No he actually hasn't been. he's a career 75 point player, who when he signed his deal 6 years ago became the second highest paid player in the league. Now, you can say that was the going rate for a UFA of his caliber at that time, I would disagree with you, but I could see your argument. but that then completely negates what you are trying to say that people will take discounts to play for their beloved Leafs, which Tavares most certainly did not.
There is a delusional line of thinking from Leaf land by some of their fans that players constantly take discounts to sign there, in Tavares case he signed for significantly more than market value.
The only thing I can think of is that the fans there, the moment a player a signs with the Leafs, significantly inflate that players worth to make it sound it like it was some kind of a discount.
the only players that have signed there that took any real "discounts" if you even want to call it that, are either washed up or way past their primes and get by on name recognition ala Thornton, Spezza and Giordano...even Marleau was a significant over pay for someone who was already past his prime.
