Quick Shifts: John Tavares is sticking it to doubters

A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious and less so, and rolling four lines deep. If your pitch gets hit along the ground to the first baseman, you probably should jog over and cover the bag.

1. Craig Berube calls the NHL “a second- and third-effort league.” 

He also calls John Tavares “a second- and third-effort player.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs coach is speaking to specific effort plays — mostly net-front and below the hash marks — when he describes the former captain this way. 

(A perfect example, during Thursday’s win over the Kraken: Tavares gets cross-checked in the slot, keeps control of the puck and, from his knees, fires a blind pass to William Nylander for a tap-in.)

But the Tavares we are witnessing now — at age 34, in the final year of his much-celebrated, much-scorned homecoming deal — is giving second and third effort to not only keep his career afloat but produce at an elite clip.

“Tremendous play by him,” Nylander said of his centreman. “John is an amazing player. I think he’s been a point-per-game player almost every year he’s been here. He just doesn’t stop, even though he’s getting older.”

Despite Toronto’s ice-cold power play, and despite battling a heavy illness that cost him 10 pounds of bodyweight, a few missed practices and required a game off, Tavares hasn’t missed a beat. 

He has 11 points through 10 games, a 61.3 success rate in the dot, and his new line with Nylander and fellow throwback Max Pacioretty has been Toronto’s most productive this week.

“He’s hungrier than I’ve ever seen him,” Bobby McMann says. “He just loves hockey, and he wants to win so bad.”

“He’s been incredible,” adds Matthew Knies. “He’s been everything we needed him to be — good on draws, good around the net, tips and getting shots in. It’s remarkable. You know, I love watching it. He’s a guy I can learn a lot from. So, I’m excited to see what he can do the rest of the season.”

Because he’s not the most fleet of foot, because he’s aging, and because we’re in the “overpay” years of his seven-year pact, Tavares can be a reflex target for critics.

Put him on the third line. Stuff him on the wing. Move him to PP2. Take away his C.

We won’t argue that Tavares is an $11-million centre today. We will argue that he is doing everything in his power to give the team value, which means making an impact even as his ice time drops to a career-low 16:23.

You won’t hear Tavares complain about TOI publicly, though. He’s still behaving like a captain. (“Same guy to me,” Knies shrugs.)

In the face of doubters, Tavares keeps doing his thing.

What could have derailed a weaker character, a ceremonious stripping of the C, appears to have only emboldened Tavares, now hell-bent on proving that losing a letter doesn’t mean losing a step.

Funny: Tavares may have gained more respect around the hockey world for how he handled losing the captaincy than earning it in the first place.

“Yeah, I had a lot of people reach out, which was obviously really supportive and great. Which was awesome,” Tavares told me during a sit-down chat. “I don’t look at it as a negative. For me, it’s a new challenge. It’s a great way to grow, and for me to keep pushing forward and keep getting better. And maybe it’s going to be a little less front and centre for me than when you’re the captain of the Leafs.”

As razor-sharp colour analyst Jim Ralph said: “He looks like he’s had a piano taken off his back.”

While Tavares’s role may be diminishing, his ambition is most certainly not.

One month from today, Team Canada must finalize its roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off, and Tavares is throwing his hat in the ring. He captained the country at the 2024 worlds, partly to stay on the radar.

“I want to be a part of it. I believe in myself and in my game and being able to help contribute and be a part of that team. International hockey, best-on-best is really starting to ramp up again. So, I want to be a part of that still. I believe in myself and can help contribute,” Tavares said. 

“But my focus is just on playing well for the Leafs and let that take care of itself. If I just go out there and do my job, play to my capabilities, and continue to be well-rounded and play at a high level, execute well, I think I’ll put myself in good position and hopefully get to be a part of it.”

Tavares pauses, then offers a qualifier. 

“Obviously, especially over the last number of years, the depth Canada has and the youth and where the game’s at right now in general is high. What Team Canada is gonna look like, it would be pretty remarkable to make that team,” Tavares says. 

“Guys have to be very elite, special players, and playing at a very high level. So, it won’t be easy.”

Tavares is self-aware enough to realize he’s a longshot — but that doesn’t mean he won’t give it a second and third effort.

2. Oliver Ekman-Larsson needed only to play a few games for the Maple Leafs before his teammates began commenting on the bite to his game.

Sure, everyone knew the lanky man with the long stick could run a power play, make a slick pass and break up plays. But nastiness — a cross-check here, a vengeful reserve hit there, mix in a snowing of the opposing goalie — is part of the parcel, too.

“I know I have that in my toolbox, so I just try to bring that every night,” says the defenceman, who got fined for aggressive interference on Jake Guentzel and is on pace for consecutive 70-plus-PIM seasons.

“I probably got it from my from my dad. He was spending a lot of time in the penalty box. Not a lot of people know that.”

Ekman-Larsson’s father patrolled the blueline in the second-tier Swedish league. In 1991-92, Patrik Larsson needed just 36 games to pile 86 penalty minutes.

