally can't imagine anyone calling this guy lazy. He's hard on every puck and extremely tenacious.
Been watching some old Tavares Youtube and a couple of years ago he was really playing a Crosby style, high end grinder game. Using a lot of lower body strength to leverage against checkers, using edges all the time, forearm out and protecting the puck with the other, a lot of sudden cut back plays with the puck, spin moves. Shooting wise he can really whip a wrist shot up high too at weird angles. Sort of an entire arsenal of tricks to avoid those open ice foot races and straight line skating.
I literally can't imagine anyone calling this guy lazy. He's hard on every puck and extremely tenacious.
Been watching some old Tavares Youtube and a couple of years ago he was really playing a Crosby style, high end grinder game. Using a lot of lower body strength to leverage against checkers, using edges all the time, forearm out and protecting the puck with the other, a lot of sudden cut back plays with the puck, spin moves. Shooting wise he can really whip a wrist shot up high too at weird angles. Sort of an entire arsenal of tricks to avoid those open ice foot races and straight line skating.
And BTW, on my post that you replied to, I was talking about Galchenyuk not Tavares.
Do you think Tavares has regressed?
He definitely isn't as good offensively as he was a couple years ago, but, at-least his defensive game has ascended.
If Keefe tries Gally/Tavares/Hyman i think its a line that provides Tavares idea wingers for this roster. Willy could be part of a potentially brilliant line with Marner and Matthews or let to make a identity for himself as 3rd line center.I’m not sure if Nylander has ideal wingers for playing third line with him but Simmonds could definitely be a winger for him.He’s been great since called up... he’s looked like a good fit for Tavares.