Mock draft, Tavares a true star?
Posted 6:34 PM ET | Comments 16
First off let me just say that watching John Tavares play here in London since his trade I have come to see that he is an exceptional talent..........So was Alexandre Daigle. I am not saying that Tavares will be a bust like Daigle, just that talent alone will not make you a star in the NHL. Daigle did not have the heart to play nigh in and night out at the NHL level and we wont know for a couple of years if Tavares does or not.
Just some stats from Junior;
Tavares 1.33 PPG (247 GP/ 329 points)
Daigle 2.05 PPG (137 GP/ 281 Points)
Having watched Tavares on a regular basis here in London I have noticed that when he wants to be, he is the most dynamic, creative and dangerous player on the ice. The key there is when he wants to be. I was at the game last night and noticed that he skated hard, maybe 3 or 4 times in the game. He basically floated around the ice and waited for the puck. He has been out done by his teammate Nazem Kadri on more than one occasion.
I really hope for the sake of the NHL that J.T is just bored in the OHL and comes in to the NHL with a storm of emotion and lights it up. The game needs its talented players to shine.
Here is my mock draft............
1 New York Islanders C John Tavares
2 Colorado Avalanche D Victor Hedman
3 Tampa Bay Lightning D Jared Cowen
4 Atlanta Thrashers C Matt Duchene
5 Los Angeles Kings D Oliver Ekman-Larsson
6 Phoenix Coyotes C Evander Kane
7 Ottawa Senators D Ryan Ellis
8 Toronto Maple Leafs C Bryaden Schenn
9 Dallas Stars LW M. Svensson-Paajarvi
10 Minnesota Wild C Scott Glennie
11 Edmonton Oilers D Simon Despres
12 Buffalo Sabres RW Jordan Schroeder
13 Nashville Predators C Nazem Kadri
14 Anaheim Ducks C Jacob Josefson
I strongly feel that Ottawa will make a strong play for Hedman or Cowan but failing to do so they will take Ellis a smart puck moving D-man. If Bryan Murray is still in charge he may take Schenn to spite the Leafs.
The leafs will be in play to take Kane or Schenn, if both are unavailable Burke may trade down and take Kassian regrouping a couple of later round pick.
Just some stats from Junior;
Tavares 1.33 PPG (247 GP/ 329 points)
Daigle 2.05 PPG (137 GP/ 281 Points)
Having watched Tavares on a regular basis here in London I have noticed that when he wants to be, he is the most dynamic, creative and dangerous player on the ice. The key there is when he wants to be. I was at the game last night and noticed that he skated hard, maybe 3 or 4 times in the game. He basically floated around the ice and waited for the puck. He has been out done by his teammate Nazem Kadri on more than one occasion.
I really hope for the sake of the NHL that J.T is just bored in the OHL and comes in to the NHL with a storm of emotion and lights it up. The game needs its talented players to shine.
Here is my mock draft............
1 New York Islanders C John Tavares
2 Colorado Avalanche D Victor Hedman
3 Tampa Bay Lightning D Jared Cowen
4 Atlanta Thrashers C Matt Duchene
5 Los Angeles Kings D Oliver Ekman-Larsson
6 Phoenix Coyotes C Evander Kane
7 Ottawa Senators D Ryan Ellis
8 Toronto Maple Leafs C Bryaden Schenn
9 Dallas Stars LW M. Svensson-Paajarvi
10 Minnesota Wild C Scott Glennie
11 Edmonton Oilers D Simon Despres
12 Buffalo Sabres RW Jordan Schroeder
13 Nashville Predators C Nazem Kadri
14 Anaheim Ducks C Jacob Josefson
I strongly feel that Ottawa will make a strong play for Hedman or Cowan but failing to do so they will take Ellis a smart puck moving D-man. If Bryan Murray is still in charge he may take Schenn to spite the Leafs.
The leafs will be in play to take Kane or Schenn, if both are unavailable Burke may trade down and take Kassian regrouping a couple of later round pick.
If the AVS do end up with the second overall pick, unfortunately, i just dont see the avs giving it up. Their biggest need is a franchise goaltender, and unless someone offers that for the second overall pick, it wont be worth it to the avs.
I agree to a point, but that is why I feel the Sens have both Hedman and Cowan on their radar.
i completely agree on your assessment of JT. if you ever hear someone yelling 'you're a joke Tavares!' at one of the games, that's me.. i'd love to see Kadri on the Leafs. sadly, i don't think it has a chance of happening. our pick will be too high, and i doubt Burkie will be able to land another first that is high enough to snag him. but someday, Kadri will be lighting it up in somewhere, while JT will be floating around the island..
the thing that surprises me about your mock draft is msp dropping to 9th i think he could go 3rd overall but definately in the top 5
A couple of months ago buzz I'd have agreed. He is a top 5 talent, but some of the other players in the draft have really seen their stock rise. You also have to keep in mind a team may draft for positional help not necessarily the higher rated player.
If Tampa trades Vinny then they may take MSP to play with Stamkos for years to some.
Don't think for a second that the Kings will draft a defenceman... they are just too deep in young talent on the Blueline to justify it... I'd think they would take Schenn, Kadri, Kane. I have watched the Knights a few times this year and its definitely been Kadri that has drawn my eyes. I see Tavares has spectacular hands and looks like he could be a franchise player but from what Kadri has shown, I think whoever gets this guy is getting more than they expect.
I personally believe Kadri to be a top 10 pick, likely even gone before the Leafs are drafting.
it's nice to see i'm not the only Kadri fan.. the guy is underrated, IMO.
To be completely fair, I have a feeling that the Islanders will take Hedman over Tavares. Tavares' stock seems to be falling very rapidly because of his laziness, and Hedman is truly a tremendous player in every aspect. The only reason I see the Isles taking Tavares over Hedman is because they need an entertainment factor, and a big name to advertise. While Hedman is a big name, he lacks the flash factor that Tavares brings.
IF Ottawa wants Ellis, they can trade down and get him lower. I'd be shocked if he went top 10.And how does Larsson make that jump?
I think that Larsson is a sleeper pick, his stock has risen over this season.
Larsson is too high, Ellis is too high, MSP is too low, and you numbered the draft 10, 11, 13, 14, 12. C'est tout.
Leaf_slayer, I am not too bright good catch. I have been over and over this list moving players up and down...lol
Good read! However, Tavares will not inherit a franchise that registered 70 losses and only 10 wins and was expected to be nothing short of Jesus as Daigle was, perhaps that's a reason why his talent/will was quickly driven into the ground. Good time to join the Islanders now with the drafting of good young talent after the second half of the season they had.
you heard it here first, Tavares is definetly going to be a bust. I have seen him play so many times, he is not a player I would want to build my franchise around. Give me the boring Hedman pick and future success, over flash with Tavares initially and another Daigle