It was Patrik who steered his son to play the position and taught him what he could get away with. 

“I wouldn’t say he was mean,” Ekman-Larsson smiles, “but he was playing on the edge.”

Patrik coached Oliver for a stretch in the Maple Leaf’s youth and even experimented with him at centre for a stretch. But OEL has always preferred D, and finding ways to take the pucks with his skills — and flashing his somewhat surprising teeth.

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“I don’t want to get rid of that because that’s when I feel like I’m moving my legs. When I’m playing physical, the other stuff comes to me, so I like to play that way,” he reasons.

“When the game is on the line, that’s when I kinda elevate and want to be out there to make a difference.”

3. Divisional power rankings!

We’re surprised to report that the Metropolitan Division easily ranks No. 1 with a combined plus-30 goal differential (as of Friday). The Devils, Hurricanes and Rangers have all lived up to their hype, while the Capitals and Blue Jackets have been pleasant October surprises.

The Central (plus-5) ranks second, buoyed by Winnipeg’s NHL-best start. Dallas and Minnesota are shaping up like forces, mitigating a disappointing month for Colorado and Nashville.

The supposedly stacked Atlantic (minus-15) is weaker than anticipated, considering none of its eight teams are outwardly trying to tank. Unless your team is based in Florida, concerns have popped up early — particularly in Boston, where the coach’s seat must be the hottest in the league and where we’re learning that maybe stud goalies need training camp too.

The Pacific (minus-20) is again the most forgiving bracket. Incredibly, only two of the eight Pacific squads, Vegas and Seattle, finished October with a positive goal differential. Yikes.

4. The Oilers should have the scoring depth to withstand a weeks-long injury to Connor McDavid (and playing in the weakest division helps).

But we’re less convinced that Robert Thomas–less Blues will be as fortunate while their most dangerous forward heals a broken ankle for six weeks.

Dylan Holloway is now centring the second line. And St. Louis enters Saturday’s rematch against Toronto having lost three straight games to non-playoff teams (Montreal, Ottawa, Philadelphia) and scoring a total of four goals during that slump.

“It’s a tough loss for us,” coach Drew Bannister says. “You can’t just take one player and plop him into the lineup and think you’re going to replace Robbie. It’s just not going to happen. So, for us, it’s team-based. We need everybody pushing in the right direction to fill that void. For us here, whether it’s four or six weeks, everything’s going to be based on work and playing as a team.” 

The season isn’t a month old, and the rebuild-on-the-fly Blues may already be staring at their turning point.

“Guys start to dig in and recognize that the game has to be played the right way, and it can’t be relied on by one or two players,” Bannister spins positive. “I think this is a great opportunity for us, when we talk about that, to become a team.”

5. Quote of the Week.

“He told me he aced geometry.” — Matthew Knies on Auston Matthews’ nifty bank-shot empty-net goal

6. As warm and fuzzy as it was to see Marc-Andre Fleury celebrated during his final game in Pittsburgh, and as much as the happy-go-lucky goalie deserves his, uh, flowers, there was a whiff of sadness in the ether. 

Imagine your favourite band. You caught them in a small venue when they were edgy and raw, young and loud and exciting.

Years pass. Time tolls. You turn up at a reunion tour for all the nostalgic vibes and familiar sounds, trying to recapture a dusty moment.

Sure, the Penguins are still dressing the part and playing the hits. 

But they’ve lost their fastball, and now you have to try to explain to your kid how incredible they were in their prime, and he doesn’t quite get what the big deal.

7. With great paycheques comes great responsibility.

A thoughtful, unhurried Chandler Stephenson sat in his stall Thursday morning and explained why, as one of the most coveted centremen on the 2024 UFA market, he chose Seattle

“Just feeling wanted,” says a player who was traded away from his first championship team (Washington) and allowed to walk without much of a fuss from his second (Vegas).

A humble two-way, second-liner from Saskatoon, Stephenson inked a life-changing seven-year, $43.75-million pact with a Kraken team spending big to get relevant over the summer.

Surely, he must feel comfortable entering his 30s with two Cup rings on the shelf and generational wealth in the bank?

“Yes and no. I thought it’d be a little bit more,” Stephenson admits. “I mean, now you gotta perform for what they see you as. It’s not as if you’re paid and you can just shut it down and hit cruise control. 

“I think there’s a lot more pressure that comes with being one of the guys that the team’s put a lot of faith in, a lot of money in. That element to produce and help the team win. And it’s good pressure, though, too. You want to play in pressure situations. It’s been an adjustment. It’s been kind of a whirlwind. It’s been really good.”

After five seasons in Vegas, Stephenson is still adapting to all things Seattle: the weather and the D-zone system, the linemates and the new schools for the kids.

“Every time I get in the car, I put in GPS to where I’m going,” Stephenson says. “Everybody’s made us feel very welcome. So, it’s been a smooth transition. It’s just something that takes time.”

