Is John Tavares a Hall of Fame Center?

If Mats Sundin can get in, having no real harware or playoff success, then Tavares can get in. They'll both be right near a point a game when all is said and done. He was a top center for the majority of his career. I agree, he really should be in the Hall of Pretty Good, but until they construct that, he'll be in the HOF. They should have an honourary category for players like him.

Sundin got one of the best international careers ever though in addition to being the face of the franchise, he also probably got some good will as first #1 in draft from Sweden(even Europe?). Played in a lower scoring era aswell.

Not saying they are terribly apart in terms of ability(or well I kinda believe so but that's moreso on Sundin underperforming in the NHL so not a point in his favor really) but Sundin just got some extra spice.
 
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He will make it but onky due to standard set by the league previously.

HHOF is easy enough to make and Tavares has been productive for majority of his career.

I will say he benefits from compiling more so than elite play.

Panarin has a thread up and people are still not sure if he gets in.

Panarin has the better peak, prime and playoffs than Tavares (despite being a poor playoff player himself).

Besides maybe 2019 Tavares has never been a better player than Panarin since 2016 when Panarin entered the NHL.

Centers seem to benefit and get passes for the hall of fame while wingers are held to tough standards
 
these threads should wait till the player hangs up his skates...

If Tavares has a few more productive years then yes he likely gets in.

If he was retired at the moment, not sure...
 
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If Mats Sundin can get in, having no real harware or playoff success, then Tavares can get in. They'll both be right near a point a game when all is said and done. He was a top center for the majority of his career. I agree, he really should be in the Hall of Pretty Good, but until they construct that, he'll be in the HOF. They should have an honourary category for players like him.
1st European to be drafted first overall

Led Sweden to Olympic gold, lots of international success as the top guy for Sweden

Only Swede to have over 500 goals, first Swede with more than 1000 points

Most career points and games by a Swede

His impact on Swedish hockey is the reason why he's in the HHOF and the IIHF HOF. Sundin deserves his place for his contribution to the game, not for his production.
 
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1st European to be drafted first overall

Led Sweden to Olympic gold, lots of international success as the top guy for Sweden

Only Swede to have over 500 goals, only Swede with more than 1000 points

Most career points and games by a Swede

His impact on Swedish hockey is the reason why he's in the HHOF and the IIHF HOF. Sundin deserves his place for his contribution to the game, not for his production.
Only Swede with 1000 points? Lidstrom Alfredsson says hallo!! and Sedins
 
So sure, I think he gets in. But he has to wait a while.

I actually think Hawerchuk is probably the guy Tavares is most comparable to. Former first overall offence first center that toiled his prime away on an inferior team while putting up great numbers and never found much success in the playoffs. Both 2 for 2 in BoB international tourneys for Canada, both from the GTA and both well respected leaders.
 
I actually think Hawerchuk is probably the guy Tavares is most comparable to. Former first overall offence first center that toiled his prime away on an inferior team while putting up great numbers and never found much success in the playoffs. Both 2 for 2 in BoB international tourneys for Canada, both from the GTA and both well respected leaders.
The thing with Hawerchuk and Savard is that they're placements are artificially lower because they're playing behind Gretz and Lemieux. Hawerchuk finishes behind Gretz once and Savard and Hawerchuk finish 1-2 behind both in 88. They are better players than Tavares. Moreover, both played better in the playoffs.
 
The thing with Hawerchuk and Savard is that they're placements are artificially lower because they're playing behind Gretz and Lemieux. Hawerchuk finishes behind Gretz once and Savard and Hawerchuk finish 1-2 behind both in 88. They are better players than Tavares. Moreover, both played better in the playoffs.

...and Tavares bests prime Crosby for 1st team AS (interrupting the middle of a Crosby 3 wins in 4 years) and beating out Stamkos/Towes/Getzlaf etc.

Savard was also easily better in the playoffs than both and won a cup.

Hawerchuks points and overall play fell off pretty hard in the playoffs. I think he only had 2 series wins his first 15 years in the league (sound familiar?)
 
...and Tavares bests prime Crosby for 1st team AS (interrupting the middle of a Crosby 3 wins in 4 years) and beating out Stamkos/Towes/Getzlaf etc.
Crosby is not Gretzky. He's not Lemieux. Crosby is beatable, those other two aren't. They are top four players of all time (maybe the two best.) Nobody is going to beat those guys.
Savard was also easily better in the playoffs than both and won a cup.

