Value of: Tarasenko

[SirloinUB]

Yzerman will be spending ca$$$$h this summer and needs a goal scorer.

Tarasenko Larkin Raymond could be a great line.

 

[BlueTacos]

Do you even know anything about the players you talk about? He hasn't been a pure goal scorer for several years now and he is not pretty decent defensively, the best you can say about him defensively is that he at least gives effort.

It's obvious you just like to stir the pot. Your opinion is your opinion. Have a great day. Lol

 

[Xerloris]

It's obvious you just like to stir the pot. Your opinion is your opinion. Have a great day. Lol

Have you even watched him play in the last year?

 

[BlueTacos]

Have you even watched him play in the last year?

I watched every game this year. I also watch him in a few for rangers. I have played the sport my entire life and still play at 41. I get it your young brash and a donkey who likes to be a keyboard warrior. Do you play the game do you watch. Or do you just come to this site to feel big about your self. Also I post very frequently on the asylum. One of the original blues talk sites. I prefer it to the hfboards stl site. Have a great day.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Do you even know anything about the players you talk about? He hasn't been a pure goal scorer for several years now and he is not pretty decent defensively, the best you can say about him defensively is that he at least gives effort.

Well that’s more than what 3/4 of star forwards do…

He’s above average for sure. Gets the puck deep when there’s no play, a good forechecker, and usually hussles back on the back check.

Far from a floater. I agree with that other poster he’s a very good all around player.

And I’ll add while he’s not a playmaker or assist getter he’s a very good and underrated passer. Noticed that in his time with NYR.

 

[biturbo19]

Carolina makes sense. They've got to add a top 6 goal scorer I think and Tarasenko might be the best one on the market. Probably looking at a 6x6 type of deal.

It certainly does feel like a natural fit with Carolina. He's the sort of scoring player they need to replace what Patches was supposed to give them. Seems to want to go to a contender. The pieces seem to fit from both ends there.


However...that probably means it won't happen. The biggest stumbling block i can see, is that Tarasenko this year, did look like he was noticeably starting to slow down. That could make for a more challenging fit with the way the Canes want to play. It also means i think that organization in particular, are probably going to be hesitant about the sort of term they offer him. If he wants to cash in with more term on his last "big contract"...like 6 years or something, i could see that scuttling the whole thing entirely. That sort of contract doesn't seem like Carolina's style. So if he's going to end up there, it'll probably have to be on a shorter deal.



I could also see him landing with the Penguins...if they can move some money around and let some guys walk. I don't know that he really brings the youthful spark and speed that they desperately need in their lineup...but it feels like a very Dubas move to load up Top-6 scoring. I think he's going to look to make a big splash. The idea of playing with Crosby/Malkin probably still holds some appeal for a guy like Tarasenko.


I could also see the Devils being interested. They weren't shy about going out and poaching some Cup winning veteran talent with Palat on a big, long-term contract. I could certainly see them rolling the dice on Tarasenko finding some chemistry with Hughes/Hischier...where Timo didn't necessarily click instantly with either. Would be adding some more beef to their Top-6 that could be desirable for them, even if Tarasenko isn't overwhelmingly physically intimidating these days. The Devils have a lot of moving pieces...and could be looking to really reshape some things. If they can repurpose that Tatar money (and a bit more from somewhere else) toward Tarasenko...i'd call that a pretty solid upgrade. Though i think they're also a team that will be reticent about term for him. I like the fit otherwise though. Could see him posting a lot of goals playing with Hughes who can drive play with that speed but just badly needs someone to cap off plays. Tarasenko's finish has declined a bit, but he's still got those goal-scoring instincts and a good shot. That ought to do the trick over a guy like...Haula or Tatar probably.

 

[biturbo19]

Well that’s more than what 3/4 of star forwards do…

He’s above average for sure. Gets the puck deep when there’s no play, a good forechecker, and usually hussles back on the back check.

Far from a floater. I agree with that other poster he’s a very good all around player.

And I’ll add while he’s not a playmaker or assist getter he’s a very good and underrated passer. Noticed that in his time with NYR.

