Islanders Grades: John Tavares, coming along just fine, thanks

and Michael Grabner (who can start a shift getting shelled in some World War I trench and finish it parading down Broadway with ticker tape accolades).

On Tavares, we have an uber-creative Center (check) who draws players to him (check), when players aren’t drawn to him, he finishes (check), durable (check), works hard (check), and represents the franchise oh so well (check).

While I would have liked to see 30 goals, it seemed as if there were more nights this year that he was an unstoppable force then last year = growth.

He gets an 8 from me, as I am completely confident that he can (and hopefully will) be the face of a rapidly rising franchise, both on and off the ice.

With Grabs coming on strong and getting national attention, JT was slightly overlooked.
The man improved quite a bit in his sophomore year. I am happy with this guy as our number 1 center and think he will continue to get even better.

and by that I mean he has an instinctive grasp of what is needed at the particular moment in time, whether it be a shot or a great pass to somewhere that no one is expecting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piXP-wZmzc4

Until I see him hoist the Cup, this will be my favourite JT moment. It’s not a JT goal. It’s not a “sublime pass”. Indeed, it has a big element of luck, because it only works because the unprepared Russian Dman misplays the puck in front of the net. However, it is exactly what was needed at the moment and the only play that COULD work in the situation: a soft flip to the front of the net, where JT knew there would be a Jordan Eberle to make the play. Most would have just turned and fired at the net blindly, missed the net and helplessly watched the puck bounce off the end boards and down the ice. With 10 seconds left in the game, JT knew (I submit instinctively) what he needed to do to give his team a chance to win. He was 17 at the time and then and there (as if I needed anything further) I knew that he was something special.

Another great year from JT. His vision is incredible, and he’d easily have another 10 assists if guys hadn’t been unprepared for his ridiculous passes.

Obviously his defense could improve a bit, but to make such strides at faceoffs was impressive. You wonder how good he can get at those with that hand-eye coordination.

The only reason I kept it down at 8 is I know one year he’s going to go absolutely bonkers, so I need to save some space. Of course at that point, we might need to take it up to 11!

No highlight of Tavares dancing around Blues defenseman like it’s just him and the net?

7; he definitely exceeded expectations given the team’s overall expected 2010-11 performance and while having far more truly brilliant moments/games than the campaign before, played with a higher degree of consistency but didn’t quite meet the measure of ‘fantastic’ all-around, wasn’t again carrying the team virtually all by himself. One reason for this is the fact that he DID have several other players, some of whom as noted most definitely benefited from JT’s skills (chiefly Moulson, Parenteau and to a lesser extent Comeau) that could lay claim to quite considerable contributions of their own…..I think that this upcoming season will really demonstrate to the rest of the league just how stellar John Tavares actually is…..

although if I could I would break it down in halves because the first half he was a 6 and the second half he was a 9+

As the year went on JT went from being the kind of player who had great hands and a nack for putting the puck in around the net to a player who creates his own scoring opportunities and uses his great passing ability to create opportunities for others. I believe that was the biggest difference between the JT of 2010 and the JT of 2011. NHL maturity. Just think of what kind of show we’re in for in 2012.

Oh and some bannerage!!!!!!!

I gave him an 8, but just because I really don’t give out 9/10’s unless it’s an MVP-type season. I agree with North Dakota Red Eagle above that JT was perhaps the most-improved player, his skating was much better, he was good in corners and quick on his feet with some power.

The most important thing I see from JT is he’s durable. Opposing teams target him, but he still has only missed 3 games in his career (all this season). This shows me that he is well-conditioned, working hard and wants to be out there every game, improving.

I’m still a proponent of getting someone else on the first line besides PAP but I think that’ll happen eventually.

I don’t want to repeat what others have said so I’m just going to say I can’t wait for next season and continue to watch our hero JT grow.

The Isles have signed AHL center Trevor Frischmon! Wait, what?!?

Not for any other reason except that I’m an unapologetic homer who is completely biased.

And i’m just happy he’s on our team.

I am happy with the progress and improvement of JT. The biggest complaints against him were his slowness and defensive lapses. On both fronts he improved. He even had a breakaway last year where he pulled ahead of the defenseman.

JT has been Mr. Consistent since he arrived. If we had a physical right winger to protect him I think he would really blossom.

Overall, his improvement from his rookie year to his sophomore year was great. He took a huge step forward on faceoffs (5%), a good step up in points (13), all while playing 3 less games and facing much harder competition than last year. I, too was hoping to see more pure sniping from JT but he has been getting the job done regardless. JT is the franchise player on this team and I couldn’t be happier to have him. His work ethic is phenomenal and I hope he dedicates his entire off season training to his skating which also improved from last year. Skating is so important in the new NHL and if Tavares keeps working on that, he could be a consistent 90+ point player. I’d also like to see a little more talent on his right side so maybe moving Okposo up to the 1st line and sliding Parenteau to the 3rd line would help. Nino could start out on the 2nd line with Frans and Grabs.

