Grade/Comment on John Tavares

[Tres Peleches]

An A from me... Just marginally though

 

[A Pointed Stick]

A solid A for the Hart Finalist.

 

[Brunomics]

It disgusts me that people on this board think this bum is any good. Next thing you know they'll be talking about Oleg Kavash in a positive light as well!

 

[StumpNYI]

I will give him an A- only because I know he is going to be that much better. But you can tell he needs better linemates. I don't think he trusts them to carry the puck into the other teams zone. Last year, he tried to get fancy at the blueline on the rush and coughed it up way too much. His only other option was to dump and chase. He needs some help.

 

[19NYSports91]

I will give him an A- only because I know he is going to be that much better. But you can tell he needs better linemates. I don't think he trusts them to carry the puck into the other teams zone. Last year, he tried to get fancy at the blueline on the rush and coughed it up way too much. His only other option was to dump and chase. He needs some help.

It's not really trust, they simply can't. Every time Moulson gets the puck he gives it right back to Tavares no matter how many guys are on him. I never saw Moulson get by a defender either by skating around him or making a move. Every time Brad Boyes has the puck he pretty much turned it over.

 

[StumpNYI]

It's not really trust, they simply can't. Every time Moulson gets the puck he gives it right back to Tavares no matter how many guys are on him. I never saw Moulson get by a defender either by skating around him or making a move. Every time Brad Boyes has the puck he pretty much turned it over.

Well, Moulson simply can't. Boyes tried at least, he just sucked at it because he would make a crappy play once in the zone or turn it over half of the time. But you're right, Moulson barely had the puck on his stick and would get rid of it asap. Wouldn't surprise me if Tavares' slumps would come to an end if you gave him some possession/playmaking types on his wings. I could consistently see a 90pt player in him with a couple 100pt seasons throughout his career. Need players to help him get down low. Once Johnny gets below the circles, fools better watch out.

 

[Hipietro]

C+ for the "most overrated player in NHL history" according to the posters on the main board.

I give him an A, no doubt about it.

 

[kasper11]

It's criminal how underrated his season was...

Tavares played on a line with ZERO playmaking wingers, yet still finished 3rd in goal scoring. Moulson was on pace to crush his previous career high in shots, yet was also on pace for a career low in goals, yet somehow was on pace for a career high in points.

Tavares absolutely put that line on his back all year long. Did it cause him to try to do too much at times? Of course. That's to be expected though, when your wingers are as one-dimensional as Tavares' wingers were.

As far as the 90+ point player, well... he might as well have been one last year. As I said, Moulson's shooting% dipped drastically. Had he even scored at his average clip from the previous 3 seasons(14.6%), he would have had another 7-8 goals, which would have given Tavares another 7-8 assists(considering Tavares is in on about 100% of Moulson's goals scored), which would have put him on a 92/94 point pace. It's hard to get assists when your teammates struggle to score.

Tavares was essentially a PPG player with...
1) His go-to scoring winger having his worst statistical season in that department
2) No playmaking wingers
3) No wingers who could help in the transition game
4) No wingers who could help on the forcheck
5) A RW who was basically on his way out of the NHL, and who still might be even after scoring at a 60 point pace.

The season Tavares just had really does deserve a bit more respect. IMO, there are only a few players in the game who could have put up the numbers he did, in the situation he was in. It just makes the anticipation for Strome that much more exciting.

It isn't just about the scoring. He seemed to wear down during the second half and wasn't creating, with the same linemates, the way that he was earlier in the season. Even when he was scoring it seemed like he would be having a quiet game and then suddenly score a goal whereas earlier in the season he would be buzzing the entire game and you were just waiting for him to score.

There are reasons for him wearing down...the condensed season, the physical pounding he takes, the pressure to carry the team. But as he gets older he will learn to fight through this and continue to dominate.

Giving him an A- isn't a lack of respect. I grade players based on what I think they are capable of. If any other player had the season he did, I would have given them an A+. JT is a great player but he is capable of being even better. When he is a dominant force for the entire season I will give him an A+.

 

[CaptDenisPotvin]

Tavares - A

Hes a scorer, play makers and skating is above average now and could get better. As others have said he needs work in the defensive zone but as of right now ill give him a pass on that due to the fact that for this team to be successful hes gotta be scoring...that should be his focus. Also quite a leader for this young team.

Like i said the defense can improve but im also pleasantly surprised with the work he does along the boards and in the corners. When we drafted him i did not know he could be that kind of player. Overall JT is everything i would want out of a player to build a team around.