Yeah. Tarasenko certainly isn't a real "shutdown/matchup winger" at this stage of his career. The wheels are the biggest limitation there these days. But he's still a reasonably attentive defensive player. He's smart and isn't allergic to the "safe play" when that's all there is. He doesn't just float. He just doesn't quite have the speed to make a lot of impact plays defensively anymore. His defensive game is more about being in the right places, and managing the puck responsibly now. Probably not a "D zone faceoff in the last minute of the game protecting a 1-goal lead" sort of guy. But i wouldn't call him a big liability in more ordinary deployment.

 

[PredsV82]

Calling it now, Preds sign both Tarasenko and Kane and also trade for Panarin.

 

[Cancuks]

I think the Capitals trade Mantha and sign Tarasenko.

 

[Celtic Note]

I sort of feel like I am living in an alternate reality at the moment. Tarasenko has not been good defensively outside for a handful of games each season. Throughout his career he has floated in the defensive zone and others have needed to work harder to cover his responsibilities. There are times when he engages and hustles on a backcheck resulting in a strong play. But those efforts are fleeting. Why anyone would claim him to be anything more than poor defensively, I don’t understand. Credit to Tarasenko to getting better defensively over the course of his career, but the gains started from a point of barely playing defense at all. Now he is merely below average. Sometimes in the playoffs he shows more, but even then it’s pretty inconsistent. So, again, I am surprised anyone is claiming he has much in the way of defensive ability.

 

[biturbo19]

I sort of feel like I am living in an alternate reality at the moment. Tarasenko has not been good defensively outside for a handful of games each season. Throughout his career he has floated in the defensive zone and others have needed to work harder to cover his responsibilities. There are times when he engages and hustles on a backcheck resulting in a strong play. But those efforts are fleeting. Why anyone would claim him to be anything more than poor defensively, I don’t understand. Credit to Tarasenko to getting better defensively over the course of his career, but the gains started from a point of barely playing defense at all. Now he is merely below average. Sometimes in the playoffs he shows more, but even then it’s pretty inconsistent. So, again, I am surprised anyone is claiming he has much in the way of defensive ability.

I feel like you're living in an alternate reality where Russian scoring wingers are just stereotypically poor defensively.


Tarasenko has been a decent player defensively for a long time now. He's getting worse if anything, as he slows down. But he still understands how to responsibly manage the puck and at least gives an effort on the backcheck, and understands how to position himself defensively at both ends of the ice.

 

[Celtic Note]

I feel like you're living in an alternate reality where Russian scoring wingers are just stereotypically poor defensively.


Tarasenko has been a decent player defensively for a long time now. He's getting worse if anything, as he slows down. But he still understands how to responsibly manage the puck and at least gives an effort on the backcheck, and understands how to position himself defensively at both ends of the ice.

I have watched him his entire time with the Blues. It has nothing to do with being a scoring winger, stereotypes or Russians. He has been objectively bad defensively throughout his time in the NHL. His effort in the defensive zone has been bad since day one and only improved to a mediocre and inconsistent level under Hitchcock.

 

[biturbo19]

I have watched him his entire time with the Blues. It has nothing to do with being a scoring winger, stereotypes or Russians. He has been objectively bad defensively throughout his time in the NHL. His effort in the defensive zone has been bad since day one and only improved to a mediocre and inconsistent level under Hitchcock.

It is truly puzzling to me, how polarized opinions on Tarasenko's defensive play are. Like...i know what i've watched with his game and it really is not bad defensive play overall. Again, he's hardly a "shutdown winger" or anything, but he clearly knows what he's doing. Under Hitch, he actually became a pretty underrated, overall plus defensive player for a while. He's lost ground on that as he slows down. That happens. But he's still reasonably effective defensively for the most part.


He's never going to enter the Selke conversation but he's not a Vanek/Vrbata type player who contributes absolutely nothing outside scoring.

It's just a really strange thing where, even in this thread...there are a lot of people who attest to Tarasenko being a very "okay" defensive player. Then a handful of people who are adamant that he is absolutely wretched and incompetent defensively. Weird.



I'm curious, like...what are the things that he does so poorly defensively, in your estimation?