By Brent
Published: March 1, 2009
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Hmmmm?
Are you one of the hockey gurus or fans that believe Tavares is overrated or that his defensive game is lacking or he is some how otherwise not all he is hyped up to be? Do you believe he is a poor skater and only stands at the side of the net to score primarily on power plays? Do you believe he cherry picks in the neutral zone and hogs the puck when he does get it? Do you believe he is soft in general and weak in the corners? Do you believe that he is a poor playmaker who isn't creative and cannot generate scoring chances on his own? Do you believe that either he does not deserve to be drafted 1st overall or believe that he will not be drafted 1st overall? Do you really believe any of this? Do you really really believe that he is just not that good?
Having watched Tavares quite closely the past four years (huge Gens fan here), I can say with complete and utter conviction: Yes, Tavares is that good, and yes, he definitely deserves to go first overall. While it is true that JT will probably never be nominated for a Selke trophy, I think many blow the issues with his defensive game a little bit out of proportion. Tavares has worked quite hard this season in trying to round out his game and become a more complete player, and that includes being responsible in his own end. Granted, he probably wouldn't be your first choice to go out and kill penalties, but he is not the defensive liability he once was.
In regards to his offensive capabilities, rarely will you see Tavares score a highlight reel goal. It just isn't his style (although he has the skill to do so when he needs to - see Canada vs USA WJC). Team USA thought he was so good that they justified having two players shadowing him at all times. They realized that the only way they have a chance to compete with the Canadians would be the shut down Tavares. Since no single player can shut him down, this is why you seen the rest of the ice open up creating scoring chances for the rest of Team Canada. Tavares generally prefers to use his acute offensive awareness, extraordinarily high hockey IQ, outstanding vision, and his uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time to put the puck in the net on a consistent basis. His game is really quite similar to possibly the best pure goal scorer that the NHL has ever seen; Mike Bossy, and from the blueline in, he is virtually unstoppable. While his potent goal scoring ability is his calling card, he can also set up plays for his teammates when he has to and usually does so by getting gritting in the corners or along the boards while being checked hard. In fact, if not for that nifty play he made to put the puck on the stick of Jordan Eberle with five seconds left to go in the Canada-Russia game at the 09 WJC, we wouldn't be celebrating our fifth consecutive WJC Gold. As I mentioned before, Tavares is working hard this season to round out his game.
John Tavares is a gifted player with talents that cannot be taught. Victor Hedman as an example for comparison is a giant kid that can skate fast but who has not polished any part of his game, he'll surely be a star some day but his development will take considerably longer. Both Tavares and Hedman could be viewed as deserving or to be considered for the 1st overall pick so I'm not sure where all the hate on Tavares chatter comes from or how anyone could say he doesn't deserve to go #1. While Tavares the player may not be a generational talent, there certainly are intangibles in his game that are generational and that cannot be passed up, arguably his style may also be a perfect fit for immediate translation to NHL play.
The biggest knock on Tavares right now is of course, his skating. This too, is blown out of proportion. Is he a great skater? No. Will he ever compete in the fastest skater competition at the All-Star Game? Don't bet the house on it. But it is not the major issue that it is made out to be. His skating is not great, nor is it good, but it is adequate at the very least.
The world over, you will find small talk in the work place or the arena, you'll see comment threads within online articles or message board discussions and even some analysts or columnists with inaccurate blurbs in some regard to how 'Tavares sucks', 'Tavares is over hyped', 'Tavares won't go #1'. It is fair to debate that Hedman might go #1 since you have to factor team needs but for anyone to suggest that Tavares is anything but a superb hockey player and deserving of a #1 overall draft selection, it would tell us they are either unable to review the player objectively or that they don't understand hockey at all.
When will this insanity end? Well, the consensus position on Tavares, his talent and where he will likely go in the Draft is obvious to those that have really watched him play or anyone that can listen and comprehend those that have. The anti-popular opinion, lets pick apart Tavares bandwagon is mostly over but there are still many misinformed trolls out there that suggest Tavares sucks... so the insanity will end no sooner then Friday, June 26, 2009. The Montreal Canadiens will host the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at the Bell Centre. The Draft will be held over two days, Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, 2009.
Only time will tell what kind of a player Tavares turns into, and while he does have his flaws (what player doesn't?), the potential for what he may become at this point is just too great and too enticing to pass up. Time after time, Tavares has been questioned, and every single time he has answered the call. The real problem I see with regards to Tavares is that he has been under the microscope for too long, and naturally people have taken to nitpicking for faults. He is oozing with potential, and he will no doubt make one lucky team very happy come draft day.
Why on earth would anyone suggest that Tavares sucks!! - He isn't overly flashy
- He has been heavily shadowed in all games played which the casual hockey observer doesn't necessarily understand or see
- Hearsay and those that feel cool by going against popular opinion... or repeating the first scout/analyst they hear do so...
It is taken for granted that any new prospect that comes into the spotlight, the first thing on the table will be,, how does he compare to Tavares? So compare the new guy on the prospect block who hasn't been scrutinized or picked apart for 4 years, hasn't been shadowed by two players his whole junior career but who can do something flashy and nothing else and certainly not finish like Tavares does and perspective is out the window and Tavares all of a sudden is lucky to go top5.
I've watched him in person at the WJC09 and various OHL games. The simple fact is that he cannot be a superstar every night but he clearly demonstrates great skill and recently leadership. Even on his bad nights, he at least opens the ice for the other players on the team.
Article by Brent, content contribution by ‘Pojo’ from Mapleleafs Chat.
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