Is John Tavares starting to slip?

[Sidney the Kidney]

you do know kyle dubas signed that contract and he is now running the pens right?

...and? Not sure what any of that has to do with what I posted.

And I thought I was a Leafs homer

It's bonkers that anyone thinks he EXCEEDED expectations. At the time of signing, he was like the 2nd or 3rd highest paid forward in hockey. He never came close to producing like the 2nd or 3rd best forward in hockey.

 

[jcs0218]

That's a strange take that his team of top level scoring forwards let him down when he's the captain and supposed leader and led us to nothing but being a playoff meme. They even paid for vets to surround him with like Marleau and Thorton though they were horrible and brought in Gio and Muzzin and did every bit of maneuvering they could do to find something and nothing worked. Maybe JT should take some responsibility for the lack of success and just leave town after his contract. I literally don't see the point in retaining him without the ppg production , he offers no intangibles.

Tavares isn't going to want to leave.

He likes it in Toronto.

 

[jcs0218]

"Balance of power in NHL has shifted with Tavares going to Leafs".​

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/john-tavares-toronto-maple-leafs-balance-of-power-1.4732584

When the days seemed much brighter:

 

[Fatass]

Tavares isn't going to want to leave.

He likes it in Toronto.

Will a big dog take a great deal less than he currently makes while the other big dogs are eating up even larger chunks? I’m not too sure what JT will get on the open market in July 2025 but imo it will be really difficult for him to be in the Leafs’ room after taking a big pay cut while other guys are getting huge amounts. I’d see him going to another club and into a new room instead and get paid that lesser amount.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Tavares isn't going to want to leave.

He likes it in Toronto.

It's nice he won't be making $11 million, but does the prospect of a 35 year old Tavares making $4.5 million and eating up the 2nd line center spot really seem all that appealing?

 

[jcs0218]

It's nice he won't be making $11 million, but does the prospect of a 35 year old Tavares making $4.5 million and eating up the 2nd line center spot really seem all that appealing?

I think it sounds appealing to him, although I think he will be able to get more than $4.5 million from Toronto.

Will a big dog take a great deal less than he currently makes while the other big dogs are eating up even larger chunks? I’m not too sure what JT will get on the open market in July 2025 but imo it will be really difficult for him to be in the Leafs’ room after taking a big pay cut while other guys are getting huge amounts. I’d see him going to another club and into a new room instead and get paid that lesser amount.

He moved to Toronto to be closer to his family and his wife's family.

I doubt he wants to leave.

 

[Il Stugotz]

They even paid for vets to surround him with like Marleau and Thorton

Holy jumping, that’s the problem. They’re all tainted by those dickless frauds

 

[jcs0218]

Holy jumping, that’s the problem. They’re all tainted by those dickless frauds

Hey! Don't you remember that Joe Thornton brought fire to the Leafs lineup?

Thornton ‘bringing more fire’ to Leafs lineup with playoffs looming - TSN.ca

With the regular season winding down, Maple Leafs forward Joe Thornton is throwing his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame around the ice much more lately, inspiring his teammates both on and off the ice, Mark Masters writes.

www.tsn.ca

 

[WarriorofTime]

I think it sounds appealing to him, although I think he will be able to get more than $4.5 million from Toronto.

That's the "I want to win the Cup in Toronto" price, and I still don't love it much for the Leafs. He may end up signing for something like $6.75 million for 3 years which is still a "discount" but a bit less insulting for a player that still puts up stats.

 

[Fatass]

I think it sounds appealing to him, although I think he will be able to get more than $4.5 million from Toronto.


He moved to Toronto to be closer to his family and his wife's family.

I doubt he wants to leave.

Ego in elite athletes is very strong. And he’s the Captain too. Would he continue as the Captain on his next contract? How much less per year would he be offered? Imo his ego would keep from staying in that room with the other big dogs eating so much cap. He’d probably move on to a new room. Ottawa or Detroit?

 

[TheShape]

Tavares has also benefited lately playing on a line with contract year Willy Nylander who's been driving the creative bus hard. He's great around the net, but he doesn't drive any serious play whatsoever anymore.

This. He's been on a gradual decline the last few years, doesn't tilt the ice by any means and relies on linemates a lot more than they rely on him. By season's end his point totals are respectable, but overall his play is empty calorie stuff, I don't know how else to explain it.

 

[TheShape]

It's nice he won't be making $11 million, but does the prospect of a 35 year old Tavares making $4.5 million and eating up the 2nd line center spot really seem all that appealing?

$4.5m is my cut off, JT could be a very effective left winger at that price point. I don't want him anywhere near the center role.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Ego in elite athletes is very strong. And he’s the Captain too. Would he continue as the Captain on his next contract? How much less per year would he be offered? Imo his ego would keep from staying in that room with the other big dogs eating so much cap. He’d probably move on to a new room. Ottawa or Detroit?

