John Tavares Discussion

[GreatSaveEssensa]

How do you get JT to sign off on being traded?

By running him outta town obviously. But he doesn't deserve that. TO media (and fans) can be ruthless

 

[GreatSaveEssensa]

If I were Shanahan or Dubas I would just sit him down, and honestly express my concerns with his play, tell him it’s not working and propose to end the relationship. And the terms if he accepts. Possible destinations and take it from there.

You think there will be a lineup out the door of teams who want an aging, slow, 11 million $ player? Those that could afford him are the bottom dwellers and Tavares isnt waiving his NMC for them. Dont you remeber the bed sheets thing? He’s a Leaf for life now.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

By running him outta town obviously. But he doesn't deserve that. TO media (and fans) can be ruthless

It has already started .. da media guys all heard a few TO fans in Tampa calling out Keefer loudly to sit JT .. I could not believe it but it has started .. and it will get worse in game 5 at home but it will likely come from 2nd deck to Keefer as not likely any suits will do it

 

[Dreakmur]

By running him outta town obviously. But he doesn't deserve that. TO media (and fans) can be ruthless

TO media and fans are pretty tame.

 

[Stephen]

You think there will be a lineup out the door of teams who want an aging, slow, 11 million $ player? Those that could afford him are the bottom dwellers and Tavares isnt waiving his NMC for them. Dont you remeber the bed sheets thing? He’s a Leaf for life now.

If I were running the Leafs, I wouldn’t let bed sheets determine how to run my program. I would pursue the discussion of moving on from him and see what’s possible and it would be professional and quiet but honest.

This conversation is pretty standard. The Winnipeg Jets are having multiple conversations about moving on from Wheeler, Scheifele, Hellebuyck, Heinola and everything not bolted to the ground so let’s not make it a Toronto conversation.

 

[John Mandalorian]

If I were Shanahan or Dubas I would just sit him down, and honestly express my concerns with his play, tell him it’s not working and propose to end the relationship. And the terms if he accepts. Possible destinations and take it from there.

How much would you retain?

 

[Stephen]

How much would you retain?

I would try to get feelers on how many destinations would be acceptable to JT and if there’s a path forward put together a sliding scale of compensation strategies.

1) Toxic contract for JT straight across.
2) Combination of draft pick x retention with no contract back. The higher the pick compensation the lower the retention. I’d ballpark the retention at $2.5 million max since we could easily thrive with $8.5 in free cap space.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I would try to get feelers on how many destinations would be acceptable to JT and if there’s a path forward put together a sliding scale of compensation strategies.

1) Toxic contract for JT straight across.
2) Combination of draft pick x retention with no contract back. The higher the pick compensation the lower the retention. I’d ballpark the retention at $2.5 million max since we could easily thrive with $8.5 in free cap space.

Next year JT's salary drops to a very reasonable 7.9m, I think there are many teams out there who are not up against the cap who would be interested in adding him for that.

Even a team like Ottawa may make sense for him. I think he would be a great fit for them @7.95m x 3.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

TO media and fans are pretty tame.

Depends on who you are and what is going on. What other fanbase threw waffles at their players?

 

[Dreakmur]

Depends on who you are and what is going on. What other fanbase threw waffles at their players?

Those Leaf teams got off easy with a couple waffles.

 

[VanW27]

Next year JT's salary drops to a very reasonable 7.9m, I think there are many teams out there who are not up against the cap who would be interested in adding him for that.

Even a team like Ottawa may make sense for him. I think he would be a great fit for them @7.95m x 3.

View attachment 543260

7.95 x 3 with 7.04 paid by the Leafs on July 1st. So 16.81 over the next 3 years (averages out to 5.6 per year).

There'd be interest, no need to retain - whether or not Tavares would waive or Dubas would even ask is the real question.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Next year JT's salary drops to a very reasonable 7.9m, I think there are many teams out there who are not up against the cap who would be interested in adding him for that.

Even a team like Ottawa may make sense for him. I think he would be a great fit for them @7.95m x 3.

