Toronto Maple Leafs: Looking at John Tavares After 14 Games
John Tavares joined the Toronto Maple Leafs from free agency on July 1st, 2018.
In his first 14 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, John Tavares has eight goals and eight assists for 16 points, good enough for 19th in the league.
Sadly, people are still hating on Tavares even though he has been one of the best players in the NHL this season.
People are too focused on goals and assists (even though JT is higher than a point per game, people are still upset with him) and do not focus enough on the 200 foot game that he provides for the team.
Overall Gameplay
Tavares was not brought in just for the offensive attributes he brings to the team, he was brought in because he knows how to play in the defensive end as well. Playing on the penalty kill, he has helped the Leafs to a success rate of 82.5%, good enough for eighth in the NHL. The Leafs also have a PP% of 30.8, fourth in the NHL. With the injury of Auston Matthews, JT has taken on the blunt of the work as well, playing in the most difficult situations.
Using the Leafs last game against the Pittsburgh Penguins as an example, Tavares was able to stop one of the best players in the world in Sidney Crosby. Over the game, Tavares dominated Crosby and had a CF% of 63.8. Crosby even had an offensive zone start percentage of 73.7, but JT was still able to dominate him throughout the game.
He also had a goal and an assist during the game, while the Leafs shut out the Penguins and held Crosby to only one shot on net.
He Is A Good Player
The amount of “fans” I have seen on Twitter saying that the Leafs should not have paid Tavares $11M is unbelievable. Johnny T is one of the best players in the NHL and I think many people have forgotten that he is on a new team. He has to learn to play with new linemates and learn a new playing system. While he is an amazing player, anybody will have troubles gaining chemistry with new linemates and learning a new system. Yet, Tavares still has 16 points in 14 games, and that is with him still not having a great chemistry with Mitch Marner.
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The John Tavares we have seen so far is not even close to the John Tavares we will see by the end of the season. Be patient and you will see him improve over the course of the season. With the amount of skill that he has, it is impossible for him to not have a successful season playing with somebody like Marner.
Tavares will help lead this team, do not worry.