GlitchMarner
Typical malevolent, devious & vile Maple Leafs fan
I think it's fair to say he hasn't lived up to pre-draft hype. He's had a very good career and may make the HHOF one day (he definitely will if the Leafs win a Cup with him as the Captain).
It's hard to compare him to other centres, though. He was an offensive stud in Junior but has never been a particularly dynamic player in the NHL, though he was an offensive force who could elevate and produce playing with middling players when he was an Islander. In Toronto, outside of his first season with the team, he's been more of a high-end passenger offensively, becoming increasingly dependent on Power Plays and linemates for production.
Stylistically, WTF is he even? You think of other high scoring first overall picks and they had unique and definable styles. Joe Thornton was a big, talented guy who could score goals and assert himself physically when he was younger. He later became an exceptional playmaker who used his size and reach to his advantage and held onto the puck long enough for passing opportunities to open up. Sundin was similarly a big man who used his frame to protect the puck and he could dominate down low. Modano was a great skater who used his speed and skating to his advantage on offense and defense. Guys like MacKinnnon and McDavid are likewise great skaters who are dynamic offensive players.
Tavares seems like a guy who thinks he's an adept puck-carrier and offensive driver but who often loses the puck trying to carry it in open ice. He has very good hands, but because of his slow and somewhat sluggish sort of skating, he really isn't very effective with the puck on his stick for long unless he's along the wall. He's kind of like a high-end grinder and net-front presence guy - maybe a very poor man's Crosby if Crosby lacked puck skills?
Stylistically, I can't think of any real good comparisons. In terms of overall calibre of career, I'd say he ranks behind the likes of Kopitar and Bergeron. Stamkos, Kane and MacKinnnon have accomplished more. Would you put him somewhere in the neighborhood of an Elias or Alfredsson?
It's hard to compare him to other centres, though. He was an offensive stud in Junior but has never been a particularly dynamic player in the NHL, though he was an offensive force who could elevate and produce playing with middling players when he was an Islander. In Toronto, outside of his first season with the team, he's been more of a high-end passenger offensively, becoming increasingly dependent on Power Plays and linemates for production.
Stylistically, WTF is he even? You think of other high scoring first overall picks and they had unique and definable styles. Joe Thornton was a big, talented guy who could score goals and assert himself physically when he was younger. He later became an exceptional playmaker who used his size and reach to his advantage and held onto the puck long enough for passing opportunities to open up. Sundin was similarly a big man who used his frame to protect the puck and he could dominate down low. Modano was a great skater who used his speed and skating to his advantage on offense and defense. Guys like MacKinnnon and McDavid are likewise great skaters who are dynamic offensive players.
Tavares seems like a guy who thinks he's an adept puck-carrier and offensive driver but who often loses the puck trying to carry it in open ice. He has very good hands, but because of his slow and somewhat sluggish sort of skating, he really isn't very effective with the puck on his stick for long unless he's along the wall. He's kind of like a high-end grinder and net-front presence guy - maybe a very poor man's Crosby if Crosby lacked puck skills?
Stylistically, I can't think of any real good comparisons. In terms of overall calibre of career, I'd say he ranks behind the likes of Kopitar and Bergeron. Stamkos, Kane and MacKinnnon have accomplished more. Would you put him somewhere in the neighborhood of an Elias or Alfredsson?
