Rumor: TOR and John Tavares close to a deal: 3 years at 7 million

[Suntouchable13]

Whoa whoa whoa, don't let the truth get in the way of this Tavares blows circle jerk.


If you look at 3 x 7 objectively, which seems to be incredibly difficult to do here, it's pretty good for both sides. Is it a huge discount? No. Could Tavares get more than that on the open market? Likely, just look at the comparable players.

Of the four guys closest to him in PPG this year, the average salary of the three guys not on a rookie contract is 7.9 million dollars. If you look at the guys above his production... well, let's not because they are averaging more than that.

If you look at comparable guys and their contracts, Joe Pavelski is the closest (which is why his name keeps coming up). He got this exact deal under a lower salary cap (and actually produced less, but scored more goals, than JT is so far this year). Anze Kopitar is another, he got 2 x 7, but he was also 37 (and made 10 million a year through his 34-36 aged years).

I know no one is excited to hear this news, but objectively speaking (which sweet lord is how I hope Treliving is looking at things), 3 x 7 for JT is actually pretty good. If there is another option out there that is as good (or better) for that kind of price tag, by all means, let's go exploring... but what does that list look like? Sam Bennett has never scored 30 goals or 50 points in the league. The only time Tavares has been under 50 points is a strike shortened season and over the last three years plus this, Tavares has 31 more goals than him. Yanni Gourde has gotten to more than 50 points once in his career, 2017-18 in Tampa, and has never scored more than 25 points. Matt Duchene is probably the best bet? If you think you can get him for anywhere close to his current salary (3.5), aren't you signing two centres? Hell, don't we have to sign two centres?

This is all to say, I get why fans are emotional, but that doesn't mean that this contract rumour is wildly off base, it's actually pretty great value for the team that signs it.

Who cares about the points? It's not what this is about. We have won one series with him. It's not all his fault, but he is not a great leader. He is not gritty. And in the playoffs, he is useless (the one OT goal not withstanding) He is just an older player who is just gonna keep regressing. You keep bringing up points, but you know they aren't everything. You tell him "thanks for your service, now F off" That’s impolite, sorry, but I am just sick of running it back over and over again.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Fire Brad and Shanahan already

Seriously, I don't know if I have it in me to watch ANOTHER season of this core.

 

[kevsh]

May 2024:
“There’s no complacency. We’re not here to sell jerseys. We’re here to win" - Keith Pelley

And I called B.S. then, suggesting at the very least he left out a key part of the mandate: "We're here to win ... with this core."

That's why he got the job, just like Treliving. The first requirement for both: Acceptance that the stars aren't going anywhere. Second, do your best to surround these guys with enough talent to win. (And if they don't win we'll just fire the coach, GM, president, etc. to give the appearance of accountability)

And that is why in the case of Matthews & Nylander, and now looking like Tavares and Marner they didn't wait to see how things unfolded in any post-season before trying to re-sign them. Because playoff success has zero bearing on MLSE's decision to bring these guys back, never has.

So in regards to JT my only hope then is the shortest term possible so we can move on from this era as quick as possible. 3 years is probably the best we can hope for then.

Okay, I've beaten this drum to death, I know.

 

[thewave]

Fire Brad and Shanahan already

Seriously, I don't know if I have it in me to watch ANOTHER season of this core.

They are going to saddle the fanbase because they think they will be upset if the familiar names move on.

This organization is such a laughable joke. Corporate Canada are a bunch of kooks.

 

[thewave]

May 2024:
“There’s no complacency. We’re not here to sell jerseys. We’re here to win" - Keith Pelley

And I called B.S. then, suggesting at the very least he left out a key part of the mandate: "We're here to win ... with this core."

That's why he got the job, just like Treliving. The first requirement for both: Acceptance that the stars aren't going anywhere. Second, do your best to surround these guys with enough talent to win. (And if they don't win we'll just fire the coach, GM, president, etc. to give the appearance of accountability)

And that is why in the case of Matthews & Nylander, and now looking like Tavares and Marner they didn't wait to see how things unfolded in any post-season before trying to re-sign them. Because playoff success has zero bearing on MLSE's decision to bring these guys back, never has.

So in regards to JT my only hope then is the shortest term possible so we can move on from this era as quick as possible. 3 years is probably the best we can hope for then.

Okay, I've beaten this drum to death, I know.

Lol Pelley with the ultimate tell. Let me just project some more.

 

[NJG]

Who cares about the points? It's not what this is about. We have won one series with him. It's not all his fault, but he is not a great leader. He is not gritty. And in the playoffs, he is useless (the one OT goal not withstanding) He is just an older player who is just gonna keep regressing. You keep bringing up points, but you know they aren't everything. You tell him "thanks for your service, now F off" That’s impolite, sorry, but I am just sick of running it back over and over again.