A veteran of 95 playoff games, Stephenson was targeted by Seattle to score but also to eat tough matchups and free up young centres Matty Beniers and Shane Wright, whom he is supposed to help mentor.

“He’s got some great attributes about his game — skating, poise — but it’s just really his calm, businesslike, intelligent demeanour that has added a lot to our group,” coach Dan Bylsma says. “Coming in with Matty as a centreman and Shane Wright as a centreman, it’s something we desperately need on this team, to have someone show the way. And Chandler is that for us.”

In Seattle, Stephenson and wife Tasha saw a family-friendly city with quality schools and a first-class organization brimming with young talent. 

“We wanted somewhere that our family felt good and comfortable with, and everything else was kind of cherries on top,” he says.

Though happy with his decision, he now feels the weight of measuring up to the contract. For the fans, and for himself.

“I want to be a guy that can help the team win every night and contribute,” Stephenson says. “When I don’t do that, I feel like I’m the reason, or one of the reasons, why we lost.”

8. Ryan Reaves was going through his typical morning skate routine, which culminates with his standing just outside the blue paint and tipping point shots from Leafs defencemen.

Then he flipped his stick upside down, hand on blade, and began redirecting pucks with the butt end of his stick. 

Reaves certainly has a playful side. We’re talking about a man who dressed up specifically as Martin Lawrence in the “Marcus on Ecstasy” scene from Bad Boys II for the team Halloween party this week. (Older teammates like Chris Tanev loved it; the costume was a bit dated for players in their early 20s.)

But the forward wasn’t just goofing around, going through the drill with his stick knob on the ice.

“I started doing that with (Chris) Kreider in New York, actually,” the ex-Ranger explains. “He does it, and he’s obviously very good in front of the net. It kind of works on the hand-eye a little bit more.”

(P.S. Bad Boys II is the best Bad Boys movie, and it’s not particularly close.)

9. Whether it’s Brendan Shanahan as president in Toronto (one playoff series win in 10 years), Steve Yzerman as general manager in Detroit (zero playoff appearances in five years), Rob Blake as general manager in Los Angeles (zero playoff series wins in seven years), or Martin St. Louis as head coach in Montreal (on track for a fourth straight last-place finish in the Atlantic), one thing seems clear.

These Hall of Famers are more immune to criticism or accountability from owners and fans than someone without their sparkling playing careers would be.

10. What do Parker Kelly, Ivan Ivan, Nikolai Kovalenko, Chris Wagner, T.J. Tyanan, and Matthew Steinburg, and Oliver Kylington have in common?

They’re all Colorado Avalanche forwards, apparently.

Such are the things you learn and the people you Google when the injuries and unavailabilities pile up so quickly. 

If it wasn’t tough enough to start the season without core forwards Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin, the Avs have since lost Ross Colton, Jonathan Drouin, and Miles Wood up front — while trying to weather a Devon Toews injury and No. 1 goalie Alexandar Georgiev’s horrendous start (.822 save percentage).

The glory of 2022 must feel like another lifetime.

A healthy Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar — both of whom have at least a point in all 11 games — dragged this battered group through October.

Defenceman Kylington is now being deployed as a winger.

I recall the Leafs deploying offensive defenceman Conor Timmins for a few meaningless games at the end of 2022-23 so they could rest some stars (“I was usually F3,” he quipped). But these are important games for Colorado to stay in the mix.

11. I’m seeing some projected Team Canada rosters that don’t include Mark Stone.

Blasphemy.

Not only does the Vegas Golden Knights captain co-lead the NHL in scoring (with fellow Canadian Cale Makar), having racked up 19 points, but he’s an incredible leader, a Stanley Cup champion, a respected teammate, and an excellent two-way forward who kills penalties.

Stone should be chiselled in as much on the nation’s bottom six.

12. A 38-year-old Dan Bylsma hoisted the Stanley Cup — with the Penguins in 2009 — after just four months into his first head coaching gig in the NHL.

He enjoyed a good, long run in Pittsburgh, then a short, bad one in Buffalo. He fell out of NHL head coach ranks upon conclusion of the 2016-17 season.

After grinding his way back to NHL bench boss through assistant roles and a stint in the minors, what does this second shot at the pinnacle of his position mean to Bylsma and how much has his perspective changed with eight winters away?

“A lot and a lot,” the head coach of the Seattle Kraken replies. 

“This wasn’t the way it was first time around. But I’m just more cognizant of how special it is to be coaching at this level and coaching these players, and what an opportunity it is, each and every night, to do it. I maybe gain some of that perspective being away — and I don’t want to lose it this time around.”

Bylsma was asked about the challenge of winding down postgame, when the arena empties but the adrenalin still pulses.

“For me, it doesn’t happen for a long time,” Bylsma said, regardless of the result. “I typically watch two periods of hockey over again, and typically have crushed grapes nearby.”

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