Player Discussion John Tavares: The man, the myth, the legend

[HockeyVirus]

So you do not believe he is playing for his last contract? We saw it last year with Willie and now Marner. Tavares is no different.

I really don't think so. I think he is playing for his pride. He hears what people say and how about he is washed and even talked about it during the All or Nothing documentary years ago.

People were saying just a few months ago you can't bring him back. He's playing for his pride and his leverage to stay in Toronto and get movement protection. I think money means little to him at this point.

 

[BraveCanadian]

He's better now than the day we paid for that contract. Even you have to admit that's kinda impressive/insane. But we've all kinda beat the old contract to death by now.

Statistically better as a Leaf than he was an Islander..??? That's more than most thought was possible, I'd wager.

Baloney

It is just that scoring is up significantly

 

[ToneDog]

I liked the deal from the start but if you had told me on the 7th year of this deal Tavares would be objectively the 3rd best forward on the team and on a 40 goal pace, I would have loved the deal even more. This guy completely lived up to his end of the bargain. The only question is what to sign him for moving forward. Very complicated question. I would hope after getting paid $77M he'd take a team friendly deal, but who knows. Anything more than $4Mx3 and it's a hard no for me no matter how much I like him.

$4m is a pipe dream IMO unless he lays an Ostridge egg in the playoffs.

I really don't think so. I think he is playing for his pride. He hears what people say and how about he is washed and even talked about it during the All or Nothing documentary years ago.

People were saying just a few months ago you can't bring him back. He's playing for his pride and his leverage to stay in Toronto and get movement protection. I think money means little to him at this point.

Agreed he is also playing for pride but IMO money means something to him but it is not the be all and end all for him (he chose home over money), unlike the other 3.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Agreed he is also playing for pride but IMO money means something to him but it is not the be all and end all for him (he chose home over money), unlike the other 3.

I just think he is smart enough to know if he wants the paycheck it won't be in Toronto

 

[nuck]

I just think he is smart enough to know if he wants the paycheck it won't be in Toronto

He has made $110M so I would be surprised if money is his big motivator. New coach is a reset plus the #1c is largely MIA so he has a bigger role. Also I think last season was his career worst ppg so he is either due for a bounce back or another step down. A lot of games left to play before we know how far back he has actually come. It would be nice if they can get both him and Marner back for less than $20M

 

[Sundinisagod]

If he regressed further in year 7 the way he did in year 6, I don't think the Leafs would have even offered him a contract, and it would be very humiliating for him to go seeking a contract elsewhere. Expecting a Tanev style deal to make it work for both sides.

 

[Confucius]

I just think he is smart enough to know if he wants the paycheck it won't be in Toronto

Who would we get for the ≈ 7 million JT Will cost. Looking for almost a point per Game 2nd line center, top 10 faceoff guy, amongst the lead leaders if not thee league leader in winning board battles. If that isn’t worth 7 hard to justify the other 3 at 11.5 and 13. 25.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

$4m is a pipe dream IMO unless he lays an Ostridge egg in the playoffs.

Then I'd wish him well with no hard feelings and spend the money elsewhere. He's 34. It would be lunacy spending more than $4M on him. Spezza and Giordano took league minimum when they were at an advanced age (and played very well for the team). If Tavares wants to be here and on a winning team, he needs to think about taking a discount. Or not, up to him. If I'm the GM, it's a take it or leave it situation depending on the price.

 

[Racer88]

Who would we get for the ≈ 7 million JT Will cost. Looking for almost a point per Game 2nd line center, top 10 faceoff guy, amongst the lead leaders if not thee league leader in winning board battles. If that isn’t worth 7 hard to justify the other 3 at 11.5 and 13. 25.

This may be very true but in my opinion the biggest issue for Tavares would be the length of his contract.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Who would we get for the ≈ 7 million JT Will cost. Looking for almost a point per Game 2nd line center, top 10 faceoff guy, amongst the lead leaders if not thee league leader in winning board battles. If that isn’t worth 7 hard to justify the other 3 at 11.5 and 13. 25.

I'd rather pay a bit more than that for someone who will give us 5+ good years than that to someone who can fall off a cliff any point

 

[PROUD PAPA]

I'd rather pay a bit more than that for someone who will give us 5+ good years than that to someone who can fall off a cliff any point

Who do you have in mind?
Can’t be too long of a list.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Who do you have in mind?
Can’t be too long of a list.

UFA Bennett is obvious but will be hard to get him to come here.. But he might cost 9M and I rather him @9 x 7 than JT at 7x4-5 years. Next option is a center with some term who is a trade target.

 

[Its not your fault]

Have 5 of the best hockey players at one time Leafs have ever had, in my Time. 31 lossers in the league a year. If you can't handle the odds maybe hockey isn't your sport.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Ya.. literally here just means he scored the winning goal in the only playoff series we won. So, literally. He also scored the only other potential series winning goal on a beauty against Tampa in another series too - but you know... Justin Holl got in the way!