I really like that both clips are of JT victimizing canadian teams in their own arenas. Now if only we had a Toronto clip…

TheFourthPeriod David Pagnotta
Zonopka joins Ottawa, signing 1-year deal. Good pick up for Senators.
2 minutes ago

His stubborn refusal to score 30 goals is inexcusable. That type of shit may fly in Toronto, but not here.

This is what I get for coming later to the thread, all the good comments have been taken

Tavares has been just about everything you could as for from a #1 overall pick two years into the league with a team still growing around him. Our expectations will certainly get higher from here, but the best part is I don’t think any of us can have higher expectations for JT than he does for himself

Okay, maybe he deserves a nine but he has taken so much undeserved critism since the draft that I had to give him the benefit of the doubt here.

I think Tavares made enormous strides this past season. He looked a lot more confident on the puck, even cocky at times which is exactly what we need from him- take chances, blow away defenders, make highligh reel goals. His game was too simplified during his rookie season. For most players simplication is probably a good thing but with Tavares we need flash. He is the type of player we haven’t seen on the Island in a long time. He is so dynamic with the puck. He is an amazing playmaker with a great eye for getting the puck to his wingers from behind the net. I remember when we played the Rags last year LaFontaine was praising him between periods, calling him a very special player. He reminds me a lot of both LaFontaine and Turgeon. He wasn’t quite billed as that type of player as an amateur (was seen as more of a one-dimensional ‘sniper’) but I have been thrilled to see he is kind of player who makes those around him better. He’s the type of player you can build around.
      There were times during his rookie year where I was a little concerned. Looking at the strides he has made since that long scoreless drought mid-season of his rookie year I think fatigue played a factor. He has been much more proactive, much more focused in the neutral and defensive zones and a smoother skater. Like I mentioned above he is a lot more confident on the puck; he carries the puck more and shows off those great stickhandling skills.
     The skating has been mentioned a lot but I don’t think it will handicap him much as an offensive player. It may hurt his backchecking and defensive play a little bit but I think his hockey smarts will make up any lack of footspeed. And to be honest his “skating issues” are a bit overblown. As a rookie his stride looked a little akward but he seems to be skating from a better angle now, getting more torque. I think this has been the problem and maybe wasn’t addressed as an amatuer because he was so productive despite his average speed. In most cases I don’t think players can add much speed after a certain age but I think the apparant adjustment in his angle/torque has helped a lot. He has also added strength and while this may not add much speed it willl add stability and he has seemed harder to knock off the puck. (as a rook he looked like a ragdoll at times) He will never be a Pavel Bure/Michael Grabner but I think he is already close to average and its not something that he will be able to build his game around (his speed that is, like Grabs) but won’t be something that will hinder him either.
      And finally onto the 2009 draft redux. No, I would absolutely not take Duchene with 20/20 hindsight. Tavares is still first overall in my mind. Duchene was the better player as rookies. Offense was even but he was more well rounded. Tavares closed the gap as a sophomore and now they are about even. IMO though Tavares has a lot more offensive upside and as of yet untapped potential and I think he will continue to improve. Duchene is the more polished player but I think he is close to being as good as he will ever be. He was challenged quite a bit more as an amatuer while JT flatlined because he could dominate the OHL with his eyes closed and one hand ties behind his back. Thus is devolopment has been pushed back a little. I may be wrong and Duchene could end up the better player but it won’t bother me because we got a great player.

Poor bastard came out with his free-agency report cards and has it all ass backwards!
Buffalo gets an A- just for pissing money away!?! Avs get a B. Not even taking into account the Varlomov trade because, well it was a trade, but signing Gigure when Vokoun was stil around is asinine. Not to mention they lost Fleischman. The BJ’s get a B for pinning their hopes and dreams on a D-man who can’t find a home and the Flyers get a B- for completely blowing up their team and trying to piece it back together with shit.

Not surprisingly we get a C- for failing to sign Erhoff although I’m sure it would still be a C- if we had signed him to a 10-year deal as well.

Darren Dreger is hearing he agreed to a 5 year, $26.5 million extension.

All the 8’s and 9’s lead me to believe most voters have gotten away from the “vs expectations” criteria. I have very high expectations for him. I felt he was capable of 35 goals and 75 points. All other areas of his game progressed as I hoped. Glad to see the face off percentage improving. Will have to progress again next year to “meet” expectations. So over all- I love this kid.

I think Tavares is definitely on the right track, but I was expecting a modest increase in points and an improvement in his overall game. Both have happened, but he didn’t have a Stamkos-esque sophomore season (which would warrant a 10).

he met expectations…but he didnt take the leap. id still take him #1, but well guys, a 9 or 10 for a #1 draft pick ought to be a stamkos-like leap.

he was our 2nd most valuable player last year. but he aint a star yet