Observations:

April 2015- Tatar sputtered just like the Detroit offence as a whole down the stretch. Luckily, the Wings were a resilient bunch and scratched and clawed their way to many late game heroics with many clutch goals coming from number 21. Seven gamewinners to be exact. Back in February it looked like 30 goals was a certainty, but a slow stretch saw him fall just shy of that milestone with 29 tallies. Still 29 goals,27 assists and 56 points made for career highs along with 211 shots on goal playing in all 82 games in just his second full season as an NHLer. If the Wings want to upend the youthful Lightning they will need some production from the former Calder Cup MVP. Tatar is still looking for his first career playoff point. Travis Watson

February 2015- 22 goals sets a new career high for Tomas Tatar who is well on his way to surpassing the 30 goal mark for the first time in his young career. Looking deeper into the young Slovak’s numbers you can make a case he’s actually underperforming compared to career comparisons. Typcially Tatar registers the same amount or more assists than goals so for the remainder of 2015 or your projections for the 2015-16 season you could expect even more offense to come. Detroit will be hoping that their blend of youth and battle tested experience can help lead them on another championship run while the twilight years approach for stars Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Travis Watson

November 2014- Tomas Tatar is heating up and scoring timely goals to boot. he’s the NHL’s reigning 2nd Star of the Week after posting four goals and an assist, including two game winners on consecutive wins to pace Detroit’s attack. Although they fell to Toronto he found the back of the net again on a lovely find from rookie Xavier Ouellet extending his point streak to a season high five games that would eventually end in six. Tatar has tantlizing skill and it’s now beginning to turn into points for the young Slovak winger who was a little snakebitten to begin the year. Tatar is a very exciting prospect and a player for you to target in a trade while you can! Travis Watson

September 2014- Fresh off a new contract, Tatar heads into camp with big expectations. That was only heightened when he kicked off training camp and the first exhibition game playing on Pavel Datsyuk’s wing. To all Wings fans disappointment they will be unable to see it in action for at least a couple weeks as Pav exited their tilt against Pittsburgh with a shoulder injury. Confirmed to being a grade 2 separation with expected recovery two-four weeks. However, just as last year proved these young guns in Detroit are hungry to win and have stepped up time and time again when needed. Look for Tat’s to have a big year and finish around the 25-30 goal mark and close to 60 points if he’s able to stay healthy himself. Draft with confidence. Travis Watson

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August 2014- Detroit has locked up another key piece to the future re-signing Tomas Tatar to a new three-year deal. The former second round pick was a restricted free agent and despite not coming to terms until a month into the NHL offseason it was never in doubt that he and the Wings would come to terms. He was too valuable of a player especially when injuries hit the roster hard last season and it proved his value to the franchise. Look for Tatar to make another step forward this season as he is a player with high-end skill and goal scoring instincts. A 20 point improvement would not be a surprise. Don’t hesitate to draft the 2013 AHL Playoff MVP as he is on the up and up. Travis Watson

May 2014- Tomas Tatar just wrapped up his first full NHL season scoring a respectable 19 goals and 20 assists while also posting a solid plus- 12 rating. Tatar got off to a bit of a rocky start to begin the year sitting in the press box for most of the games but from October 21st on he became a regular and showed consistent production only having 4 or 5 pointless droughts of four games or more. His youthful energy and scoring prowess proved key for the Wings attack especially after being decimated by so many injuries throughout the year. Tatar ended up lining up besides to former teammates from the Grand Rapid Griffins for the majority of the year after Tomas Jurco and Riley Sheahan were recalled due to the aforementioned injury crisis. But the kids did alright and more then held there own on most nights helping Detroit scratch and claw to the eighth seed of the post season and a first round matchup with the Stanley Cup favourite Boston Bruins. Detroit was able to steal game one but ended up losing out to the Bruins in five games as Tatar and young brigade of prospects weren’t able to contend with the playoff veteran tested Bruins. Despite the disappointing ending to the season Tatar had plenty of personal success and not just with his NHL team but also his National Team, Slovakia. He was named to the Slovakian Mens team for the 2014 Sochi Olympics where he not only played but was one of the best players on the ice game in and game out and for his efforts once Detroit was knocked out of the playoffs he was also named to Slovakia’s 2014 IIHF World Championship roster where he will look to help lead his team to a better result than the one in Sochi. Travis Watson