Lmaoooooo

Scoring one goal does not literally mean that he won the series. You can lmaooooooo all you like but that doesn't change the meaning of words in the English language.

 

[Its not your fault]

UFA Bennett is obvious but will be hard to get him to come here.. But he might cost 9M and I rather him @9 x 7 than JT at 7x4-5 years. Next option is a center with some term who is a trade target.

So what kinda player you expect in this fantastic trade of yours how many assets do we give up? Is loosing a trade the chance you want to take? Bennett having a career year that's not a point a game. Is your sure thing? Easy to make believe and say your plans better but nothing is tangable here yet.

 

[HockeyVirus]

So what kinda player you expect in this fantastic trade of yours how many assets do we give up? Is loosing a trade the chance you want to take? Bennett having a career year that's not a point a game. Is your sure thing? Easy to make believe and say your plans better but nothing is tangable here yet.

We are filling a 2C hole here not sure what you are trying to say.

And you have to give to get. Avs gave to get Kadri from us. We have assets, can trade futures like Cowan and co to make those deals happen.

I am in favor of getting a good 2C and using the extra cap on depth forwards who can help us

 

[Confucius]

Scoring one goal does not literally mean that he won the series. You can lmaooooooo all you like but that doesn't change the meaning of words in the English language.

Seems like a lot of value is put on game 7 performances, more value than any other game. Scoring a game winner in a game 7 should set aside any notions some have that certain players can’t handle the pressure.

 

[Its not your fault]

We are filling a 2C hole here not sure what you are trying to say.

And you have to give to get. Avs gave to get Kadri from us. We have assets, can trade futures like Cowan and co to make those deals happen.

I am in favor of getting a good 2C and using the extra cap on depth forwards who can help us

Cowen is your big trade chip for a player with 5 maybe seven years of competitive hockey. We lost the Kadri trade which we lose most trades so expect Cowen to give ten to 15 years of competitive hockey. How is that ever aging back end what are you going to trade now to fix that Minten?

 

[HockeyVirus]

Cowen is your big trade chip for a player with 5 maybe seven years of competitive hockey. We lost the Kadri trade which we lose most trades so expect Cowen to give ten to 15 years of competitive hockey. How is that ever aging back end what are you going to trade now to fix that Minten?

You seem really worked up over the suggestion of looking at options instead of overpaying Tavares. Are you his agent or something?

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Scoring one goal does not literally mean that he won the series. You can lmaooooooo all you like but that doesn't change the meaning of words in the English language.

Literally winning it means scoring the winning goal. Twice.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Then I'd wish him well with no hard feelings and spend the money elsewhere. He's 34. It would be lunacy spending more than $4M on him. Spezza and Giordano took league minimum when they were at an advanced age (and played very well for the team). If Tavares wants to be here and on a winning team, he needs to think about taking a discount. Or not, up to him. If I'm the GM, it's a take it or leave it situation depending on the price.

Oh boy. Good thing you're not the GM then..

Spezza and Gio were nowhere near the ppg stud we are talking about here. That is not apples to oranges, that's not even the same food group!! They were literal shadows of their former selves.

Heres your actual comparable --> Stamkos same age, same stats - was 4 yrs at 8M last year. That is the current comparison for JT. So Tone was right - bit of a pipe dream on 4M.

A discount on 8 is something with a 6 hopefully.. but that would be a literal giveaway gift of a hometown discount.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

How did this thing about a player devolve into a contract thread again though??!? Hahaaaaa

Cmon, yall.. we done beat that old narrative to death. Maybe try to appreciate the points, the performance, the resurgence - whatever u wanna call it... this is the same guy he's been since the day he entered the league. It's f'in scary, actually.

Have to admit though - when any of these pro scumbags actually chooses to come home to this mess, tho?? I'm a fan for life, cuz that take some serious cajones.

 

[hotpaws]

I guess we have to re-sign JT to another overpayment so we don't make the same mistake we did by letting Jason ''60pts in 66 games'' Allison go and god forbid we don't bring mumbles back to completely ruin the entire primes of Willie and M&M .

Also how'd it look on his already extremely modest NHL legacy if we let him walk then immediately started making deep playoffs runs like the Islanders did after JT left them .

 

[Its not your fault]

You seem really worked up over the suggestion of looking at options instead of overpaying Tavares. Are you his agent or something?

Seems you just just came, to fullfill self fantasy not talk hockey.

 

[Its not your fault]

I guess we have to re-sign JT to another overpayment so we don't make the same mistake we did by letting Jason ''60pts in 66 games'' Allison go and god forbid we don't bring mumbles back to completely ruin the entire primes of Willie and M&M .

Also how'd it look on his already extremely modest NHL legacy if we let him walk then immediately started making deep playoffs runs like the Islanders did after JT left them .

Islanders didn't win one without him either. What does his stats as a free agent compair to any other free agents since and ten years before. I'm sure he holds his own very well.