AhosDatsyukian
Registered User
- Sep 25, 2020
- 11,452
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3C behind Aho and Trocheck. And honestly I’d prefer Staal at 3C. I’d have no interest in adding Tavares to this team.
John Tavares would be ___ line C on your team?
- Thread starter koyvoo
- Start date
Team Cozens
Registered User
Tavares has not been great this year. He’s been pretty underwhelming most of his time in Toronto. He’d still be a 1C on a lot of teams and number 2 on many many more.
It’s cute to put him behind young guys like Norris, Suzuki or Hughes but the overwhelmingly likely scenario is that he’d easily be a #1 center in usage and ice time on teams like that - which would be ideal because it would let the younger guy develop the way Barzal did on Long Island as the #2.
And that’s not to say Tavares is an attractive asset with his contract or lack of ability to really turn things up when it matters in the playoffs…but some of these responses are simply downplaying the guy because A) my teams younger guy is more important to me and B) Tavares has a bad contract…neither of which is really integral to the question.
It’s cute to put him behind young guys like Norris, Suzuki or Hughes but the overwhelmingly likely scenario is that he’d easily be a #1 center in usage and ice time on teams like that - which would be ideal because it would let the younger guy develop the way Barzal did on Long Island as the #2.
And that’s not to say Tavares is an attractive asset with his contract or lack of ability to really turn things up when it matters in the playoffs…but some of these responses are simply downplaying the guy because A) my teams younger guy is more important to me and B) Tavares has a bad contract…neither of which is really integral to the question.
North Cole
♧ Lem
- Jan 22, 2017
- 11,841
- 13,523
2/3C for us in EDM. Games where McDrai are together, he plays 2C, games where they are split, he would be third.
I wouldn't have him slated in front of Zibenejad.
I would have him as 2C on their depth chart.
People said you don't put Kessel on the 3rd line too... Then HBK won the cup in 2016.
Tavares would be 1st or 2nd on most teams. But Pittsburgh is an exception with Crosby and Malkin (when healthy).
But as often as one of them is hurt we all know Tavares would be 2nd line most times for Pittsburgh.
Career obviously Tavares destroys PLD, but for the same reason that Thornton didn’t bump Tavares down when he was there it’s not all about career numbers for who you’d have now. PLD has shown great chemistry so far, and is on the upswing clearly. Tavares while still a good player, who knows what chemistry he would have and is on the decline slowly. But these are the types of comments I’d expect though.
ReginKarlssonLehner
Let's Win It All
1C.. quite easily on the Sens.
Norris might make it a conversation by end of the season if he continues his stellar play.
Norris might make it a conversation by end of the season if he continues his stellar play.
McPoyle
Start breaking bricks wet nips
lol @ all the votes for 3C. Ok, HFBoards.
There are a few teams, but even then, he'd be in the top 6. He or someone else would be on the wing. But despite that, the voting is hilarious. Sure, there are a few teams he'd technically be the 3C on. Maybe all those fans voted. It is possible.
There are a few teams, but even then, he'd be in the top 6. He or someone else would be on the wing. But despite that, the voting is hilarious. Sure, there are a few teams he'd technically be the 3C on. Maybe all those fans voted. It is possible.
OilersCoffeeArtBeer
Registered User
My team has the two best centers in the game. No chance he’s playing above them.
Erik Alfredsson
Beast Mode Cowboy!
- Jan 14, 2012
- 13,538
- 5,848
I voted 1c because he would be our best center, but he would probably actually play on the 2nd line with Stützle, because I doubt they would break up the Tkachuk-Norris-Batherson line.
I agree, he’d be in the top 6 on probably every team in one way or another but that’s not really reflected in the poll options. There is quite a few teams who have 2 equal or better Cs right now that have chemistry with the teams players and system so if Tavares was added right now would most likely not supplant the current top 2 Cs. Would the team tinker to try to find something that works with JT in the top 6? Of course. But then this is assuming that they actively went to acquire him, and brings on many other questions. I get what you’re saying but I feel you’re making it more complicated than the question
Fair point. But most teams don’t have two stars who can carry the top 2 lines when the depth is thinned out. Oilers might be able to do it now, though they’ve struggled to have two consistent lines with McDavid and Draisaitl separated in the past.
Tavares is definitely a 3C on Winnipeg. Scheifele is unquestionably better now and when you consider contracts, age and production, PLD is the far better value. So as a center Tavares is a 3 on Winnipeg, but would likely be played on the wing in the top 6.
Looking at the last 2 full years (taking out his big 47 goal season in 2018-2019) and this partial year and looking at rankings among all regular centers (1000+ minutes over that time), Tavares ranks:
Goals: 14th in the NHL
Points: 12th in the NHL
5v5 xGF%: 54.40 (18th in the NHL)
Considering he's also a top-tier faceoff guy, hes 1-2 on almost every team except the obvious Oilers/Pens discussed earlier.
Goals: 14th in the NHL
Points: 12th in the NHL
5v5 xGF%: 54.40 (18th in the NHL)
Considering he's also a top-tier faceoff guy, hes 1-2 on almost every team except the obvious Oilers/Pens discussed earlier.
You’re comparing a 1C Tavares to 40 year old Joe Thornton? This is classic Jets fans. Compare last season where PLD was pacing for 40 points.
Who knows what kind of chemistry Ovechkin would have with Matthews so for that reason Bunting would retain his spot.
Before this season Tavares has 198 points in 201 games with the Leafs. So far this season he has 9 point in 11 games.
The narrative that Tavares has somehow dropped to the point of a third line center is absurd. He's likely playing just as well as he ever has considering his minutes aren't what they were in New York.
I’m not the one making that comparison. You’re the one saying career numbers define who is better now. Yes Dubois had low numbers last year. Have you paid any attention as to why that may be? I also said he’s trending up which he is. Classic jets fan? So you’re not here to have a conversation but rather just push your opinion. I don’t see the point in carrying on with an attempted conversation then.
bur and 666 others
Registered User
- Jun 13, 2012
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well, it's on rare occasions when Backstrom is fully healthy and Kuzy is playing lights out at the same time (when this happens we are the cup favorites). So on these rare occasions, he's 3C, but in reality he's 2C or even 1C in most likely scenarios.
Oddbob
Registered User
- Jan 21, 2016
- 16,674
- 11,225
Tavares would be first line center on about 25 teams in the league, then a few he would be 2nd line. Edmonton, Tampa and maybe Pittsburgh he would be 3C on the depth chart but nowhere else really. even if he was on Pitt, Edm or TB, he would be no lower than the 2nd line, as there is no way a team would waste his talent and production playing 3rd line C. People are way underselling this guy, as he is still a darn good hockey player. Overpaid yes, but so are most players.
