The Hockey Guy's posts tagged John Tavares

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• NHL stars make most of Spengler Cup experience

  December 31, 2012

  On one squad, European hockey fans saw NHL stalwarts John Tavares (New York Islanders), Patrice Bergeron (Boston Bruins), Ryan Smyth (Edmonton Oilers), Jason Spezza (Ottawa Senators), Tyler Seguin (Boston Bruins),  Matt Duchene (Colorado Avalanche) and Devan Dubnyk (Oilers) playing side by side.
  
  On the opposing team were luminaries like Joe Thornton (San Jose Sharks), Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) and Loui Eriksson (Dallas Stars).
  
  This was not an all-star game per se. It was the Spengler Cup championship squad, with Team Canada besting the host HC Davos squad 7-2.
  
  Most of the players were veterans of European pro league play, but locked out NHL players spiced things up for both teams. Ultimately Canada had just too much firepower.
  
  “We were relentless,” Smyth told reporters. “It’s an honor to put the flag in front of us, I just want to relish it. What a great feeling to be successful for my country again.”
  
  After losing its first game in the tourney, Canada won its next three games by a combined score of 17-3.
  
  “It’s great to be rewarded after the adversity,” said Tavares. “We scored early and put the pressure on our opponents in each of our last few games.”
  
  Dubnyk was a major beneficiary. The young goaltender seems poised to break out this season for the loaded Oilers. This tourney gave him a chance to prepare for an abbreviated post-lockout season.

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• More locked-out NHL stars excelling in Europe

  December 26, 2012

  As the lockout dragged on, more NHL players joined European teams. Earlier we gave you our first-team honorees.

  Here are our second and third NHL refugee all-star teams – and some honorable mentions -- for players toiling overseas:
  
  SECOND TEAM
  
  W – Jaromir Jagr, Rytiri Kladno, Czech Republic: A minor groin strain slowed this would-be Dallas Stars newcomer for a spell, but he has 18 goals and 23 assists in his first 27 games back home.
  
  W – Ilya Kovalchuk, SKA St. Petersburg, Russia: He started quickly to earn the KHL’s player-of-the-month honors in October. The New Jersey Devils star has scored 14 goals and 20 assists in his first 29 games.
  
  C – John Tavares, SC Bern, Switzerland: In 25 games he has scored 16 goals and added 23 assists. The Spengler Cup Tournament gave him a taste of international play. “You can really feel the mystique of this tournament,” Tavares told reporters. “The history, the crowds . . .”
  
  D – Marek Zidlicky, Rytiri Kladno, Czech Republic: Jaromir Jagr’s teammate-for-now has three goals and 22 assists in 25 games.
  
  D – Sergei Gonchar, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Russia: In 32 games he has three goals and 20 assists. Penguins have taken note and may make a trade pitch for him.
  
  GT -- Semyon Varlamov, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Russia: He had three shutouts in his first 14 games while posting a 1.56 goals-against average and .952 save percentage. The Colorado Avalanche hope to see similar form should the NHL resume playing.
  
  THIRD TEAM
  
  W – Henrik Zetterberg, EV Zug, Switzerland: The veteran Detroit Red Wing has scored 13 goals and added 16 assists in his first 20 games.
  
  W – Ales Hemsky, HC CSOB Pojistovna Pardubice, Czech Republic: He has always been a pass-first player for the Edmonton Oilers. But in his 25 games overseas this season he scored 14 goals and added 17 assists.
     
  C – Tomas Plekanec, Rytiri Kladno, Czech Republic: Playing with Jagr sure is fun! He has 20 goals and 22 assists in his first 28 games. He seldom scores like that for the Montreal Canadiens.
  
  D - Victor Hedman, Barys Astana, Russia: The super-sized Tampa Bay Lightning youngster flashed his puck-moving skills while earning 18 assists (to go with one goal) in his first 26 games.
  
  D – Mark Streit, SC Bern, Switzerland: In his first 29 games the New York Islanders star scored seven goals and added 18 assists.
  
  GT – Tuukka Rask. HC Skoda Plzen, Czech Republic: If the NHL resumes, he will assume the starting role for the Boston Bruins. He sharpened up those skills while earning one shutout in his first 17 games with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.
  
  HONORABLE MENTION
  
  W – Chris Stewart, ETC Crimmitschau, Germany: In 15 games he scored 6 goals and added 14 assists. Earlier the St. Louis Blues power forward played five games (earning one assist) for Bili Tygri Liberec in the Czech Republic.
  
  C – Pavel Datsyuk, CSKA Moskva, Russia: In his first 27 games the Detroit Red Wing has nine goals and 23 assists.
  
