What does JT work on this summer?

[PWJunior]

Not sure how any of those examples show a lack of on-ice maturity. He wants success every single game and every time he's on the ice. The rest of the team should want the same.

There's nothing wrong with showing frustration. I would rather my captain show a little fire after something not going his way instead of just getting off the ice quietly. Its not like he's throwing tantrums in the locker room or anything like that.

I could do without the occasional Crosby-esque whining we saw from time to time last year. Simply put, when he gets the C... he's going to be held to an even higher standard than he is now. Fair or not, that's the burden he'll bear. I'm not the least bit worried about him though.

 

[RMimagery]

I think he'll be stronger overall and continue to develop what he did last year.

More powerful strides, speed and acceleration, adding a few pounds of muscle and be even harder to get off the puck. Better able to withstand the attempted pounding he's going to have on his person(!). And just be that much more dominant in different aspects of his game.

I loved how he showed his frustration after the 5 game losing streak early on, banging his stick and venting his frustration. His will to win is unmatched, but i think he'll be more mentally composed as he matures.

I don't think I've seen another player add layers and dimension to their game each year the way that he has. I'm really in awe in watching him develop.

yeah and faceoffs too.

 

[RichOnTheLI]

The only thing JT needs to work on is getting used to wearing a "C" on his jersey!

 

[nyiguy21]

I remember an interview Tavares had some time this season and he was talking about his slap shot. He said specifically about the 1-time slapper, and how all the great players had that assest (Stamkos, Ovechkin, etc.), but he didn't. So I wouldn't be surprised if that was actually something he was looking to this off-season. It'd be really awesome to see if he could get a half-decent 1-timer on the PP.

 

[PWJunior]

I remember an interview Tavares had some time this season and he was talking about his slap shot. He said specifically about the 1-time slapper, and how all the great players had that assest (Stamkos, Ovechkin, etc.), but he didn't. So I wouldn't be surprised if that was actually something he was looking to this off-season. It'd be really awesome to see if he could get a half-decent 1-timer on the PP.

If you can find that interview and let us know, that would be great.

Adding a more potent slapper, especially a 1-timer, would make him that much more dangerous. Glad that he's aware of it and is doing something about it.

 

[Space Herpe]

His pick up lines.

I hear he's crap with the ladies.

 

[bomberslocks]

I think he should work on the weakest part of his game. His linemates.

 

[19 in a row]

I think he should work on the weakest part of his game. His linemates.

you beat me to it, i read through this entire thread and was planning on posting the same as the most obvious choice, only half tongue in cheek...

 

[Sideshow Bob]

shootouts. i dont know his stats, which I think actually aren't bad, but overall our team shootouts this year were not as good in the past. Franz had an off year - maybe the league is studying his "backhand of justice" - So JT needs to become the cant miss guy. every point counts.

 

[RMimagery]

shootouts. i dont know his stats, which I think actually aren't bad, but overall our team shootouts this year were not as good in the past. Franz had an off year - maybe the league is studying his "backhand of justice" - So JT needs to become the cant miss guy. every point counts.

He's already on it.

2 for 7 in '12 and improved to a nice 50% 3 for 6 last season.

 

[A Pointed Stick]

I remember an interview Tavares had some time this season and he was talking about his slap shot. He said specifically about the 1-time slapper, and how all the great players had that assest (Stamkos, Ovechkin, etc.), but he didn't. So I wouldn't be surprised if that was actually something he was looking to this off-season. It'd be really awesome to see if he could get a half-decent 1-timer on the PP.

I am surprised to hear that. It seemed like every other goal he scored in juniors was him taking a cross high-slot pass and burying it on the one timer.

 

[nyiguy21]

Trying to find that interview and I can't, but it basically was the reporter asking him about his improved wrist shot. The convo led into him saying that while he has a better wrister, he doesn't have the one-time slapper like some other big time goal scorers. Now it wasn't JT necessarily saying that he was going to work on it in the offseason, it was him noting that it was a weakness in comparison to other players.

 

[Kevin27nyi]

We rarely see it because he didn't have any playmakers on his line....

Bouchard will be a very nice addition.

 

[duster19]

Skating. Gotten better over the years, but still not a huge asset compared to some of the other bigger names

 

[StumpNYI]

Endurance? Mental strength? Everyone goes through slumps but his are pretty bad. His ups and downs are not subtle. If he can balance out his game, he will challenge for the art ross...well, if Crosby wasn't in the picture.

Other then that, I would say his slap shot, skating, and faceoffs could all use some improvements.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

The only knock on his game right now is that he doesn't have use hard shots during games. Obviously that will have to wait until actual game time.

What does this even mean?

 

[Poliz24]

I think he needs to work on his play in the D-zone. If he wants to get to crosby level and beat him, he needs to up his defensive play. I am sure he works on every aspect of his game, but he needs more D work. IMO

 

[PK Cronin]

Maturity.

