How are you feeling about Tavares these days?

[Drytoast]

He's sped up in a very noticeable way. Fresher, faster, sharper.

With old guys the hard part is sustaining it through the later part of the season. We will see if he can keep this up.

 

[Stephen]

With old guys the hard part is sustaining it through the later part of the season. We will see if he can keep this up.

Agreed but also haven’t seen this gear from him in a while so hopefully he’s just worked on something or switched something in his offseason leading to such results.

 

[Stephen]

Agreed, he hasn’t looked this quick/mobile in about 3 years. Don’t know what he did this offseason, but it worked. Hope he can keep skating like this all season/playoffs, he’s a much better player when he’s moving like this.

He’s really driving the play consistently at ES the season, vs. the past couple years where he was more of an ES passenger who mostly only made a significant positive impact on the PP. Love to see it!

Yeah, I mean I haven’t been a Tavares guy over the past 2-3 years but he’s jumping out as a north south bull on the puck and finding chemistry with Willie consistently. They’re matching pace. It’s great to see it.

 

[shortfuze]

Tavares soften starts like this. I said the same last year, that he seemed quicker and then he slowed down as the season progressed. Won't be surprised to see him get 70-80 points again this season if he stays heathy as he's always been super consistent.

That said, I'm looking forward to us being able to spend his 11M cap in 2 years either because he's signed for us on a cheap veteran deal (1-2M per year) or we've decided to go in another direction. Putting that money elsewhere like McDavid or some decent defensemen likely makes this team better.

There’s no way he signs for 1-2 million per season. If he’s staying in Toronto it’ll be in the 5 million range.

 

[ACC1224]

Agreed but also haven’t seen this gear from him in a while so hopefully he’s just worked on something or switched something in his offseason leading to such results.

His kids are now sleeping through the night.

 

[Stephen]

His kids are now sleeping through the night.

That could be it too!

 

[WTFMAN99]

I like him but I would have similar concerns I have had the last couple of years in the playoffs, he's pretty slow. The team overall isn't fast..

 

[CincoHolio]

I think it's been said in this thread already, Tavares typically starts of hot, cools down in the middle and heats up again before the playoffs. I wouldn't get too up or down on him this early. Same thing with Marner - usually starts off slow and then heats up for the rest of the season.

Let's give it some time before we start proclaiming this or that.

 

[AvroArrow]

Glad I was wrong

 

[-DeMo-]

I think it's been said in this thread already, Tavares typically starts of hot, cools down in the middle and heats up again before the playoffs. I wouldn't get too up or down on him this early. Same thing with Marner - usually starts off slow and then heats up for the rest of the season.

Let's give it some time before we start proclaiming this or that.

don't really think that;s true of a guy whose been PPG he's pretty much started on his season pace

2023 he has 11 in first 7
2022 he had 10 in his first 10 but then 4 points in game 11 to make his 14 in 11
2021 he had 8 in his first 10
2020 he had 10 in 10
2019 he had 9 in 10
2018 he had 12 in 10

so for the most part he's played at his consistent PPG pace nothing overly hot about it his point production in the first 10 games of the season. he needs 1 point in the next 3 games to match his best start to the season since 2018

 

[Namikaze Minato]

His kids are now sleeping through the night.

Play time with Knies and Minten really tuckers them out.

 

[ULF_55]

Maybe it took awhile for Nylander and Tavares to find chemistry. I noticed they pass to each other a lot better in all 3 zones.

I notice Nylander going back quicker, sometimes first and deeper.

Maybe that takes some pressure off Tavares?

 

[Gabriel426]

His kids are now sleeping through the night.

That could be it too!

An interesting thing to do is compare his points total-Home and Away over the past few seasons and see if this kids theory is true or not, lol.

 

[Twine Tickler]

guy is leading by example. He's ramping up his game despite everyone's expectation of a regression.

Say what you will about JT and his contract, but that was the going rate for him that offseason, and he has done nothing but show up since coming to TO. He chose us because he wanted to be a Leaf, something that had been lacking for a very long time. Save for bringing a cup to Toronto, he's lived up to his end of the deal IMO.

Aging like a fine wine. Which shouldn't be surprising given his professionalism. I am not sure I've ever heard anyone ever question his dedication and work ethic away from the rink. In fact, the exact opposite.

Not to mention him taking in Knies and Minten this season. He clearly takes his role as captain very serious, and it clearly doesn't stop at the rink.

Glad we got 91 as our cap

 

[keonsbitterness]

There’s no way he signs for 1-2 million per season. If he’s staying in Toronto it’ll be in the 5 million range.

Let's see what he does in 24-25 before worrying about that.

 

[Ciao]

Good.

Just as I always have.

John Tavares is good for the Leafs.

 

[shortfuze]

Let's see what he does in 24-25 before worrying about that.

Thanks tips

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

He has like 363 points in 365 games as a leaf. Folks here just talk shit cause he is slow in peoples eyes and his contract blows but he is clearly “pulling his weight” whether it’s in clutch moments when he can or on the score sheet or in other facets of the game. He isn’t a generational talent like Crosby but he try’s to contribute and it’s admirable.

He’s Mats Sundin. Never at the top, ultimate consistency.

 

[MilkofthePoppy]

Tavares and Reilly have really impressed me this year. This is the dude that scored the goal to get us into the second round. He has been playing like a man possessed this year.

 

[Strangle]

He wont be ppg by years end. He is 3M overpaid in the reg season as a 75-80 pt guy

Playoffs he falls to a low end 2C player as a 55 pt guy

A lot to prove after 5 years of being the main reason this group has failed

Look at how spoiled we’ve become in such a short amount of time.

Does everyone remember how it felt after Sundin, when we were hoping Bozak could be our #1 center? And it felt like we would never be able to acquire a 1st line 60g scoring center and a 2nd line ppg center?

There was a very bleak decade there in the mid-2000’s

Tavares is fantastic, he’s always been exactly as advertised and hasn’t disappointed in any season he’s been with the Leafs.

We have become a spoiled fanbase when it comes to Tavares, we take him completely for granted

 

[WillyC]

John Tavares wanted to be a Toronto Maple Leaf since he played pee wee hockey.

He wanted to come home and play in front of the Toronto fans… and he’s been excellent doing just that.

He deserves to be Captain Johnny Toronto.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Three more points puts him top 100 all time.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

They should be stripping the "C" off Tavares.

The leadership, or the lack thereof, has been clearly obvious for a long time now. Once again this so-called captain displayed another disgusting lack of leadership. This team will remain a bunch of neutered prepubescents until he's gone.

The biggest problem is they don't see anything wrong with what they are doing.

They fail to understand why fans are starting to give up on them. They use the excuse of remaining disciplined during what should be an emotionally charged event. If you replace the word "disciplined" with "scared shitless" you might be on to something.

This isn't a one off either.

The fans outrage isn't just a response to Liljegren getting injured. This is years of watching the team get beaten and bullied on a nightly basis. So hard to believe anyone could watch their teammate get run like that and not do anything about it.

Let lone the captain of the team.

 

[-DeMo-]

since nobody stood up for Liljegren should we take away the C and A's from everyone and have none?

Liljegren also wasn't ran, he was tripped into the boards.

 

[Nylanderthal]

since nobody stood up for Liljegren should we take away the C and A's from everyone and have none?

Liljegren also wasn't ran, he was tripped into the boards.

I thought this is the whole reason why they employ reaves