Hawerchuks points and overall play fell off pretty hard in the playoffs. I think he only had 2 series wins his first 15 years in the league (sound familiar?)
Hawerchuk is still better than Tavares in the postseason.

As for the regular season, remove Gretzky/Lemieux (and their teammates) and this is how it shakes out for him.

82 - scoring champion and Hart
86 - 5th in scoring
87 - 3rd in scoring
88 - 2nd in scoring
 
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Crosby is not Gretzky. He's not Lemieux. Crosby is beatable, those other two aren't. They are top four players of all time (maybe the two best.) Nobody is going to beat those guys.

Hawerchuk is still better than Tavares in the postseason.

As for the regular season, remove Gretzky/Lemieux (and their teammates) and this is how it shakes out for him.

82 - scoring champion and Hart
86 - 5th in scoring
87 - 3rd in scoring
88 - 2nd in scoring
If Hawerchuk was better in the playoffs, it wasnt by much. Point total drops and minus play pretty close.

Ill grant you on just how dominant Gretz and Mario were but take away Ovi and Crosby ( the 2 premier players of the era) and it goes for Tavares:

2013 - Rocket champion and Hart
2015 - 3rd for goals scored, 2nd for points scored, Hart runner up (to a goalie making him the the best non goalie)
2019 - 2nd for goals scored

Man, these guys are almost mirrors of each other. Tavares more a goal scorer and Hawerchuk a playmaker although they both are dual threats.

You've convinced me. Tavares is the modern day Hawerchuk.
 
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I’m not even much of a Tavares fan but he’s a stone cold lock for the HHOF and if you think otherwise you don’t understand the existing standards.
Came here to say something like this and it sounds like alot of people don't understand the HHOF all that much.

I wonder if he resigns for the Leafs or... in the offseason.
 
If Hawerchuk was better in the playoffs, it wasnt by much. Point total drops and minus play pretty close.

Ill grant you on just how dominant Gretz and Mario were but take away Ovi and Crosby ( the 2 premier players of the era) and it goes for Tavares:

2013 - Rocket champion and Hart
2015 - 3rd for goals scored, 2nd for points scored, Hart runner up (to a goalie making him the the best non goalie)
2019 - 2nd for goals scored

Man, these guys are almost mirrors of each other. Tavares more a goal scorer and Hawerchuk a playmaker although they both are dual threats.

You've convinced me. Tavares is the modern day Hawerchuk.
Again, OV and Crosby aren’t Mario Gretz. Those guys would put up 200 point seasons and their teammates would follow. Crosby would win a scoring title by a few. It’s not the same thing.

Tavares will have to wait just like Turgeon did.
 
One could maybe see a way for him to get in because of him most likely getting 500 goals, but a lot will depend on his longevity and any falloff. No major awards and largely a non-factor in the playoffs could make him wait a long time.
 
Again, OV and Crosby aren’t Mario Gretz. Those guys would put up 200 point seasons and their teammates would follow. Crosby would win a scoring title by a few. It’s not the same thing.

Tavares will have to wait just like Turgeon did.

OK but Tavares peak and goal scoring is so far removed from Turgeon that it's not really a comparison. Take away Corsby and Ovi and you are looking at a 3 year peak as maybe the best player in hockey and the 2nd most goals and 3rd most points in the league since his rookie year.

Both Tavares and Hawerchuk are a step up from Turgeon (and their similarities are uncanny)
 
OK but Tavares peak and goal scoring is so far removed from Turgeon that it's not really a comparison. Take away Corsby and Ovi and you are looking at a 3 year peak as maybe the best player in hockey and the 2nd most goals and 3rd most points in the league since his rookie year.

Both Tavares and Hawerchuk are a step up from Turgeon (and their similarities are uncanny)
My last post on this.

I think he gets in. I think he has to wait.

All of that changes if he has a strong playoff run and wins a cup/Smythe whatever. Then it’s a totally different conversation.
 
Came here to say something like this and it sounds like alot of people don't understand the HHOF all that much.

I wonder if he resigns for the Leafs or... in the offseason.

Yeah, it’s just not even a debate. There is no player with a comparable resume not in the HHOF and if you’re saying he’s anything other than a lock you simply don’t understand the standards and the process.
 
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