It boggles my mind why the media, particularly the Toronto-area media, will go out of their way to protect Tavares or deflect blame from him. They're quicker to criticize guys like Matthews, Marner and especially Nylander, for sub-par performance. But as long as Tavares isn't literally shooting pucks into his own net, they'll find every excuse in the book to protect him.
I don't know if it stems from him being a "Toronto boy" and him being a boy prodigy who came up through the GTA system and they see him as "their guy". But I'll guarantee that if the Leafs lose this series, it'll be guys like Matthews and Marner getting the blame while the media will talk about Tavares "at least trying hard and doing the little things well".
Because there are several reasons
1. Everyone knew Tavares contract would not get better. He is in the back half of it.
2. He has never been a player who is flashy. Matthews and Marner when they are off it is noticeable because they are invisible. Even during Tavares' most dominant stretches, you kind of just realize he was on the ice after he scores. He's always invisible, just grinding, and then somehow produces a point or 2 at the end of the night and you have to think which goals they were on.
3. There is a sympathy to it. Tavares wants to be a Leaf, badly. He came here in the prime of his career, first guy in decades to do so. Life long fan, he wants to bring the cup home. It is very hard to watch a guy who took the abuse he did making that choice, who loves being a Leaf more than anyone, come to terms that he is slowing down in his career. Almost every Leaf fan saw themselves in JT's place, living their dream. Leaf fans REALLY want Tavares to succeed.
4. On top of coming home, he took a discount to do so. And he earned that pay through his years of production. Right after, Nylander holds out, Matthews gets bank, Marner says pay me like Matthews. It just added to his likeability.
Anyways, all I will say is this season was right in line with his career average seasons. Expecting him to be as good as Matthews or Marner is not happening. He'll give you roughly PPG, but nothing more. He has become slow with the rest of the league, but still produces. He is overpaid. But the amount of crap he's taken is also way too much. He is still very much a good player and first liner. Maybe not a center due to his speed next year, but a consistent grinding first liner.
I echo Keefe's thoughts
. Goes on to tell us "Tavares does alot of great things that we dont notice" Then how do you know he did them Gordo . 
