Tavares has been okay. A beast in the faceoff department too. Does he have more to give? Absolutely.

He's not "fine" for 11M, unfortunately.

For that $, you need him to drive play, and to dominate the opposition. Tavares is "fine" if the play comes to him - he still has a great shot. The problem is in the first couple games, he's creating basically *nothing* himself. For that kind of $, at 2C, this what I mean when I say they need more from him.
- fifty__missions

Absolutely correct.

If we had a $7m 2C then we could have an extra $4m for a D or G upgrade. This team would be unstoppable.

For the record, not a fan, never really have been, might have liked the signing at the time because the Leafs were so low on talent for so long, but it didn't last long. Honeymoon long over.

For those watching the Penguins game - I am of the opinion that the collision there is 100% Shesterkin's fault. I am all for protecting the goalies, but you can't be an idiot about it. I guess it worked, though - as the Rangers do get a power play.

For those watching the Penguins game - I am of the opinion that the collision there is 100% Shesterkin's fault. I am all for protecting the goalies, but you can't be an idiot about it. I guess it worked, though - as the Rangers do get a power play.
- Monkeypunk

Agree

Tavares is exactly what he’s always been. He has never been fast but he grinds away.
- shack67

He's 22-6 in faceoffs

So just got around to watching the svechnikov hit

I love a good violent hit but seeing him try to get up off the ice while still holding onto whatever little was leftover of his twig afterwards, man that's scary. That kind of clean hit can end a career

So just got around to watching the svechnikov hit

I love a good violent hit but seeing him try to get up off the ice while still holding onto whatever little was leftover of his twig afterwards, man that's scary. That kind of clean hit can end a career
- TheMussel

https://www.youtube.com/w...tsinterviewsandhighlights

Yeah he let up to make sure it was "legal" but you need to keep your head up and your team needs to be giving you a very loud warning.

So just got around to watching the svechnikov hit

I love a good violent hit but seeing him try to get up off the ice while still holding onto whatever little was leftover of his twig afterwards, man that's scary. That kind of clean hit can end a career
- TheMussel

Yeah clean hit. Kinda crazy. Feel for the guy. Hope he has a quick recovery after the bruins are eliminated.

He's 22-6 in faceoffs
- nbboy

Incredible.

So just got around to watching the svechnikov hit

I love a good violent hit but seeing him try to get up off the ice while still holding onto whatever little was leftover of his twig afterwards, man that's scary. That kind of clean hit can end a career
- TheMussel

It was a beauty eh. Nice and clean. Obviously hope the guy is ok but love seeing those beauties.

Honestly don't get the whole Tampa dominated game 2 narrative here. They were down at one point late in the first 12-4 in shots. The only dominating was Vas having his typical bounce back game between the pipes and he saved them HUGE.

Couple bad puck bounces and idiot moments, and a couple bad penalties that our guys should have known better and it came back to bite us and we were simply playing from behind. Clean it up some and we should be good.

As for who comes out agree dance with who brought you like Cush said, but then leave Simmonds and Clifford out. Spezz in and let the fourth line provide something. What if Tampa goons it? Then we do what we have done for years and go pack mentality and we can and will push back. We have the guys who won't back down. Bottom line we need depth scoring not watching offence die on Simmonds stick time and again. Look at Tampa, it was their third line of Coleman-Gourde-Goodrow that carried them last year.

To beat them we need to control the puck, stay out of the box, and skate on them. We have shown the ability to raise the tempo and take it right to them and overwhelm them. We just need to stick with that.

Yeah clean hit. Kinda crazy. Feel for the guy. Hope he has a quick recovery after the bruins are eliminated.
- Aaron_85

That was a HUGE but clean hit. Hate to see a guy get hurt but it was clean and he just caught him was all.

That was a HUGE but clean hit. Hate to see a guy get hurt but it was clean and he just caught him was all.
- Roadrunner75

Oh, it was certainly one of the biggest, cleanest hits we have seen in awhile. I do hope the guy is okay. Usually the one getting hit isn't injured but it shook up his head pretty good.

He's 22-6 in faceoffs
- nbboy

For 11M, you need to dominate more than the faceoff circle.

For 11M, you need to dominate more than the faceoff circle.
- fifty__missions

Tavares is one of four players in the top 50 in NHL scoring on the Leafs. Leafs are fortunate to have him, Florida had three, Tampa had two. Best faceoff guy on a very good team. Good leader, works hard, classy player, a leader by example, loves being a Leaf. Leaf fans need to rally around a guy like this, not stir dirt.

