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John Tavares Discussion

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Jarqui said:
So you're the coach of the twice defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
In the five games your team has faced John Tavares in the faceoff dot, you've only won the draw 28.x% of the time. Tavares is leading the playoffs with 71.x%. He was barely second to Bergeron in the regular season. Largely due to that Leafs are first in faceoff win% while the Lightning are 16thin the playoffs. 56.4% to 43.6%. Convince me that is not helping the Leafs cause ...

Tavares lowly 0.80 ppg in these five games (since we're into assessing snippets of data ...) as second line center with second line wingers and ice time against the defending Cup champions would have him tied for second among Tampa Bay forwards. Tampa Bay forwards are all Gods while Tavares is a bum? Facts don't jive.

At the start of the season, both his coach and Tavares said he was taking on more of a defensive role. His offence was likely to suffer. He's playing second fiddle to Matthews. How easily we forget.

I don't think Tavares is having a great series. But I think the posts claiming "no contributions" and "no heart" are over the top.
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You did notice that the quote you’re referencing was made in December, right? And that it was offered to provide another poster with data about our team success at the dot? And that nowhere in the post was I commenting about Tavares’s perceived strengths or weaknesses? Have a good day.
 
stickty111 said:
Where was this Tavares all series? Played like the dominant player he should be. When he starts cycling on you, you may as well forget it.
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he was far better on long island than with the leafs. The playing styles and linemates don't fit well - aside from Mitch (who can play with anyone since he's superb).

Tavares is a cycle-player, Leafs are an off-the-rush team. Players who are awful on the cycle (Kerfoot, Mikheyev, Nylander are among the worst fit for Tavares - granted, they're likely there to make-up for the lack of foot speed. I can see why)

Hi best seasons have always been with cycle players, slow-ish (Bailey/Lee/Moulson/Boyes) where he maximizes the below-the-dots time and can create looks with a puck battle/good pass/etc.

His net-front is a waste of $11MM on the PP as well - again, I understand why he's there given the skill they have on the ice, but he gets no touches and is basically a Pavelski/Andreychuk/TimKerr type in that role.

He works hard but you can see many shifts when nothing happens and he looks slow. Then when he's in a spot (with the puck below the dots) you can see why he's been so effective - seems like in losses, he's never there.

But you pay big money for big talent, solely for those moments. They'll need more from those big four (and the goalie) and this Tampa team is still scary as hell, that last win will need to be earned.
 
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Good to see Tavares make some good plays last night but he also made a lot of bad plays too.
He needs to simplify his game and stop trying to deke guys out or make blind passes.
Just protect the puck and make the smart play. Then go to the front of the net and set screens or open yourself up for a one timer. This is his recipe for success at this point due to his complete lack of foot speed.
 
Pleased that he was able to contribute in a big way in game 5.
Reality is, before his goal and pass to Rielly, I didn't think he was great at all. Perhaps guilty of trying too much.
They are really going to consistently need more from him if they are going to make a run at this.
He's the X-Factor in this puzzle. If he's not going, it becomes pretty easy for the opposition to target in on the Matthews line.
 
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Glad Tavares is turning up the heat. I’m a Tampa resident now a NY transplant. Even have my two business offices in Tampa. But I’m rooting for the Leafs this series. I can’t stand Cooper. He appears a bit smug.

Really weird because at the start of the series I wanted Tampa to win to spite JT. Watching him play poorly the first few games and watching some of you guys bash the guy some pity set in I said wait a minute. JT broke our hearts but he’s better than this. I remember in the early years with the Isles he was like contributing 1/4 of our offense on his back. He carried Long Island in the bad days he can completely take over a game when he’s at his best. He’s a monster when he’s got his A game going. I’ve forgiven the guy.

And watching the shit show Lamiorello has made of the NYI I can’t blame him for leaving now. Go raise the Cup JT! It’s your time!
 
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Unless he is nursing a ding of some kind I am expecting him to carry the momentum forward. He has played 18:00 a night for 2 years so should be fully charged and ready to play meaningful minutes in 7.
 
Two goals scored within 26 seconds of each other… in the last minute of the 2nd period, to go up 3-2 to start the third.

John Tavares was a major factor in games five and six… I predict he will be again in game 7.
 
John was great the last few games, but at 11 million and declining, I think he needs to go if we can find a way despite his NTC and contract. Opens up a lot of options for us going forward.
 
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John Tavares was pretty good in Game 6 and 7, so he's still got some juice when it matters. But I do worry about what his next 82 games in the regular season looks like.
 
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Stephen said:
John Tavares was pretty good in Game 6 and 7, so he's still got some juice when it matters. But I do worry about what his next 82 games in the regular season looks like.
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Do you think his mobility+speed is as bad as it looked at times this series or is he likely carrying some sort of injury? He was never quick but he made up for it with his wits and skills. How much longer does he have?
 
He ended up putting together a really solid 3 games to end this series. Underappreciated leader, works hard, always willing to step up in big moments.
 
ExpatHabs said:
Do you think his mobility+speed is as bad as it looked at times this series or is he likely carrying some sort of injury? He was never quick but he made up for it with his wits and skills. How much longer does he have?
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For me, it's mostly a concern of what the ROI is on $11 million. He still seems effective when the ice has been shrunken down and his linemates help wrestle down the pace of the play and he can play his stand still game. But the problem is the Leafs are also not designed to play that way. So how do you keep him out of open ice when the team wants to thrive in open ice?
 
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