Exactly, it’s not just about points—it’s about what else you bring to the table. Aside from getting points, he’s good at faceoffs, and that’s pretty much it. A lot of guys can put up points, and a lot of guys are good at faceoffs while doing much more than just that.

 

[ToneDog]

Fire Brad and Shanahan already

Seriously, I don't know if I have it in me to watch ANOTHER season of this core.

Personally, I can't wait to watch our bottom 6 in action after watching the 4 Nations Face-off.

Exactly, it’s not just about points—it’s about what else you bring to the table. Aside from getting points, he’s good at faceoffs, and that’s pretty much it. A lot of guys can put up points, and a lot of guys are good at faceoffs while doing much more than just that.

Any intelligent GM will look for better options before signing Tavares for $7mmx3.

 

[thewave]

Personally, I can't wait to watch our bottom 6 in action after watching the 4 Nations Face-off.


Any intelligent GM will look for better options before signing Tavares for $7mmx3.

He'll yeah. 7m JT is about as dumb as limited NMC and term for Domi

 

[ToneDog]

He'll yeah. 7m JT is about as dumb as limited NMC and term for Domi

I like Tre's vision when it comes to building a team but when it comes to negotiating with the 3 clowns, he's not much better than a rookie GM.

 

[Gallagbi]

MLSE is a business. They won't let Tavares and Marner walk without a backup plan. Need to keep the cash flowin

What financial impact do you think those two walking would cause?

I like Tre's vision when it comes to building a team but when it comes to negotiating with the 3 clowns, he's not much better than a rookie GM.

What's his vision? I've struggled to read and articulate it.

 

[ACC1224]

What financial impact do you think those two walking would cause?

It would have a positive impact as there would be new jerseys to sell.

 

[Gallagbi]

It would have a positive impact as there would be new jerseys to sell.

That was my thought.

 

[ACC1224]

That was my thought.

Selling jerseys is just another poorly held thought.
Re-signing guys is the worse way to sell more jerseys.

 

[thewave]

Selling jerseys is just another poorly held thought.
Re-signing guys is the worse way to sell more jerseys.

When people say Jerseys, they mean the players brand or name recognition. Ad spots on TV etc.

 

[Gallagbi]

Selling jerseys is just another poorly held thought.
Re-signing guys is the worse way to sell more jerseys.

I also thought jersey says we're shared, so player movement would actually increase their revenue (and everyone's).

Maybe that's changed

 

[HockeyVirus]

They are going to saddle the fanbase because they think they will be upset if the familiar names move on.

This organization is such a laughable joke. Corporate Canada are a bunch of kooks.

I never thought this team could push me to become a casual fan who follows other teams in the regular season but I am almost there if our season ends as expected with no changes.

I LOVE the team but I need hope that something can be different. 10 years of the same result with no changes...That is a lot to ask of me. Been a fan of this team for over 30 years, 99% of those years they have been losers with no chance of winning anything nevermind being a playoff team.

It's only a matter of time before they tune out Berube as well. And it has to be the most boring hockey I have ever watched.

 

[thusk]

Personally, I can't wait to watch our bottom 6 in action after watching the 4 Nations Face-off.


Any intelligent GM will look for better options before signing Tavares for $7mmx3.

Looking for better option... okay but can goes both way...

Better option, wich option will really be better and want to play in Toronto? One of city in bottom 10-15 of a majority of NHL player...

Toronto is not a florida team who can let player gone for nothing and convince easily someone else to step in, so you can't hope working the same way.

Try your chance can also mean great chance to get no fish at the end...

 

[Fogelhund]

Any intelligent GM will look for better options before signing Tavares for $7mmx3.

"Better Options"

Bennett, Granlund and Gourde. None are "better" than Tavares right now.

Bennett has some nice intangibles, but both he and Granlund will sign for more than Tavares, and provide less. Bennett's game is going to deteriorate fairly quickly, playing a heavy style, and Granlund is only 17 months younger than Tavares. Gourde's game is already deteriorating.

If the Leafs can find a way to have Tavares cap hit around $5.xx, with some deferred money making it like $7mil, there is no replacement that will be better, and cheaper.

This better is a fantasy.

Now, we just want to go in a different direction, even if that makes us theoretically worse... ya, sure.. .that's a story. But I do believe, if somehow management sees we need to change directions, C isn't the position to do that, winger probably is.

 

[GoonieFace]

JT at $5 mil/year for 3 years would be easy to swallow as a 3rd line centre. He is still productive despite being slow as molasses. $7mil is a little less appealing

 

[hullsy47]

May 2024:
“There’s no complacency. We’re not here to sell jerseys. We’re here to win" - Keith Pelley

And I called B.S. then, suggesting at the very least he left out a key part of the mandate: "We're here to win ... with this core."

