I have no doubt that Tavares will once again improve his game over the summer. He is that 'kind of player', like Crosby.
I don't think you believed yourself when you typed that. You really think that the defensive breakdown last night was his first of the year?
In fact, Tavares is usually one of the last guys back on the backcheck.
There is truth to that, mainly caused by the fact that he is deepest in the offensive zone working the forecheck down low. He has the furthest to come back. If we ever get that big RW who should be doing the grunt work on the forecheck more often than JT, he will be in better position to get back faster. He has the speed and the work ethic to be a good backchecker.
i don't argue he has had some defensive breakdowns/giveaways, lately even more so.. but i think he has done a real good job on the back check and picked many a pocket...moulson's job is often to hang at center ice or blue line.. I will admit jt does sometimes get caught behind play but that is not a hustle issue.. he is often carrying the puck in the offensive zone and gets knocked down or caught behind net when the puck is turned over after he has created and passed off.. in those cases it is understandable he is not first one back.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BillD
There is truth to that, mainly caused by the fact that he is deepest in the offensive zone working the forecheck down low. He has the furthest to come back. If we ever get that big RW who should be doing the grunt work on the forecheck more often than JT, he will be in better position to get back faster. He has the speed and the work ethic to be a good backchecker.
Also true, but then it's his job to get those dmen pinching in.
I'm not here to bash JT but I think we need to be a little level headed with the praise.
Surprised he didn't mention his shot, but if he can improve on those even more that's great.
Tavares is a center, who's primary function is set up his teammates. The fact that his assists have jumped from 30 as a rookie, to 38 last year, to 50 this year, shows that he is not only improving that part of the game, he's also helping Moulson score more goals, as well as helping Okposo out of his first half funk, and helping Parenteau become an NHL player. I think luck had a lot to do with him not reaching 35-40 goals this year as much as his shot, he hit so many damned posts. I remember one game, late in the season, he hit two posts and one cross bar, in the same damned game. The last game of the year, he could have easily had a hat trick (he had 8 shots on goal !) and a couple of assists (I remember Okposo missing an empty net after a great Tavares feed), except Mason was standing on his head. He was truly snakebit at times. I think he has a very solid shot.
Tavares is a center, who's primary function is set up his teammates. The fact that his assists have jumped from 30 as a rookie, to 38 last year, to 50 this year, shows that he is not only improving that part of the game, he's also helping Moulson score more goals, as well as helping Okposo out of his first half funk, and helping Parenteau become an NHL player. I think luck had a lot to do with him not reaching 35-40 goals this year as much as his shot, he hit so many damned posts. I remember one game, late in the season, he hit two posts and one cross bar, in the same damned game. The last game of the year, he could have easily had a hat trick (he had 8 shots on goal !) and a couple of assists (I remember Okposo missing an empty net after a great Tavares feed), except Mason was standing on his head. He was truly snakebit at times. I think he has a very solid shot.
I can't agree he has a solid shot. It gets him by but is definitely one of his weaknesses. He takes to long to get it off IMO and one thing Ive never seen him do is shoot mid stride. If he makes it quicker and shoots more in stride it's easier to fool the goalies. His shot is predictable therefore easily stopped. I don't think he will hit 40 until he at least gets it off a little quicker.
