John Tavares Discussion

[leaf14]

I guess he tried harder at the end of the series but still wasn't nearly good enough. So really, he's a perfect rep for this team

How many times did he just fall on his ass from the slightest contact while battling for the puck? I can understand the lack of footspeed but there are sluggish skaters who still have the core strength to stay on their damn skates.

It's not just him. It's 75% of the other player's. that are on there ass from the slightest contact. Not William Nylander, he avoids all contact. I guess he's following covid distancing rules. Avoid all hit's. Another Phil Kessel, total chicken shit

 

[2 Slick]

I'm glad he decided to finally show up five games into the series, but they needed him all seven games in the series, not just for three. He's the captain of this team, if he's not willing to put it all on the line game in and game out in the playoffs, how does that lead by example?

He's not the cause of their demise, but he doesn't receive a participation award from me for doing his job 40% of the series when he's paid the most money on this team and is the Captain. It's his job to put an effort 100% of the time, no excuses.

It's not good enough.

 

[Stephen]

I'm glad he decided to finally show up five games into the series, but they needed him all seven games in the series, not just for three. He's the captain of this team, if he's not willing to put it all on the line game in and game out in the playoffs, how does that lead by example?

He's not the cause of their demise, but he doesn't receive a participation award from me for doing his job 40% of the series when he's paid the most money on this team and is the Captain. It's his job to put an effort 100% of the time, no excuses.

It's not good enough.

You have to think if Tavares was playing the A+ game earlier in the series when Tampa was more vulnerable they could have had a different business like approach in Game 4 and potentially made it 3-1 going home to Toronto. So that was a missed opportunity. Like I say, do the hardest work early, avoid these late series margins and try to close it out. But I'm not the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

 

[DarrylshutzSydor]

Of course, but JT isn't going to relocate his family with a NMC, and even if he was willing to, which other team is taking on that contract? Not to mention Dubas is far too stubborn and loyal to even consider asking.

So his remaining years work out to ann 11 mil cap hit ,but actual salary is 8 million? Someone might take it on if the Leafs retained some money......

 

[Leafblooded]

Gotta love it when aging vets hamstring this team, like 2004 all over again

 

[ponder]

He was decent last year - I’d peg him as worth about $7 mil AAV. The problem is that he makes $11 mil on a team that’s already very top-heavy salary wise, and he’s declining.

I think if we want to have a legit shot at the cup, he’s gotta go. He has a NMC, but hard ass GMs have been able to pressure NMCs into accepting trades, we need a bit of that from Dubas. I would’ve loved for JT to be a part of legit cup contention here, seems like a good Toronto boy, but IMO the reality is that the team can’t truly contend for the cup with his contract weighing us down.

 

[Leafblooded]

They need to find a way to get him off this team. Trade him for a draft pick with no retention. Sign Kadri out of FA for 7 mil. Done deal.

 

[keonsbitterness]

They need to find a way to get him off this team. Trade him for a draft pick with no retention. Sign Kadri out of FA for 7 mil. Done deal.

He said no. Now what?

 

[Stephen]

Those league minimum veteran deals are really essential in balancing out the cap. For example, if Tavares and Giordano are about $8 and $3 million contributions, the $11.8 million total we pay the pair will be okay. But we need to move off Muzzin or Brodie to smooth it all out.

 

[Zur En Arrh]

Tavares is fine. This is why we've never ever had nice things.

 

[BertCorbeau]

They need to find a way to get him off this team. Trade him for a draft pick with no retention. Sign Kadri out of FA for 7 mil. Done deal.

I don’t see how you can think signing Kadri to a long term deal is a good idea

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Tavares is fine. This is why we've never ever had nice things.

He's fine in a vacuum. At that price..... Eh things get dicey.

 

[socko]

He said no. Now what?

 

[keonsbitterness]

View attachment 554525

Ha!

Leafs would have to become a non-playoff team for there to be a Larry Murphy-type scapegoat.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

He's fine in a vacuum. At that price..... Eh things get dicey.

When he is used properly, he is extremely difficult to stop and can put up a ton of goals/points.

The guy still needs something to compliment though. He has never been the kind of guy who just does everything himself. He is the guy who makes his linemates look better... But if his linemates play like crap, there is only so much he can do to dress it up.

The one cold stretch he had in January-February, Nylander was playing even worse. Tavares looked much better in the times he was away from Nylander and he had linemates who were not playing like crap, and once Nylander started playing well again, the combo magically started working again.