That's why he got the job, just like Treliving. The first requirement for both: Acceptance that the stars aren't going anywhere. Second, do your best to surround these guys with enough talent to win. (And if they don't win we'll just fire the coach, GM, president, etc. to give the appearance of accountability)

And that is why in the case of Matthews & Nylander, and now looking like Tavares and Marner they didn't wait to see how things unfolded in any post-season before trying to re-sign them. Because playoff success has zero bearing on MLSE's decision to bring these guys back, never has.

So in regards to JT my only hope then is the shortest term possible so we can move on from this era as quick as possible. 3 years is probably the best we can hope for then.

Okay, I've beaten this drum to death, I know.

Pelley another pidgeon

 

[Da Mash]

I have no issue with JT here another 3 yrs at 7 mil

He is a point a game player who wins faceoffs and is always in the dirty area.

I get a chuckle from some of the comments here like they know how to be a GM of a NHL club.

Tre dealing with the core is what every GM in this league would do. Agents are not fools.

We struggled to find another center and we want JT to just walk? and we may lose Marner too?

How many 2nd or 3rd line centers are in this league that are better than JT? and will play for 7 mil with the cap going up? The grass isnt always greener on the other side.

I understand the frustration but signing JT to a 3 yr contract for 7 mil wont be the reason this team will struggle. Tre has more work to do in other areas IMHO

Concerning JT speed.......why do fans want ROR then? he is slower but concerning some here he is just the guy we need.....even though the first time here he wasnt that great and just made the top six slower.

 

[notbias]

Shouldn't he take a huge discount to make up for being highly overpaid the last 7 years while accomplishing nothing?

Shockingly, you don't set the market, so, unfortunately, he may think he already did us a favour by taking a discount to sign here.

I don't want him at 7 mil/year (5-6 seems right), but that is also the market rate for someone like him, unfortunately.

 

[hotpaws]

Whoa whoa whoa, don't let the truth get in the way of this Tavares blows circle jerk.


If you look at 3 x 7 objectively, which seems to be incredibly difficult to do here, it's pretty good for both sides. Is it a huge discount? No. Could Tavares get more than that on the open market? Likely, just look at the comparable players.

Of the four guys closest to him in PPG this year, the average salary of the three guys not on a rookie contract is 7.9 million dollars. If you look at the guys above his production... well, let's not because they are averaging more than that.

If you look at comparable guys and their contracts, Joe Pavelski is the closest (which is why his name keeps coming up). He got this exact deal under a lower salary cap (and actually produced less, but scored more goals, than JT is so far this year). Anze Kopitar is another, he got 2 x 7, but he was also 37 (and made 10 million a year through his 34-36 aged years).

I know no one is excited to hear this news, but objectively speaking (which sweet lord is how I hope Treliving is looking at things), 3 x 7 for JT is actually pretty good. If there is another option out there that is as good (or better) for that kind of price tag, by all means, let's go exploring... but what does that list look like? Sam Bennett has never scored 30 goals or 50 points in the league. The only time Tavares has been under 50 points is a strike shortened season and over the last three years plus this, Tavares has 31 more goals than him. Yanni Gourde has gotten to more than 50 points once in his career, 2017-18 in Tampa, and has never scored more than 25 points. Matt Duchene is probably the best bet? If you think you can get him for anywhere close to his current salary (3.5), aren't you signing two centres? Hell, don't we have to sign two centres?

This is all to say, I get why fans are emotional, but that doesn't mean that this contract rumour is wildly off base, it's actually pretty great value for the team that signs it.

if you look at it objectively you'd realize JT like Stamkos last couple of seasons in Tampa was the product of playing with elite offensive players so why should the team grossly overpay him again ?

the f***ing turd does nothing but hang around the crease slot waiting to be fed so i have no idea what people see when they watch the game , then comes the playoffs where he does nothing but hey that's okay too since some people it seems believe the world come to an end if we don't give him another overpayment

 

[Confucius]

Shockingly, you don't set the market, so, unfortunately, he may think he already did us a favour by taking a discount to sign here.

I don't want him at 7 mil/year (5-6 seems right), but that is also the market rate for someone like him, unfortunately.

Well Hopefully Marner follows the same plan and also takes 4 million less,, we then can start adding players

 

[Fogelhund]

if you look at it objectively you'd realize JT like Stamkos last couple of seasons in Tampa was the product of playing with elite offensive players so why should the team grossly overpay him again ?

the f***ing turd does nothing but hang around the crease slot waiting to be fed so i have no idea what people see when they watch the game , then comes the playoffs where he does nothing but hey that's okay too since some people it seems believe the world come to an end if we don't give him another overpayment

If you honestly have watched Stamkos, and JT the last few years, and are comparing them as similar.... hmmm. alright. Enough said. Terrible take.