View attachment 543260

You think Ottawa would spend another 8 mil on a player? Can't see that happening. They're broke.

 

[Stephen]

I think there are a lot of organizations that think they’re smarter than Toronto and maybe they are. Taking on a “JT was treated unfairly” could be someone else’s pet project. St. Louis, Philly, Boston, Rangers, all are welcome.

 

[keonsbitterness]

How do you get JT to sign off on being traded?

Make sure the Leafs are a non-playoff team in year 7 of his contract and move him at the deadline to chase a Cup. Wouldn't that be a really fun season?

 

[VanW27]

You think Ottawa would spend another 8 mil on a player? Can't see that happening. They're broke.

Tavares (3 years and 16.81 million total)

for

Colin White (3 year and 15.75 million total)

Sens get the much better player, White is a dump who maybe can rebuild his value if you're lucky, Tavares is still a quality player (76 pts this year), just not worth anywhere near the cap hit. Add picks/prospects/players as needed to balance out the trade value.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

The Sharks can have him at a discount if they're still interested

 

[GreatSaveEssensa]

If I were running the Leafs, I wouldn’t let bed sheets determine how to run my program. I would pursue the discussion of moving on from him and see what’s possible and it would be professional and quiet but honest.

This conversation is pretty standard. The Winnipeg Jets are having multiple conversations about moving on from Wheeler, Scheifele, Hellebuyck, Heinola and everything not bolted to the ground so let’s not make it a Toronto conversation.

I’m not sure what the Jets has to do with the fact that Tavares has a NMC and is making 11 million a year.

Also the Jets are not talking at all about getting rid of anyone you mentioned other than maybe Scheifle, who at 6 mil per is a way easier move than JT

Obviously the Leafs can attempt to move him, but at the end of the day they actually have no say in if they can or not.

 

[Stephen]

I’m not sure what the Jets has to do with the fact that Tavares has a NMC and is making 11 million a year.

Also the Jets are not talking at all about getting rid of anyone you mentioned other than maybe Scheifle, who at 6 mil per is a way easier move than JT

Obviously the Leafs can attempt to move him, but at the end of the day they actually have no say in if they can or not.

When players don’t fit and their teams underachieve, discussions of change are normal topics, NMC or not. Don’t characterize this as a Toronto problem.

 

[GreatSaveEssensa]

When players don’t fit and their teams underachieve, discussions of change are normal topics, NMC or not. Don’t characterize this as a Toronto problem.

I’m not. The fact the thread is about John Tavares, who is a Maple Leaf is.

 

[IPS]

7.95 x 3 with 7.04 paid by the Leafs on July 1st. So 16.81 over the next 3 years (averages out to 5.6 per year).

There'd be interest, no need to retain - whether or not Tavares would waive or Dubas would even ask is the real question.

If the Leafs lose this series with Tavares going at this rate things are going to get very toxic towards him in the dressing room.

 

[Toene]

Ppg, two way centers that are elite on faceoffs are replacement level players now?

He hasn't been PPG in the last 3 seasons.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Tavares (3 years and 16.81 million total)

for

Colin White (3 year and 15.75 million total)

Sens get the much better player, White is a dump who maybe can rebuild his value if you're lucky, Tavares is still a quality player (76 pts this year), just not worth anywhere near the cap hit. Add picks/prospects/players as needed to balance out the trade value.

Sure. I just want out of that Tavares contract.

 

[Rehabguy]

Hey so don't take this as a trolling post because it's not.

So after Tavares left our team I don't think there was a NYI fan who hated him more. I even went by the username FUJudas91 here on HFboards. I absolutely hated the guy. Thought him as a gutless puke betrayer of a player completely disloyal to his fans. I laughed when he got knocked out last year by accident thinking to myself karma is a b**tch when it happened.