Shesterkin with a .952 in G1 and .951 in G2.

124 shots against in 2 games

Shesterkin with a .952 in G1 and .951 in G2.

124 shots against in 2 games
- 21peter

Busterkin

Busterkin
- mr.sir

Damn Russian

Tavares is one of four players in the top 50 in NHL scoring on the Leafs. Leafs are fortunate to have him, Florida had three, Tampa had two. Best faceoff guy on a very good team. Good leader, works hard, classy player, a leader by example, loves being a Leaf. Leaf fans need to rally around a guy like this, not stir dirt.
- winsix

this.

also TB is a good team, matchups make players in a series, a player can look average against one team and unstoppable another.

Tavares is one of four players in the top 50 in NHL scoring on the Leafs. Leafs are fortunate to have him, Florida had three, Tampa had two. Best faceoff guy on a very good team. Good leader, works hard, classy player, a leader by example, loves being a Leaf. Leaf fans need to rally around a guy like this, not stir dirt.
- winsix

Agreed.

Wait. We're not all piling on Tavares and burying him? Did I join a different HB Forum without paying attention?

I think it's evident that JT isn't quite the player he was. Perhaps he is slowing, or nagging injuries or even his motivation is lower now that he's set for life and where he wants to be? I don't know.

To me a forward line is the sum of its 3 parts. Matthews and Marner are elite players but put Ritchie with them, and the line couldn't hold the O-zone. Nylander is a great player but he's almost too ziggy for that line. But straight-forward guys like Bunting and Hyman are great for the line. You know where they'll be, what they're generally going to do, and how they're going to do it.

With JT, I think because he's slower, you want an infusion of speed on the wings. I still think having a defensively responsible guy like Mikheyev there who also brings that speed is more beneficial to JT having success that Nylander. I'm also not sure I've seen anything from Kase after returning from injury that warrants 2nd line responsibility yet. I know JT with Mikheyev (and Kase) weren't great in game 1, but I think JT with Mikheyev and Kerfoot or Nylander could provide a step up.

I mean to fifty's point - at $11m, you expect a lot more individual capability than we're getting. This isn't the time to focus on it, but it's not an unfair or incorrect statement.

this.

also TB is a good team, matchups make players in a series, a player can look average against one team and unstoppable another.
- senstroll

JT does a lot of things really well but if they want that line to score, they need to give him a shooter/playmaker like Willie. That could weaken them defensively at a time when Cooper has last change and they’ll probably be up against Stamkos. If you can trust Willie, do it.

Tavares is one of four players in the top 50 in NHL scoring on the Leafs. Leafs are fortunate to have him, Florida had three, Tampa had two. Best faceoff guy on a very good team. Good leader, works hard, classy player, a leader by example, loves being a Leaf. Leaf fans need to rally around a guy like this, not stir dirt.
- winsix

This is all true. It's also true that it's not "stirring dirt" to say the Leafs need more - namely, offensive 5 v 5 production - from him to win this series.

This is all true. It's also true that it's not "stirring dirt" to say the Leafs need more - namely, offensive 5 v 5 production, from him to win this series.
- fifty__missions

Except that's not the only thing you said, you said he has to dominate etc. etc. etc. for 11M dollars. You've been griping about him in this specific blog in 3 or 4 posts - he seems to be the new 'what's wrong with the Leafs" target around here based on his salary vs play and what seems to me to be a sense that for 11M he should be dominating like a Matthews does (which he has never done in Toronto really).

What's I think is fairly funny is that I think you would have struggled to have found many folks in the regular season or now who will feel that his 11M salary is "Great value for money", what they are saying is he brings a lot to the Leafs, the salary is what it is and it's unlikely he goes anywhere and to continually complaining about his salary is much like crying over milk that was spilt quite some time ago and it's a bit tiring to hear it over and over again is all.

Anyhow it is what it is, he's the captain and brings a lot of positives to the team - it could be worse he could be an 11M player who has a pissy attitude, contributes very little to the team and has almost no positive impact on the team.

I do agree with Dozzer in that he does alot of work that isn't 'sexy' so it doesn't get noticed unless your looking for it - digging out pucks and battling for pucks and winning those puck possession battles being some of that work. It's also not generally work that superstars in the league are paid the big $ to do but a point per game is more than you get out of the typical player who's main goal is to go dig out pucks etc.

Game day - Go Leafs Go!

Shesterkin with a .952 in G1 and .951 in G2.

124 shots against in 2 games
- 21peter

He might be good if he works at it.