Red Wings Player Grades: Tomas Tatar

Player Profile

Name: Tomas Tatar

Born: Ilava, SVK 12/1/90

Height/Weight: 5’10/180

Position: RW

Stats

GP : 82

G: 25

A: 21

PM: 26

Season Narrative

Tomas Tatar scored 25 goals this season, the highest since he scored a career high 29 in the 2014-15 season. 25 was the team lead. His 46 points, third most on Detroit this season, were also his best since his career high of 56 in 2014-15. He scored just five of the goals on the power play a number he surely would want improved. Five of his goals turned out to be game winners, the most on the team.

What He Did vs. Expectation

The problem with Tatar’s season was through the first 31 games he scored just four goals. During that time, the Red Wings went 13-14-4. Early on is a point in the season, where this team needs him to step up the most if they want to be a playoff team next season. Every player goes through slumps but for someone that is being looked upon to be a goalscorer and point producer, four goals in 31 games doesn’t cut it.

His season breakthrough was the 32nd game of the season where he scored a hat trick against Anaheim. However, to his credit he got better as the season went on. Tatar finished playing as one of the better players on the roster.

The expectation is that Tatar would be one of the teams top goal scorers, which he was. That he would be one of the top point producers and he was. It may have taken him a little while to get there but in general he hit the expectations upon him.

Now Tatar, can look back at his season and know if he gets off to a better start and becomes more productive on the power play he has a chance to easily lift his goal total into the mid to high 30’s. Those are expectations I have had for Tatar for a few seasons. Especially with a new contract coming and a raise of several million dollars, I think that is where you would like to see his goal total end up season after season.

With Henrik Zetterberg at 36 years old and having 68 points this season, Tatar will be one of those players needed to fill the void as Zetterberg naturally starts to slow down in the years ahead.

Final Grade: B

I give Tatar a ton of credit for finishing as good he did. While you never like to see a player with the talent of Tatar start the season in a slump, it was important to see that the expectation of him for the most part came true. Now of course if the Red Wings are going to be serious about winning, Tatar needs more than 25 goals and more than 46 points.

If he were to read this, I’m sure Tatar would say he would love and needs to be more productive on the power play, where he recorded only eight of his 46 points. If he takes another step forward next season, Tatar will be just fine and he will have the chance to be the cornerstone face of the Red Wings for years to come.