But I have to say, after watching the Lightning game last night was the first time my emotions changed on the guy. It was after he accidently bumped into Vasilevsky and the Lightning players face washed him, grabbed him like a ragdoll and punched him in the face without a single response from the Leafs players. The first emotion I felt was anger. Seeing him with his helmet off getting punched I was infuriated that another team was doing that to "our" Captain. I wanted to see that Lightning player jumped and pummeled by an Islander. And then I thought to myself, "wait a minute that was weird". So the emotions for our former leader were still there though in the subconscious. Then at that moment I felt complete pity for the guy as I watched this Lightning team systematically take apart the childhood dream that he was now Captain of. What was once a childhood dream was now becoming a nightmare. If the Leafs don't make it past this first round I can only imagine how the Toronto media will swoop down on Tavares like vultures taking pics at his mutilated body. If these boards are any indication, the hate for JT will continue to grow if they don't start winning some playoff rounds.

And I think it will be at that moment where John Tavares completely understands the depth of his mistake and the Leaf Nation will completely understand the depth of theirs. He doesn't belong in Toronto. He never did. We told you this at the time of his departure. He was never a fast skater and because of that he would not fit into your system. He would age and his contract would be a liability. There was no need for more offense on the Leafs and his contract would leave the team imbalanced to the point they would not have the players they needed to make a true Cup run.

He could have however been an important player on today's Islander team in the present and near future regardless of his slow skating because the Isles grinding defensive style fits in perfectly with Tavares' style of play. You don't have to be a fast skater just defensive minded and good positionally under Trotz's system. The players the Islanders acquired were acquired to complement JT's style. He was the Islander's best offensive player and he still would be if he was still on the Isles. There was no better Captain our team would have wanted and he was always the difference maker, the game breaker in big playoff series against teams like the Pens and Panthers. Watching him skating around like he's skating in molasses compared to the Leafs players is hard to watch but he's not skating any slower than he did when he was an Islander. He was always this slow. He still has his winning instincts. I think that little push the Leafs gave last night with Nylander's two goals was from JT's leadership and hard play.

But the betrayal is now complete and neither team has benefitted from it. The Islanders do not have the player(s)/picks we should have had to make up for JT if he was honest with the team and the Islander's lack of offense is glaringly obvious when your #1 offensive weapon just get's up and walks away. Your team is now, as expected saddled by a bloated contract with a player that doesn't fit your system or needs.

This all said, I have to finally say I am over with JT's betrayal. I believe he CAN lead the Leafs through the playoffs to win the Cup if the Leafs use his abilities appropriately. The Leafs as a team are way too soft. (What the heck was with that Nylander guy letting up to not get hit?) The Leafs are too soft and they have no answer to the Bolts physicality. If they don't win this series it simply was because they were afraid of the Bolts. They don't want to get hit but want to play pond hockey. John Tavares is not scared of being hit (or punched for that matter) He can lead by example if the rest of the team is prepared to watch. John Tavares is not being utilized correctly. John Tavares is a grinder like player. He's not a run and gun player. He was trained that way and played that way his entire professional career. I've seen him take a game over all by himself with a big goal here or there. He needs to be planted near the right side goal post or anywhere in front of the net to be effective. He's a Dave Andreychuk style player. He's not Crosby. So I wouldn't give up totally on him yet. He's the player with the most character on your team right now even though he can't skate a lick. I live in Tampa so you would think I would be a Tampa fan. I am not especially since they were the team that stopped my Isles Cup run the past 2 years. I would like to see the Leafs at the very least take this series, so I am rooting for you guys this round.

 

[Zorf]

Next year JT's salary drops to a very reasonable 7.9m, I think there are many teams out there who are not up against the cap who would be interested in adding him for that.

Even a team like Ottawa may make sense for him. I think he would be a great fit for them @7.95m x 3.

View attachment 543260

Perspective from a Sens fan: unless a new ow er comes and wants to flash money around, it won't happen.

Sens need to sign Norris this year and Stützle next year, and I would imagine the plan is to roll with them as the 1-2 centres for the next 7+ years.

Unless JT is willing to play wing, I don't think it's a fit.

 

[killer1980]

My dear ole Pappy used to say, " Don't get mad at the employee, get mad at the idiot that hired him."