pierre turgeon, but far better leader, better work ethic, stronger.
tavares does have gretzky-like vision at times.
hawerchuk is another good comparison.
I hate comparisons. but these are the two closest.
I think JT is closer to a LaFontaine than to Turgeon. Pierre was pretty strong on the puck, but overall, he was a soft player. I'll admit I haven't seen an Islander with the kind of vision JT has, since Pierre...so I think they're similar in that respect. Pierre was a great passer and was a wiz at setting up plays, especially from behind the net, and JT is definitely showing those traits as well.
A better Hawerchuk is a great comparison. There's little doubt JT would rack up the points (100+ pts) in a late-80's to early-90's NHL.
Teammate Mark Streit with 18 points in 21 games thus far.
Streit played really good during his stint here. But he still is getting a lot of critisism from the fans. They are really hard with their hometown boy. Tavares on the other hand, is already fan favorite #1. His jerseys were sold out for quite some time.
Streit played really good during his stint here. But he still is getting a lot of critisism from the fans. They are really hard with their hometown boy. Tavares on the other hand, is already fan favorite #1. His jerseys were sold out for quite some time.
Nice to see that from JT. Don't see that enough from him. But then again, those are not top pairing NHL defensemen which he will see every night in the NHL.
Nice to see that from JT. Don't see that enough from him. But then again, those are not top pairing NHL defensemen which he will see every night in the NHL.
I'm sure some of them are, considering he has two of them on his own team.
Dare I say John Tavares has above average speed now? Truly remarkable how far his skating has come. What a guy.
The first time I saw him play this year, before I could distinguish who the player was (due to poor stream, unclear numbers on jersey) his skating really stood out. The speed of his in-game play has increased drastically since his rookie year in the NHL when he did everything in slow motion.
It's not just the foot speed, it's the power with which he skates at speed and his ability to stickhandle and make plays at high speed. It's probably better ice, it's bigger ice too, it's inferior competition relative to the NHL but not in speed. The players in the NHL are bigger and more aggressive, more talented but the speed of play is very close to the NHL.
It is truly remarkable how much his skating has improved.
The first time I saw him play this year, before I could distinguish who the player was (due to poor stream, unclear numbers on jersey) his skating really stood out. The speed of his in-game play has increased drastically since his rookie year in the NHL when he did everything in slow motion.
It's not just the foot speed, it's the power with which he skates at speed and his ability to stickhandle and make plays at high speed. It's probably better ice, it's bigger ice too, it's inferior competition relative to the NHL but not in speed. The players in the NHL are bigger and more aggressive, more talented but the speed of play is very close to the NHL.
It is truly remarkable how much his skating has improved.
Every single Islander (Particularly Nino, Kyle, Josh, Travis & Strome) should hire the power skating coach JT did.
Never in a million years did I think JTs skating would become one of his strengths. Remarkable is the perfect word to use to describe his progression.
I think he already did. His skating looks much more impressive this season.
Listen...If anyone is going to work to improve his game it's going to be Tavares, so I have little doubt he will continue to improve. However the league he's currently playing in isn't exactly NHL level.
I'm sure some of them are, considering he has two of them on his own team.
Can't say I can agree that Josi and Streit are on the same level as the Chara's, Coburn's, Girardi's, Orpik's, and Letang's that he would see on a nightly basis here. More likely then not JT would be on his ass if he tried to pull a move like that with these guys in his way. I could be wrong, but I want to see him do that in the NHL before I get too excited.
Can't say I can agree that Josi and Streit are on the same level as the Chara's, Coburn's, Girardi's, Orpik's, and Letang's that he would see on a nightly basis here. More likely then not JT would be on his ass if he tried to pull a move like that with these guys in his way. I could be wrong, but I want to see him do that in the NHL before I get too excited.
He has done it at the NHL level. In fact he danced through Pietrangelo, HF's golden boy, on that "what a play" goal a couple of years ago.
I get that the Swiss League isn't the NHL, but can we stop acting like Tavares has anything left to prove? The guy is an elite player. He's a 21 year old PPG centerman on a team that can't keep the puck out of their own zone when he's not on the ice. It's not like he's come out of nowhere and hasn't faced the opposition's best shut-down lines/pairings either.
At this point, I don't need to see Tavares do anything at the NHL level before I get too excited. I'm already sold.
He has done it at the NHL level. In fact he danced through Pietrangelo, HF's golden boy, on that "what a play" goal a couple of years ago.
I get that the Swiss League isn't the NHL, but can we stop acting like Tavares has anything left to prove? The guy is an elite player. He's a 21 year old PPG centerman on a team that can't keep the puck out of their own zone when he's not on the ice. It's not like he's come out of nowhere and hasn't faced the opposition's best shut-down lines/pairings either.
At this point, I don't need to see Tavares do anything at the NHL level before I get too excited. I'm already sold.
Splitting the d at the blue line was never a part of Tavares' game at the NHL level. Never said he isn't elite. But he is still young and still has room to improve. That is the exciting part about Tavares. The sky is the limit for him. But he still has things he doesn't do as well as others (for now).
You mention HF golden boy. Tavares is getting their real fast imo.
Never in a million years did I think JTs skating would become one of his strengths. Remarkable is the perfect word to use to describe his progression.
Actually, it's not that remarkable because the one thing that everyone raved about JT in Jr was his tenacious work ethic and drive to improve. He's only going to get better.
Tavares has been very good compared to the other NHL stars in Switzerland.
Stats say that only Seguin is doing better.
(that includes Nash, Thornton, Spezza, Zetterberg .... even one that went home for poor results !)
Tavares has been very good compared to the other NHL stars in Switzerland.
Stats say that only Seguin is doing better.
(that includes Nash, Thornton, Spezza, Zetterberg .... even one that went home for poor results !)
Hans is doing great !!
Seguin is going to be a stud scorer but Hans is the more complete, rounded player.