  C – Nicklas Backstrom, Dynamo Moskva, Russia: In his first 18 games the No. 1 Washington Capitals center has 10 goals and 15 assists.
  
  C—Jason Spezza, Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, Switzerland: In his first 28 games the New York Islander has nine goals and 21 assists.
  
  C – Joe Thornton, HC Davos, Switzerland: He drives San Jose Sharks fans crazy by refusing to shoot more pucks on goal. In first 30 games overseas this season he scored 8 goals and added 23 assists.
     
  C -- Daniel Briere, Eisbären Berlin, Germany: Could he enjoy a bounce-back season for the Philadelphia Flyers? Maybe. He scored seven goals and added 23 assists in his first 19 games.
  
  C – David Krejci, HC CSOB Pojistovna Pardubice, Czech Republic: In 22 games this would-be Boston Bruins center scored 14 goals and added 11 assists.
  
  D – Lubomir Visnovsky, HC Slovan Bratislava, Russia: In 26 games he scored six goals and added eight assists.   
  
  GT -- Cory Schneider, Ambri-Piotta, Switzerland: In his first seven games he posted a 2.82 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. The potential Vancouver Canucks starter is playing in the Spengler Cup with Fribourg Gotteron.

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• Russia, Switzerland attract top NHL players

  October 08, 2012

  As the NHL labor talks stagger forward, fans must be wondering where the best hockey is being played elsewhere in the world.
  
  The Kontinental Hockey League has grabbed the most talent, but Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden and Germany have also gobbled up lots of players.
  
  For the sake of these rankings, I split the massive KHL into its two division. We also included the first and second-tier leagues for the other European countries.
  
  Most of the players listed below have some NHL experience. Some, like Ilya Kovalchuk, are established NHL stars who are locked out.

  Other players are former NHLers playing out the string overseas. The listings do not include many world-class players who never made it big in North America.
  
  I would love to see how these teams would stack up in a tournament format:
  
  1) KHL WEST
     
  Forwards: Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Radulov, Joe Pavelski, Evander Kane, Artem Anisimov, Pavel Datsyuk, Ruslan Fedotenko, Mikhail Grabovski, Alexi Ponikarovsky, Vladimir Tarasenko, Jakub Voracek, Nikolai Zherdev.
  Defense: Zdeono Chara, Anton Babchuk, Dmitri Kulikov, Andrei Markov, Andrej Sekera, Lubomir Visnovsky, Dmitry Kalinin, Shaone Morrisonn.
  Goaltenders: Pekka Rinne, Niklas Backstrom, Ilya Bryzgalov, Sergei Bobrovsky, Semyon Varlamov.
  
  The western half of the NHL has gobbled up the best goaltenders in addition to elite talent up front and on the blue line. This mythical team would be the runaway favorite in our make-believe tournament.
  
  2) SWITZERLAND
  
  Forwards: Rick Nash, Joe Thornton, Jason Spezza, Tyler Seguin, Henrik Zetterberg, John Tavares, Patrice Bergeron, Logan Couture, Tyler Ennis, Brooks Laich, Max Pacioretty, Patric Hörnqvist, Linus Omark, Simon Gamache, Peter Sejna, Jason Williams.
  Defense: Mark Streit, Roman Josi, Luca Sbisa, Jared Spurgeon, Yannick Weber, Raphael Diaz, Joel Kwiatkowski, Mark Popovic, Brian Pothier.    
  Goaltenders: David Aebischer, Jussi Markkanen.
  
  There are worse places to play than Switzerland, which is why so many players gravitated toward the Alps. This team would have ample firepower up front but not much depth on the blue line or quality in goal.
  
  3) CZECH REPUBLIC
  
  Forwards: David Krejci, Jaromir Jagr, Ales Hemsky, Tomas Plekanec, Roman Cervenka, Michael Frolik, Vladimir Sobotka, Jiri Tlusty.
  Defense: Andrew Ference, Tomas Kaberle, Rostislav Klesla, Roman Polak, Jakub Kindl, Michal Rozsival, Ladislav Smid, Marek Zidlicky, Radem Matinek.
  Goaltenders: Tuukka Rask, Michal Neuvirth, Ondrej Pavelec.
  
  Many solid Czech players returned home, beefing up an already good league. This is a well-balanced team of NHL-proven forwards, defensemen and goaltenders.
  
