Let's Go Blues

Is it just me or is anyone else worried about Tarasenko's play aside from shooting the puck into the net?

To me it seems like he is loosing almost every puck possession battle he gets into. His play and effort seem to be lacking since the loosing skid started. He isn't using the body and finishing checks anymore. When play turns to the defensive zone, he seems to loose his stride and almost coasts.

Are the coaches telling him to do this? Has superstardom gotten the best of him? Am I the only one noticing this?

Curious for some feedback.

In terms of defensive play, he's playing better now than he did to start the season. He actually skates back and helps the defense when moving the puck up and has been in the right position for blocking passing lanes or shots.

In the offensive zone, teams are focusing on stopping him to the exclusion of everyone else forcing him to try and beat 3 defenseman just to get a shot off. It's part of the reason they changed the power play and turned him into a rover - force the opponent to defend the whole zone, not just Tarasenko, as is happening in 5-on-5.

Not worried at all about Tarasenko.

He seems to be doing fine from what I've seen. One of the knocks I've had on the Russian players is a tendency to play a one-dimensional game. Ovechkin is a prime example - all scoring but no defense. I think this comes from the Russian system and culture that emphasizes offense over defense. While I don't feel Tarasenko is a one dimensional player like Ovechkin, if you say his defense is spotty then I will take your word for it as you guys see him play more than I do.

I'm not worried about Tarasenko at all.

Not worried at all, I still think he will hit 40 goals this year.

You guys beg for a dynamic, bona fide goal scorer, we get a dynamic, bona fide goal scorer.

"He doesn't play enough defense."

Talk to me in the playoffs.
If he performs well then, like he did last year, then he's fine.

Tarasenko is literally the only element of this team about which I am not worried. Some of his advanced stats have taken a dip but he's also been asked to take on an even bigger portion of the offense-his 65% O-zone start rate is the highest of his career. And he's on pace to have as many hits as ever.

WaukeeBlues wrote:You guys beg for a dynamic, bona fide goal scorer, we get a dynamic, bona fide goal scorer.

"He doesn't play enough defense."

Hey man, until we see someone wearing a Blue Note lifting the big silver thing we'll always find something to worry/complain about.

cprice12 wrote:Talk to me in the playoffs.
If he performs well then, like he did last year, then he's fine.

My thoughts exactly. And he's human, bound to have a 'dip' in performance over a 82 game season. Team around him is not very consistent either.

Tapatalk-kal küldve az én ALE-L21-el

Most players seem to experience a dip like this in the season after they get married. I think it is caused by their bodies adjusting to the sudden decrease in sexual activity.

big d note wrote:Most players seem to experience a dip like this in the season after they get married. I think it is caused by their bodies adjusting to the sudden decrease in sexual activity.

or playing with 4th line wingers like Paajarvi.

theohall wrote:or playing with 4th line wingers like Paajarvi.

Well, well...uh...who should he be playing with? A 3rd-liner like Fabbri?!?!1

big d note wrote:Most players seem to experience a dip like this in the season after they get married. I think it is caused by their bodies adjusting to the sudden decrease in sexual activity.

bwahahaha!

anyone have a photo of his wife?

Kerfuffle wrote:anyone have a photo of his wife?

Google might.

ComradeT wrote:

Kerfuffle wrote:anyone have a photo of his wife?

Google might.

I'm sure he does in one of these.