FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Very well done job of a non news article.

Stock falling? How can it fall when the season hasn't even started? Ridiculous! His position in the draft will be determined by his performance in the up coming season .... which is yet to start!

8 less points and 32 fewer goals shows he is developing/maturing into more a playmaker/team player and not a puck hog. He will be a top 3 pick.

You need to look at his development as a player. When he scored 72 goals, was that all he was? This past season compared to year before when he scored 72 goals saw his assist totals go up a bit and he played 8 less games. Have teams changed the way they played him? Did he physically grow so he is relearning how to skate a bit & use his body? There are so many variables. He should be the #1 going into this season. He will prove his worth at the WJC where he will play strong Russian, Sweden, Finnish, US, Czech teams.

I never watch junior hockey. Even the Xmas World Tourney. I dislike hype over young phenoms who have never played a big league game and are quite far removed from doing so. So many busts over the years.

When/if he makes the bigs and plays 3 years or so is when I'll start caring about him. Maybe.

Tavares has growing to do, no doubt. But to start saying he is going be a bust because he has a few less points once? As DCruiser says, the season hasn't even started yet.
I really hope Toronto can get this 'bust'.

useless article.. will be clear once he has a few years behind him whether he is for real.....................18??? He still has development and growing ahead of him.

Agree Dr. J

Agree with the comments above. Too early to sound any alarm bells. The Toronto Sun hockey section is always about 15 pages long so the speculation and filler articles sometimes get a little random in the summers.

His stock is falling? Yeah...sure.

His dad plays for the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team.

The Chicago Blackhawks are naming legendary coach Scotty Bowman as a Senior Advisor, Hockey Operations on Thursday. Sorry leafs

It's so nice that Chicago has decided to start playing Hockey again!

The issue with Tavares is that he's already been in the OHL for so long because they granted him "exceptional player status" that he's outgrown it and is just uninterested at this point. And if he isn't taken first overall, it might be because Victor Hedman is a very good player and not because Tavares has gotten worse.

How does this related to Mats Sundin? LOL. You mean there is something else to talk about besides Sundin?

Tavares is far from a bust. This guy single handedly almost willed the Generals into the Memorial Cup. He wasn't the one letting the team down when they lost to Belleville. He's just uninterested playing in the OHL. Plus he had that McLean kid playing with him on his line and helped ease the load off a young kid they didn't want to burn out. Watch for big things this year from Tavares and the Generals. And to Hank Kingsley who says I'm not interested in anybody until they've been in the league for 3 years, get over yourself. The world junior tournament is the most exciting tournament in the world. You probably think NHL hockey is exciting and buying into the koolaid that the game is better than ever.

Oh and one more thing. Brett McLean( I think that is his name) will be the next Rob Pearson. Riding along for the gravy train while being fed by Tavares who is 10 times the player he is. Players like Tavares make everyone around them better, and that is what he has done. So he doesn't have as many points, who cares. The team is better and that is what matters most. Can't wait to see him play this year. Too bad you don't care Hank Kingsley. You're missing out. Guess you don't like hockey that much. Do you even know how to skate??

I watched this guy play in the playoffs when they got drubbed by the Belleville Bulls and you could hardly notice him on the ice all he did was float and cherry pick the whole time, he showed no grit, toughness or skill at all. I think that this guy has the potential to be a big time bust.

I can't believe people think this kid wont go number 1 in the upcoming draft. I follow the OHL and am a season ticket holder and this kid is going to be the next best thing. He was Canadas best player at the tourney playing a minor role and then once he gained some confidence he turned into their number one player. If Stamkos went first overall this year I can guarantee Tavares will go number one. Victor Hedman is playing in a league where its not as physical as the OHL so id like to see him be a force in the OHL. One more thing that is his uncle who plays for the buffalo bandits not his dad.

Ya, they got blown out 11-0 in the final game, but every game before was close. The 5-2 game had two empty net goals and the games were pretty tight. Tavares was not floating if you watched the games and was pretty good on the faceoffs. This guy will not be a bust. Guranteed.