  4) KHL EAST
  
  Forwards: Evgeni Malkin, Nik Antropov, Nikolai Kulemin, Nail Yakupov, Andrei Kostitsyn, Alexander Frolov, Jan Bulis, Nikita Filatov, Stanislav Chistov, Niko Kapanen, Mats Zuccarello.
  Defense: Sergei Gonchar, Victor Hedman, Nikita Nikitin, Oleg Tverdovsky, Brent Sopel, Deron Quint.
  Goaltenders:  Karri Ramo, Michael Garnett, Jan Lasak, Chris Holt.
  
  The best goaltender on that side of the league might be Konstantin Barulin, a Blues draft pick who has remained in Russia. Malkin would give this team a chance.
  
  5) FINLAND
  
  Forwards: Mikkel Boedker, Valtteri Filppula, Jussi Jokinen, Frans Nielsen, Rich Peverley, Kyle Turris, Craig Smith, Tommy Wingels, Lauri Korpikoski, Jarkko Ruutu, Ville Nieminen, Brian Willsie, Ville Peltonen.
  Defense: Erik Karlsson, Jason Demers, Philip Larsen, Jonas Junland, Alec Martinez, Kris Russell, Stephane Robidas.
  Goaltenders: Antti Niemi, Antero Niittymäki.
  
  This country gets stronger by the day, thanks to the lockout. Karlsson would have to generate a lot of offense from the blue line, but he’s good with that. Niemi provides a legit No. 1 goaltender.
  
  6) GERMANY
  
  Forwards: Claude Giroux, Daniel Briere, Jamie Benn, T.J. Galiardi, Marcel Goc, Chris Stewart, Wayne Simmonds, Mike York, Matt D’Agosinti.
  Defense: Christian Ehrhoff, Dennis Seidenberg, Doug Janik,  Mathieu Roy, James Pollock, Shawn Belle.
  Goaltenders: Sébastien Caron, Jason Bacashihua, Scott Langkow.
  
  This country hasn’t reached out to NHL goaltenders, so it lags behind the rest. German is also thin on the blue line.
  
  7) SWEDEN
  
  Forwards: Anze Kopitar, Matt Duchene, Carl Hagelin, Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Read, Alex Steen, Mikael Backlund , Patrik Berglund, Fabian Brunnström, P.J. Axelsson, Jason Krog, Ladislav Nagy, Oscar Moller, Sami Pahlsson.
  Defense: Douglas Murray, Christian Backman, Niclas Wallin, Cody Franson, Tom Preissing, Kyle Cumiskey, Jonathan Ericsson, Niclas Hävelid. Ole Kristian Tollefsen.
  Goaltenders: Alexander Salak, Martin Gerber.
  
  This country wasn’t going to reach out to locked out players. Some litigation changed that, but Sweden has yet to woo top-end defensemen or goaltenders.
  
  8) AUSTRIA
  
  Forwards: Thomas Vanek, Michael Grabner, Bryan Bickell, Andreas Nodl, Steve Regier, Jan Mursak, Jamie Lundmark, Matt Keith.
  Defense: Corey Potter, Andy Delmore, Rob Davison, Patrick Coulombe, Alan Letang, Curtis Murphy. 
  Goaltenders: Alex Auld, Patrick DesRochers.
  
  With Switzerland filling up, some notable NHL forwards landed in this country to add firepower. But this team would struggle in its own zone.

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• Wayward Players Returning To Their Teams

  September 16, 2011

  One by one, the wayward players are striking deals to return to their NHL teams:
  
  Teemu Selanne opted to play another season for the Ducks, to nobody’s surprise. Some Winnipeg fans had hoped the reborn Jets could woo him back to Manitoba, but that just wasn’t going to happen.
  
  Luke Schenn re-upped with the Maple Leafs with a five-year deal averaging $3.6 million per year in value. He was a restricted free agent but there was little chance of the big stay-at-home defenseman moving on from Toronto.
  
  Drew Doughty hasn’t signed with the Kings just yet, but the two sides were hammering out a deal. The Kings would like their cornerstone defeneseman to sign a longer, more cap-friendly deal while Doughty presumably wants a shorter deal that would give him another kick at the free agency can.
  
  On another front, Islanders catalyst John Tavares signed a six-year, $33 million extension and put an end of unpleasant speculation about where free agency could take him. Similarly, bulwark defenseman Tyler Myers got a seven-year extension in Buffalo.

  Kyle Turris has been asking for giant dollars from the Coyotes, to no avail. Of the notable restricted free agents still unsigned, he could sit the longest.
  
  Such deals remind Blues fans of the need to get the ownership situation resolved here. General manager Doug Armstrong has been very selective with his long-term offers so that the next regime will get to sign off on the really bid deals.

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