You would think with all of the "old school" Leafs fans, they would appreciate what Tavares brings. But I guess since he doesn't throw punches or throw 300 hits a year that it diminishes his value to them.

If we can find him that one guy who can play in front of the net and handle some of the board battles once in a while, but is also able to compliment him and Nylander on the rush, then that line could be deadly. Doesn't even need to be the most skilled guy; even Galchenyuk was able to work fairly well despite being very cheap, and could have been that much better if he had better IQ.

 

[ACC1224]

Tavares is fine. This is why we've never ever had nice things.

We’ve had a ton of ‘nice things’. The struggle they have is knowing what to do with them.

They need to find a way to get him off this team. Trade him for a draft pick with no retention. Sign Kadri out of FA for 7 mil. Done deal.

Completely unrealistic

 

[Morbo]

I think you need to put him back with Marner next season. While 34 and 16 are good together, 88 and 91 don't seem to work. I expect some changes at wing, obviously Bunting will be back but I don't know about Kerfoot Mikheyev or Kase. The mix will change up front regardless.

 

[mapleleafs34]

We literally got fu*ked by a once in a lifetime pandemic.

The cap has gone up a total of 3 million over the last 4 seasons + this upcoming one. To put that in perspective, the year before we signed JT, the cap went up 4.5 million IN ONE YEAR!

If the cap continued to go up at that rate, which every single person at the time thought it would, JT's contract wouldn't look like an anchor.

 

[Gary Nylund]

We literally got fu*ked by a once in a lifetime pandemic.

The cap has gone up a total of 3 million over the last 4 seasons + this upcoming one. To put that in perspective, the year before we signed JT, the cap went up 4.5 million IN ONE YEAR!

If the cap continued to go up at that rate, which every single person at the time thought it would, JT's contract wouldn't look like an anchor.

It was such a no brainer signing at the time, sad that so many are beating Dubas over the head with it as if was a dumb move.

 

[mapleleafs34]

It was such a no brainer signing at the time, sad that so many are beating Dubas over the head with it as if was a dumb move.

Those same people want to trade Tavares and sign soon to be 32 year old Nazem Kadri to a 7 year deal

 

[Gary Nylund]

Those same people want to trade Tavares and sign soon to be 32 year old Nazem Kadri to a 7 year deal

Well, I'm not sure how many there are but I did notice that post advocating signing Kadri for 7 years. I don't even know what to say to that, maybe that it would make the Clarkson signing look like a genius move by comparison?

 

[ACC1224]

Those same people want to trade Tavares and sign soon to be 32 year old Nazem Kadri to a 7 year deal

The very same? How do you know that?

 

[ToneDog]

Well, I'm not sure how many there are but I did notice that post advocating signing Kadri for 7 years. I don't even know what to say to that, maybe that it would make the Clarkson signing look like a genius move by comparison?

Nothing can make the Clarkson signing look genius. Mrazek or Ritchie look good against that deal.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Nothing can make the Clarkson signing look genius. Mrazek or Ritchie look good against that deal.

Genius is maybe overstating it. But a 7 year deal for Naz might smell awfully stinky after a couple of years. And I'm a huge fan of Kadri!

 

[Mess]

Those league minimum veteran deals are really essential in balancing out the cap. For example, if Tavares and Giordano are about $8 and $3 million contributions, the $11.8 million total we pay the pair will be okay. But we need to move off Muzzin or Brodie to smooth it all out.

Agreed to a point on principle of the concept.

But in a perfect World it should really be high priced all-star talent offset by young ELC high-end contributing prospects, because ELC contracts are 3 years and hard capped at less than $1 mil.

Taking a vet like Tavares who has clearly lost a step already and slowing down at $11 mil AAV should really be offset by a 3rd or 4th line young drafted and developed player on his ELC to eventually take his place in 3 years when his deal is up. That also averages to $11 mil + ELC < $1 mil.

While offsetting JT cap hit with a player tied for the oldest active skater in the NHL at age 39 with Gio does lower the average cap hit over 2 players, both are declining assets and this is only another very short-term solution. In theory by your principle of averaging Leafs were already doing that with JT at $11 mil and 37/38 year old Spezza at $850k the past few years = $11.85 mil per 2 players.

Name a young center in the Leafs organization on his ELC that is currently being groomed to be Tavares future replacement, and capable of playing 3rd or 4th line now to offset the cap hit and contribute to a winning team?

Your concept it correct, but execution would be better if it was done through strong drafting and developing rather than welcoming home in the twilight of their careers GTA born players, willing to take league minimum to get to play on the Leafs at the end of their careers.