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Jesper Bratt | LW
Nolan Foote | LW
Joe Gambardella | LW
Erik Haula | LW
Tomas Tatar
ON-ICE VALUE
Top-Six Forward
STRENGTHS
Finish: Tatar has converted chances at a stellar rate throughout his career. His shot isn’t blistering, but it’s accurate on both the backhand and forehand. He’s also crafty enough to embarrass goaltenders in tight. If there isn’t much open ice, he’ll drive the net in hopes of deflecting pucks or hopping on rebounds.
Vision: He’s a quality playmaker as well, spotting holes in the defense and putting just the right amount of touch on his passes to spring his teammates. While he can whip pucks tape to tape across two zones or feather saucers through the smallest windows, he usually opts for the smart play rather than the sensational one.
Responsible: Though he isn’t known as a defensive forward, he can play tough minutes because he puts in the work along the boards and doesn’t give the puck away cheaply. His knack for making link-up plays at his blue line and in the neutral zone makes his five-man unit incredibly effective in transition.
WEAKNESSES
Processing Speed: There’s one flaw in his offensive arsenal—he doesn’t think the game all that quickly. In order to pick his shot or find the right pass, he requires more time than you’d like. That means he can sometimes struggle with defenders on his back. His 5’10”, 173-pound frame doesn’t help.
Playoff Production: Time and space are both in short supply come the postseason, so it’s no surprise that his impact decreases. He becomes so reluctant to engage that he often freezes. His production drops by a ridiculous 50% in the spring, which has led two different coaches to healthy-scratch him in the playoffs.