JT is a very polished individual and certainly already very mature for his age. But once he is named official captain and continues to lead this team, I'd like to not see his emotions get the best of him.

I love that you can see the passion in him, but it will benefit the team if he doesn't have defeatist outbursts when others are looking up to him. I'm looking specifically at that face palm moment after I think the Carolina game last year -- and other incidents like this. Or when he pretty much looks like he is going to break his stick against the boards after every shift he doesn't score. Slamming the bench door in the playoffs, etc.

Love the fire, but a mature leader ON the ice as well as off (which he already has), will go a long way for this team.

I enjoy most of his frustration moments, and as he matures and becomes more established I think we'll see that transition into being able to rally the team via talking rather than venting frustration.

Some of those frustration moments happened because of the referees too, which he's right to be frustrated about when guys like Crosby are being protected so much.

shootouts. i dont know his stats, which I think actually aren't bad, but overall our team shootouts this year were not as good in the past. Franz had an off year - maybe the league is studying his "backhand of justice" - So JT needs to become the cant miss guy. every point counts.

He's gotten better and looks more comfortable. Franz was the victim of missing the net on a few backhands and trying to do the quick wrist shot on goalies that knew him, which wasn't as effective. With new teams in the division and more interconference play, I'd suspect his numbers will go back to what they were.

 

[BillD]

I think he'll be stronger overall and continue to develop what he did last year.

More powerful strides, speed and acceleration, adding a few pounds of muscle and be even harder to get off the puck. Better able to withstand the attempted pounding he's going to have on his person(!). And just be that much more dominant in different aspects of his game.

I loved how he showed his frustration after the 5 game losing streak early on, banging his stick and venting his frustration. His will to win is unmatched, but i think he'll be more mentally composed as he matures.

I don't think I've seen another player add layers and dimension to their game each year the way that he has. I'm really in awe in watching him develop.

yeah and faceoffs too.

Last year he was listed at 199 on the Islanders website compared to 206 the year before. I remember him saying he wanted to play at 206 and it showed a bit last year as he was bumped off the puck easier than in the year before. Get back to 206, get stronger and more stamina.

Also, quickness, stops, starts, turns in tight spaces.
Then as mentioned, the 1-timer. Bouchard could create the space for that shot and lay it on hs stick. MM26 has shown that he can also make a nice feed.
JT is rounding out his arsenal, just as Sid has done over the years.

 

[It Was 4 to 1*]

teaching moulson the basics of the game

 

[BTrotts19]

Face-offs and backchecking. Can't honestly say that JT is a dominant two way player and would love to have him be a more productive Bergeron (both face-off and defensive capability). With better linemates he will have more room to create and shoot.

 

[blinkman360]

I know his faceoff %'s haven't been bad, but I'd like to see him take it to a new level. The better his %, the more possession he'll have, and most likely the more points he'll end up with.

Overall though, I think the biggest thing that can improve Johnny's game is one high-end linemate. Preferably a guy who can dish the puck. Maybe draw a little bit of the attention away from JT.

The fact that Tavares finished 3rd in goals without having one playmaking winger is incredible. The fact that he was essentially a PPG player with one invisible linemate and another who forgot how to score halfway through the season is ridiculous. Snow/Cappy have been focused on spreading the wealth to produce some secondary scoring, but hopefully once Strome is ready they can focus on building a truly dominant first line.

Once that happens + the natural development of a 22 year old Tavares, it's scary to think of the numbers he'll put up.

 

[PWJunior]

JT is rounding out his arsenal, just as Sid has done over the years.

I don't know of too many other players in the NHL that can completely change their style of play the way Crosby and now Tavares can. Both started out more as high end playmakers who put the work in to become elite goal scorers. That takes a ton of work and an elite understanding of the game. How many other players around the league can transform themselves like that and have both skillsets? Not many. Most high end players can be classified as an elite playmaker or elite goal scorer, you can count the number of players who can be both on one hand.

 

[RMimagery]

I know his faceoff %'s haven't been bad, but I'd like to see him take it to a new level. The better his %, the more possession he'll have, and most likely the more points he'll end up with.

Overall though, I think the biggest thing that can improve Johnny's game is one high-end linemate. Preferably a guy who can dish the puck. Maybe draw a little bit of the attention away from JT.

The fact that Tavares finished 3rd in goals without having one playmaking winger is incredible. The fact that he was essentially a PPG player with one invisible linemate and another who forgot how to score halfway through the season is ridiculous. Snow/Cappy have been focused on spreading the wealth to produce some secondary scoring, but hopefully once Strome is ready they can focus on building a truly dominant first line.

Once that happens + the natural development of a 22 year old Tavares, it's scary to think of the numbers he'll put up.

A lot of what you say is true.

But Moulson has been improving his playmaking abilities each year and was on pace for 50 assists last season. True, a good amount is "just get Johnny the puck" but you can see his improvement and he did make many slick passes through seams and knows where JT is going to be.

Once the right side is found, look out.

 

[mabisles]

The boys after a tough training day