February 2014 – Slovakia brought a youth infused lineup to Sochi but they weren’t able to replicate their success from the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver where they surprised many by making a bronze medal appearance. Tatar was one of the said youth that made his debut for Slovakia in the 2014 Sochi Olympic games and routinely looked like their best player and came away from the games with one goal and one assist to show for his efforts. Tatar was one of only two Slovaks to record a positive plus minus in the tournament where he tied for the team lead with a plus-one rating. Quite the feat for the 23 year old when his team only managed to score five goals compared to 15 against. Detroit now hopes with the loss of their captain that the likes of Tatar, Nyquist, and Jurco can help keep the team afloat and help extend the playoff steak to a 23^rd consecutive year! Experiences like these Olympics should surely help build their confidence especially when they played in such pivotal roles for their countries. Travis Watson

February 2014 – Making his Olympic debut Tatar sniped home a wrister top corner beating American keeper Jonathan Quick to make things interesting just 24 seconds into the second period tying things up at 1-1. One would think that this would wake up Team Slovakia, pushing the momentum to their side, but it seemed to actually awaken the United States as they then went on to erupt for six goals in the middle frame en route to a 7-1 victory. Tatar seemed to be the only Slovak that came to play on this day as he was buzzing on the ice and in on just about every scoring opportunity Slovakia had. Travis Watson

October 2013 – Tomas Tatar has yet to lace them up through two games for the Red Wings as he has been healthy scratched in both. This is very disappointing from a poolie perspective as I was excited to see what Tatar had to offer after consecutive stellar seasons in the AHL with last year having him take home AHL playoff MVP posting 16 goals in 24 games played. Unfortunately that is the life of a prospect in the Red Wings Organization as they are the most loyal franchise I have ever come across. Tatar is too talented to stay in the press box and because he would have to pass through waivers to be sent down where he would surely be scooped up he may find it to be a challenging year. Lucky for him the Red Wings have an aging core and many injury prone players so he is bound to get his chance soon and when he does it’s on him to make the most of it! Travis Watson

June 2013 – Tatar was named MVP of the AHL Calder Cup playoffs after the Griffins won the championship. He had 16 goals and 21 points in 24 games. He is half a season away from an NHL job at most. Dobber

March 2013 – As expected, Tatar is trading places with Gustav Nyqvist for recalls with the Red Wings when needed and both have helped provide punch when inserted in the lineup. Tatar is flirting much closer to a point-per-game pace in the AHL than he has in the past and should be a shoe in for a regular NHL role next year and could provide very solid secondary scoring for a Wings team who’s core is not getting any younger or he could be good trade bait for the Red Wings to acquire a solid defenseman at the trade deadline. Jason Banks

December 2012 – Tatar has put on a few pounds and is Grand Rapids lone threat from the left side. His puck movement is very strong and he is on pace for a second season of over 200 shots. Likely to remain in the AHL for the rest of the season in the event the lockout ends, but would be a reliable call up when required. Jason Banks

June 2012 – A dynamic player who has been on the fantasy radar seemingly forever, Tatar led the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) in scoring (tied) as a 21-year-old. Although he could add some size and strength, he is (or will be) a good enough player to get by on skill alone at the next level. In the 2012 Men’s World Championship he posted five points in 10 games for Slovakia, good for sixth on the squad. Jason Banks

Fantasy Outlook: A

Looking to secure a top six role in his second full season and be a big part of a Red Wings youth revival. 

Footage:

Tatar is named MVP of the Calder Cup playoffs:

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Tatar’s one-timer against Canada at the 2012 WC:

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