How Good Is Tavares Right Now?

[member 262271]

Man you wouldn't know that Toronto had a competitive team with the amount of self-martyring the fanbase does every day.

And that, is how good Tavares is right now folks!

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

My all-around Center rankings

1. McDavid
2. Crosby
3. Malkin
4. Bergeron
5. Kopitar
6. Tavares/Barkov
7. Matthews/Stamkos

 

[Deedog99]

He is probably one of the hardest working captain out there and take his games very seriously, also a very good teammates and friend. He has incredible body strength and handles the puck extremely well and definitely not selfish when it comes to play. However he does not yet have the elite shot from outside the parameters and his release need to be faster to reach 40 + goals per season.

He however is not without some weakness - shoot out, defensive zone coverage when fore-checked and sometimes those blank passes I do not know why he makes. He is very decent on the draw but there are centers in this league with better averages. He tried very hard on PK but I do not think he has the speed nor puck blocking skill for that role but can fill in as needed. He does get frustrated when being blanket checked.

I do believe his greatest assets is his intangible and that is valuable when you coupled with skills and competitiveness. I do think his confidence can go to another level and that will help him to reach his full potentials.

Overrated. Leafs are going to be disappointed

 

[Plural]

I think he's in the Matthews/Barkov tier. Probably would rank Barkov as first right now but Matthews will soon enough take the first spot.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

HF had him ranked at #4 among NHL centres a few months ago.

I wonder what he's done this month to start sliding down the charts.

 

[Kamiccolo]

I think he's in the Matthews/Barkov tier. Probably would rank Barkov as first right now but Matthews will soon enough take the first spot.

The idea have having two Matthews' makes me so happy lol

 

[Halla]

probably the 5th best C
top 15 player without a doubt.

tsn has had him between 4-13 the last 5 years and that was without any leaf bias

https://www.tsn.ca/a-new-no-1-mcdavid-edges-crosby-in-tsn-s-top-50-player-poll-1.867210

 

[Halla]

agree with everything except for Bailey. Dude was a highly talented high 1st round draft pick. he was just due for a breakout season.

8 years and his career high was 41pts. he rides shotgun to JT when okposo bolts and gets 56 and 71....
I think he drops AT least 10-15pts this year, if not more

 

[Plural]

The idea have having two Matthews' makes me so happy lol

Yeah, I'm sure every single fanbase would be thrilled. Two great players. One of them smack middle in his prime and the other one still developing towards his. Will be fun to see what they can do in Toronto.

And you guys also have Marner (and Nylander) too.

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

probably the 5th best C
top 15 player without a doubt.

tsn has had him between 4-13 the last 5 years and that was without any leaf bias

https://www.tsn.ca/a-new-no-1-mcdavid-edges-crosby-in-tsn-s-top-50-player-poll-1.867210

But having Matthews as a top ten player was without any Leafs bias, right?

 

[GodEmperor]

Overrated backstabber that skates like a slug and will leave Toronto if Juventus offers him a bigger contract (his childhood dream).

He will maybe have 1-2 ok years in Toronto and then be Clarkson tier.

By the end of it, Matthews, Mitch and Willie will be so damaged from his sociopathic ways, they will quit Hockey and Toronto will be back at square one in a few years.

But having Matthews as a top ten player was without any Leafs bias, right?

This is a good point and keep in mind the guy who posted it is one of the most unbiased people on this site, so it makes it even better.

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

Overrated backstabber that skates like a slug and will leave Toronto if Juventus offers him a bigger contract (his childhood dream).

He will maybe have 1-2 ok years in Toronto and then be Clarkson tier.

By the end of it, Matthews, Mitch and Willie will be so damaged from his sociopathic ways, they will quit Hockey and Toronto will be back at square one in a few years.




This is a good point and keep in mind the guy who posted it is one of the most unbiased people on this site, so it makes it even better.

I know the second part is sarcasm and I appreciate that

 

[Peiskos]

He's a franchise #1 centre and a franchise altering talent.

 

[ScaredStreit]

Just to show, I believed this before he signed with Toronto and I had him for a lock with the Sharks.

If you're expecting Tavares to be elite defensively you're going to be disappointed. He's average and isn't a liability...but is FAR from elite. Offensively he's obviously elite.

 

[Leafidelity]

Obviously less impactful than JVR, Bozak and Komarov. Or so I've been told

 

[La Masse]

Obviously less impactful than JVR, Bozak and Komarov. Or so I've been told

How are they going to recover from missing Komarov and great two way players like Bozak and JVR

 

[NJ DevLolz]

Tavares is around 6-7 best Centers in the game.

Ehhh. Thinking about it.. he’s close to my top 5 centers. I’d give him a tie at 5th.

Crosby, Malkin, Kopitar, Barkov, Bergeron, Matthews, Mackinnon, Scheifele, McDavid are all definitely better.

I have him in the next tier with Stamkos, Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Barzal, Seguin and Eichel.

 

[MapleLeafistan]

Remember folks...up until July 1st, Tavares was "too good" to sign in T.O. now he's overrated.

Eerily reminds me of how Babcock suddenly became overrated when he joined the Leafs.

Interesting HF mental gymnastics at play. I'm loving every second of it.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

But having Matthews as a top ten player was without any Leafs bias, right?

How many players can you name to pot 40 so young?

 

[Cleatus]

Top 10 center who could be top 5 in his best years, just like Matthews.

When it comes to all positions, top 20 player, with top 10 potential in best years.

 

[Oneiro]

Tavares is in a great position. As he declines, he'll still be one of the best 2Cs, insulated by Matthews drawing the tough assignments.

 

[Atomos2]

Forwards that are definitely better than him:

McDavid
Crosby
Malkin
Kucherov

Forwards he's in the conversation with:

Kopitar
Giroux
Stamkos
MacKinnon
Ovechkin

And Matthews

 

[Gurilla]

I don't really like the Leafs but Tavares has always been one of my favorite players, he's real good

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

How many players can you name to pot 40 so young?

I can’t name that, but I can certainly name at least ten centers who are better than Matthews, let alone players.

McDavid
Crosby
Malkin
Backstrom
Bergeron
Stamkos
Kopitar
Getzlaf
Scheifele
Tavares
MacKinnon
Barkov
Giroux
Kuznetsov

There could be some arguments for a couple (say Getzlaf or Kuznetsov) but I feel comfortable saying he’s not a top ten player in the NHL right now.

 

[Dion TheFluff]

My all-around Center rankings

1. McDavid
2. Crosby
3. Malkin
4. Bergeron
5. Kopitar
6. Tavares/Barkov
7. Matthews/Stamkos

Scheifele needs to be there but not bad