When John Tavares left the New York Islanders we all immediately thought of the 84 points that had now left with him. Something we haven’t yet realized is just how good John Tavares was defensively for the Islanders.
Tavares’ offensive qualities are obvious. With 621 points in 669 NHL games, there’s a reason the Maple Leafs are giving him $15.9 million in salary this seasons.
But it’s Tavares’ defensive qualities, specifically on the penalty kill that went unnoticed. The New York Islanders are going to have to find a way to get that out of their current roster.