I explicitly said he would not win the Art Ross trophy. He simply doesn’t have the offense for it, his one shot was that weird year where it was between him and Benn and Benn won with just 87 points to Tavares’ 86. However at this point of their careers, Tavares is still probably a bit better than Matthews right now given his strong 2-way play and veteran experience (although a monster year from Matthews next season could make this sound silly), and if I were to pick who would be Toronto’s MVP my slight favorite would be Tavares. He brings the high-end prime age veteran experience that a championship caliber (in terms of raw skill on roster) team needs a lot of the time to put them over the top. If Toronto dominates this season and Tavares say scores 35 goals and around 85 points he could have a Hart winning season, because the Hart is a team award as much as anything (lokk at this year, McDavid was pretty clearly the best player in the NHL, but he didn’t win the Hart because the Oilers team around him was hot garbage. If Tavares is seen as the MVP of a juggernaut (which Toronto could be, not saying it will, just could) then he would have a shot at the Hart, even of he only scores 85 points. Again, he wouldn’t be among my favorites for the Hart if I were making pool pocks now, but I at least see it as an outside shot, and wouldn’t be suprised if he gets a couple votes.
Well it would certainly be a first if a guy who finished tied for 26th in Selke voting with a nominal vote ended up winning the award. I think his odds of winning the Selke are about equal to his odds of winning the Norris. ie virtually nil.
Look those are great two-way 1Cs. They are not the best of the best pure checking forwards in the NHL (those guys tend to get a lot less galmour and also are not usually on 1st lines). The Selke goes to a high scoring centre who (usually 70 points plus over a full 82 games) playing on a contender, who is seen as being a leader, and “team MVP”, rather than league MVP. Tavares could fit the bill this season, his defence is now well anove average (look at his metrics compared to that putrid NYI team), and being the veteran star on a projected contender fits the prototype. Not saying it necessarily will happen, but I think it could. At the very least Tavares is in a prime situation to get the award.
Complete and utter nonsenses. Tavares was never mentioned as a Selke winner before or after he joined the Leafs.
Not really a victim complex. The Leafs are good, unlike a lot of Canadian teams right now, particularly the Canucks and time will tell if Tavares contends for a major trophy this year. I think he has a shot given his numbers in recent season (both offensive and defensive). Feel free to disagree, but comments like your very much come off like sour grapes.
We will see. I for one think Tavares will have a solid season and could contend for a major award and Selke would be my bet of them; looking at his defensive stats, they back up this theory (www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/tavares-stacks-top-centres-free-agency-suitors/), on a putrid defensive shambles that was the Islanders no less and we already know he has the offensive side to contend for a Selke (which indeed plays a role in voting). It isn't so ridiculous if you actually take the time to do a bit of research before forming an opinion. Ultimately there is only one award I really care about Tavares winning and it isn't an individual one, and I imagine he feels the same way.
Do you even read what you write?
You are selling a center who has never been a point a game as better than Matthews?
*Looks at post history... Leafs fan*You are selling a center who has never been a point a game as better than Matthews?
You are selling a center that has less goals in 5 seasons than a center with 2 seasons (by a large margin)
Don't defend the indefensible. I can come up with a plethora of facts that prove Matthews is better than many centers. If Barkov is raised, there is no common ground to be found at all because it is ridiculous
