What Happened
In a Sunday Overreactions column published October 11, Sportsnet made the case for the Toronto Maple Leafs to move John Tavares from centre to the wing. The piece points to the 36-year-old's declining footspeed and the defensive demands of playing the middle. According to NHL EDGE data cited in the column, Tavares reached 22 m.p.h. four times last season but has not done so this season, leaving him below the 50th percentile as a skater.
Key Details
- Tavares, 36, has been Toronto's top-six centre but is off to a slow start this season.
- He has been outscored 6-3 at 5-on-5 and trails 40-31 in shots this season.
- NHL EDGE shows he hit 22 m.p.h. four times last year, none this season.
- He has played mostly with William Nylander and rookie Gavin McKenna.
- Toronto used him against Jack Eichel on Thursday, a difficult matchup.
What It Means
The column frames a position switch as a way to keep Tavares productive while reducing his defensive exposure in the middle. It notes that replacing a top-six centre is difficult, both practically and emotionally, given his history with the franchise, and that his skating has been trending down for a couple of years.