Anyone else concerned about Tavares?

[ShaneFalco]

More concenred with how he'll be deployed

 

[notDatsyuk]

Should be rested before playoffs. Still do not understand why they do not use him to take draws in our end on the PK.

If he took faceoffs on the PK, he would have to be on the ice on PK, which is not a good idea. If he could take the draw and magically switch with someone else immediately, then ok.

 

[Dekes For Days]

He has one more goal at 5v5 than Engvall this year

The same or worse can be said about Kucherov, Stamkos, Malkin, Marner, Kopitar, Kane, Bergeron, Debrincat, Stone, Zibanejad, Hischier, Gaudreau, Laine, Benn, Guentzel, etc., etc.
Tavares's 5v5 production is quite a bit higher than Engvall's, for the record, but way to be misleading.

 

[All Mod Cons]

He has one more goal at 5v5 than Engvall this year, with about 16% more 5v5 ice time.

That's not good.

 

[notDatsyuk]

That's not good.

According to Dekes that still makes him better than Kucherov, Stamkos, Malkin, Marner, Kopitar, Kane, Bergeron, Debrincat, Stone, Zibanejad, Hischier, Gaudreau, Laine, Benn, Guentzel, etc., etc.

 

[Mess]

Look at Leafs top core forwards and look at Tavares +/- stats at 5v5 and how they stand out, on a 100 point team with a +49 goal differential.

Not hard to spot the weakest link defensively that is continuously getting scored on at even strength, more than he generates to offset it.

#1C Matthews is +30 and #2C Tavares a -7.

Hopefully ROR return moves him back the #2 C spot and JT to the wing where he can be carried and sheltered by Marner and O'Reilly defensively, otherwise TB 2nd line and secondary scoring is going to have a field day.

 

[Dekes For Days]

According to Dekes that still makes him better than Kucherov, Stamkos, Malkin, Marner, Kopitar, Kane, Bergeron, Debrincat, Stone, Zibanejad, Hischier, Gaudreau, Laine, Benn, Guentzel, etc., etc

I didn't say that at all. Don't misrepresent the things that people say. You cherry picked one stat (5v5 goals) and a specific player that you knew would draw a reaction (Engvall) to misrepresent Tavares, and I merely expanded on that and pointed out how Engvall compared to other top-tier players to expose your faulty logic.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

He's a #1C in 5v5 production this year despite lesser minutes than most... positive expected goal differential... positive goal differential...
You're unnecessarily creating concern, for some reason, as we gear up for the playoffs.

Don't mind me I'm just single-handedly creating a narrative all by myself.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Don't mind me I'm just single-handedly creating a narrative all by myself.

Oh, nobody said that Toronto Hockey media doesn't try to create unnecessary controversy too. Of course they do. It sells.
I guess you could say that a few games without a 5v5 point is a mini-slump, though he had 5 in 6 games prior to that.
Hardly seems a massive concern.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Look at Leafs top core forwards and look at Tavares +/- stats at 5v5

Tavares is +7 at 5v5, FYI.

 

[ponder]

He’s been great on the PP, mediocre at ES for a few years now. He’s still a good player overall, worth around $7-8 mil AAV, just very overpaid at $11 mil. But we’re carrying that contract this year and the next two no matter what (full NMC, and would be very tough to find a taker even without it), so just hope he shows up in the playoffs.

 

[Skullz]

He's been deeply concerning for several years now. Absolutely an horrid fit with Nylander that Keefe keeps pigeon holing as well.

Move on from ASAP

 

[CelticDruid]

Should be rested before playoffs. Still do not understand why they do not use him to take draws in our end on the PK.

I guess he could inadvertently get stuck out there and then that's a problem .

 

[Buds17]

As concerned as one can be about a PPG player.

 

[notbias]

He wins the draw, we shoot the puck out, he gets off the ice and 30 seconds have elapsed. He should be good enough to PK if he loses the draw IMO.

I think ROR/Acciari/Kampf will be fine for the draws, all over 50%. I'd probably rather Matthews over Tavares even.

I know Tavares is probably the best of the bunch, just seems like the biggest liability if we lose the draw as we have a fairly aggressive PK.

 

[Stephen]

I mean if you didn’t think Tavares game would decline at this point in his contract, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.

Much like a lot of other UFA contracts, he was paid a premium as a top line centre at his peak. Providing $11 AAV value over its duration was never going to happen.

Still, he has be a constant PPG producing centre for 5 years now which is good. And he’s having his second best scoring season as a Leaf despite the PP dependency.

Tavares’ play quality is a double edged sword.

You gotta give him credit for the stats line he’s managed to stitch together this year. Production is production, whether it’s special teams or 5 on 5, no matter who is propping him up, and it helps the team no matter how you slice it.

But on the other hand, there is a certain mirage-like quality to his big time numbers in the sense that every time you throw him out there on the ice you’re likely to get a very disconnected shift, poor puck control, poor puck management and odd man rushes the other way. Put it bluntly, I probably trust Kerfoot more as a reliable player for 170 feet of the ice but Tavares excels in the last 30 And probably a big factor why a ROR backup was brought here in the first place.

So on the balance you get PPGish stats. But also inconsistent play quality.

 

[Jojalu]

I am less concerned because they can use ROR to eat some of the tougher minutes.

A few months back they were talking about how the Leafs had to limit his minutes last year in the playoffs.

If Keefe can figure out a way to get him some good matchup minutes against TB, he could still be a very valuable piece.

The Leafs need him to be a monster on the PP.

 

[LeafsNation149]

Leafs fan logic
- Team looks great
- Clinched playoffs
- Goalie got a shutout recently

Who can I blame to pass time???????

Tavares only has 1 ES goal in 14 games? GET HIMMMMMMM.

Can this toxic fanbase actually go a week without throwing a player under the bus, its legit meaningless hockey right now, who cares.

 

[Stephen]

Don't mind me I'm just single-handedly creating a narrative all by myself.

View attachment 681046

There’s a glue factory quip in there somewhere.

 

[myleafs]

When the space on the ice gets tighter come playoff time, JT is a guy you want on your team.

With Toronto....20playoff gms....14pts -8 I mean that doesnt exactly scream the "guy" I want on my team in the playoffs. Not saying he doesnt bring some value but.....

 

[ACC1224]

Leafs fan logic
- Team looks great
- Clinched playoffs
- Goalie got a shutout recently

Who can I blame to pass time???????

Tavares only has 1 ES goal in 14 games? GET HIMMMMMMM.

Can this toxic fanbase actually go a week without throwing a player under the bus, its legit meaningless hockey right now, who cares.

Fans of the team like to discuss a players performance. Why do you find that so strange? Seems pretty normal.

 

[hamzarocks]

An 8M player at ppg isnt an issue

JT is 3M overpaid though

2M of that nylander makes back for us

1M who cares

 

[myleafs]

He has one more goal at 5v5 than Engvall this year, with about 16% more 5v5 ice time.

yikes...thats not a good look

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Fans of the team like to discuss a players performance. Why do you find that so strange? Seems pretty normal.

 

[PeE eL DuBoiS]

Tavares shouldn't centre either of the top 2 lines. Either he needs to move over for O'Reilly on the 2nd line, or drop to the 3rd line as centre.

Tavares and Nylander together are also too much famine to make up for the occasional feast game when then both play well. I really think Nylander needs to play up with Matthews, at least when it's a home game and Keefe could counter Tampa with O'Reilly-Marner to get favorable ice time for Nylander - Matthews.