If he likes the big-market, Original Six vibe he could maybe sign in Chicago while the non-Bedard prospects (Nazar, Moore, '24 1st round picks, any later round guys) that hopefully hit are on ELCs and ease them in while giving Bedard a veteran point producer, powerplay 1 guy for support on a short-term basis while the team hopefully rises in standings.

 

[AvroArrow]

I think it sounds appealing to him, although I think he will be able to get more than $4.5 million from Toronto.


He moved to Toronto to be closer to his family and his wife's family.

I doubt he wants to leave.

My sister worked with his wife, he doesn't want to leave. They chose Toronto to settle down and raise their kids here.

But once his contract is up Toronto is not obligated to offer him an extension, he may have to leave to play the end of his career somewhere else.

 

[JianYang]

He's been slipping well before this season but still a pretty good hockey player.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

He's been slipping well before this season but still a pretty good hockey player.

Being pretty good at this point isn't enough to warrant 11 million and the captaincy of the Maple Leafs. He is holding us back from playoffs success at this point. It's completely bizarre that the captain of the franchise is the one handcuffing the roster and GM from being able to be successful . He is a joke of a captain in terms of grit and leadership. You won't change the hardcore Leaf Nation diehards opinion with a few tap in goals and face off percentage. This is a city who worships Clark , Gilmour and Salming. Players with actual skill , heart and leadership.

 

[Warden of the North]

Do you really think the Leafs would walk away from him though? I think it's practically a certainty that he re-signs and likely on a team friendly deal. He's living his childhood dream as the Captain of his hometown team, there is no way he is going to let go of that easily. His wife and whole family are there in Toronto, they wouldn't let him leave even if he wanted to either.

I think some other team offers him too big a deal to say no to. Unless his play REALLY drops off next year to like 35-40 points.

 

[PaulD]

Best Captain in the league. Definitely worth that contract.

I always forget he's the captain.

Shanny and Dubas would have picked Matthews that summer , but Austin was ah-hem.... out drinking with his buddies back in Arizona one night and .....

Rielly would have been the best choice.

 

[PaulD]

...and? Not sure what any of that has to do with what I posted.


It's bonkers that anyone thinks he EXCEEDED expectations. At the time of signing, he was like the 2nd or 3rd highest paid forward in hockey. He never came close to producing like the 2nd or 3rd best forward in hockey.

exactly - they lost in the first round to Bruins without Tavares. Then immediately lost in first round to Bruins with Tavares.
Leafs gave up nothing for him. Just dropped him in the line up and fans started planning the parade.
Leafs never improved with him...
Islanders actually improved without him.
Strange but true.

 

[LeafGrief]

Leafs should be walking away from JT, unless he's taking a 75% paycut and passing on the C. That the core guys never show up in the playoffs is the exact sort of thing that you have leadership for. He's not a strong captain who can get the team to rise to his level. Good guy, but not the inspirational leader you need to win an elite tournament.

He's also massively slipped as a player. He's been useless at 5on5 most of this year, an absolute shadow of the dominant 1c he was when he first came to Toronto.

 

[JianYang]

Being pretty good at this point isn't enough to warrant 11 million and the captaincy of the Maple Leafs. He is holding us back from playoffs success at at this point. It's completely bizarre that the captain of the franchise is the one handcuffing the roster and GM from being able to be successful . He is a joke of a captain in terms of grit and leadership. You won't change the hardcore Leaf Nation diehards opinion with a few tap in goals and face off percentage. This is a city who worships Clark , Gilmour and Salming. Players with actual skill , heart and leadership.

Whether it's good enough or not is a completely different can of worms. It should have been expected at the inception that he would no longer be at his peak at this point.

The management's use of the cap has been questioned for a long time. This is where the onus lies, not the player.

 

[PWJunior]

I think some other team offers him too big a deal to say no to. Unless his play REALLY drops off next year to like 35-40 points.

I don't think money would be a consideration for him and his family at this point, he has already earned (will have earned when this contract is up) about $100M in his career. I'm sure he gets some sponsorship money too so that's just gravy.

I think it's Toronto or bust for him.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

Whether it's good enough or not is a completely different can of worms. It should have been expected at the inception that he would no longer be at his peak at this point.

The management's use of the cap has been questioned for a long time. This is where the onus lies, not the player.

This is completely irrelevant. It is far after the fact and his next contract is a big obstacle to navigate through. Right now he can pull his weight and flex the team for more big bucks on small term. NO one wants that. Not the fans , not the new GM and probably not the players in the room who are sick of the roster not being rounded out properly. Blaming the old regime for the original contract is old news. Right now we as fans have to pray Treliving has a nutsack and gets rid of this fraud.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I think it's Toronto or bust for him.

What, like he'd retire? His family can live in Toronto while he spends much of the season traveling anyways.

 

[PWJunior]

What, like he'd retire? His family can live in Toronto while he spends much of the season traveling anyways.

Not retire, but I think he would move heaven and earth to stay in Toronto. If they don't want him and he walks, then it would all be on the Leafs.