Is Tavares worth his contract?

[Mickey Marner]

Is he worth being the 2nd highest player in the league? No, but he's definitely worth 9+. I could find a worse allocation of ~11 million in cap space on every team in the league, including the Leafs. If you're going to spend near the cap limit, might as well spend it on players who are actually good at hockey. Otherwise you're just overpaying Milan Lucic, Andy MacDonald, Kyle Okposo etc.

 

[redwings25]

if jt is worth his contract Mathews is worth 15

 

[Connor McConnor]

This has been JT his whole career. Streaky AF player who often disappears for long stretches of games until he explodes and reminds everyone how good he can be. He still plays a solid game and demands the other team's attention even when he's off. Wouldn't read too much into it. Although I will say that it's his streakiness that makes him fall outside the top 10-12C for me.

 

[seabass45]

This is who he is as a player. He occasionally has spells where he doesn't produce but then he'll do something ridiculous and you'll be like "oh that's why he got 11 mil". It's fine.

 

[islesjuncky]

Ooooohhhhh I cant wait for leafs fans to booo him out of there!! Phil Kessel treatment anyone?

 

[nickschultzfan]

No he is garbage. Now trade him to my team immediately!

 

[AuraSphere]

He's really not, I think he's the 3rd best player on the team after Marner and Matthews

 

[Kelly]

He's really not, I think he's the 3rd best player on the team after Marner and Matthews

So far this year definitely.

But if you can add a player like JT for nothing but $$$ you do it all day erry day.

Honestly, Marner has been better on both sides of the rink, which I think says more about Mitch than Tavares. #16 really is a spectacular player of hockey.

 

[Claypool]

There are very few players in the league I would pay $11 million a season for and John Tavares certainly isn't one of them.

 

[CodeE]

Yeah, if he's on one of his lazy cold streaks and Matthews isn't healthy to pick up the slack, you're gonna lose a chunk of games until a few weeks later where he'll have a 4-point night in a 6-1 whooping of some other team. But until then, get ready for more 2-1 losses like the one against Dallas last night.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Everyone should know how a Tavares season unfolds by now. He always gets his share of the points.

 

[denis5]

This is what he's always been -- hot and cold; you just have to hope that the cold streak doesn't last six weeks, as they sometimes have. However, while everyone is evaluating him on his offense, the biggest negative is his play in the defensive end. His lack of awareness on the Stars 2nd goal pretty much cost the Leafs the game. Get used to it, because that's also how he's always been. If his offense is putting enough points up to balance that out, you live with it. But otherwise ....

 

[Bood12]

no way, I thought he was nothing more than a 9 Million a year guy, Leafs fans who are thinking they are going to have another Matthews on their team are in for an awakening

 

[Axel574]

This is who he is as a player. He occasionally has spells where he doesn't produce but then he'll do something ridiculous and you'll be like "oh that's why he got 11 mil". It's fine.

Also... JT has got some clutch factor as well, seen it many times. (Unless it's a shootout )

 

[JT Kreider]

So far this year definitely.

But if you can add a player like JT for nothing but $$$ you do it all day erry day.

Honestly, Marner has been better on both sides of the rink, which I think says more about Mitch than Tavares. #16 really is a spectacular player of hockey.

It's eerily similar to Stanton and the Yankees. When an elite player practically falls into your lap, you can't turn that down. Even if it's a pretty redundant move that just makes your strength even stronger, but doesn't fill the holes you should be addressing instead.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

on one hand, he is on pace for a career high in points. On the other hand, he failed to impress Mitts888 in the game last night. I'm going to say no, he's not worth it

 

[rfournier103]

Let’s take a breath, here. It’s November 2nd and the Leafs are tied for second in the division - one point out. Remain calm.

I understand that some posters here were very excited about Tavares and the Toronto lineup, but let’s get a hold of ourselves here. If he’ still slumping at Christmas, then you can worry.

 

[POVERTY]

Based on the sample size of one game, no he is not.

 

[Phil68]

Find a center better than Tavares not names McDavid, Crosby, Malkin, McKinnon, who can carry a team on their backs alone

 

[JT Kreider]

Find a center better than Tavares not names McDavid, Crosby, Malkin, McKinnon, who can carry a team on their backs alone

Bergeron, Kopitar are better than Tavares. Matthews too. Kuznetsov too. Scheifele? You could make a case for Backstrom, Seguin, Giroux, Getzlaf, etc.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Overpaid on the Leafs, wouldn't be on some other teams. The reality is I don't think the Leafs needed to be paying some guy 11 million a season to be a supporting player. On another team he would be more heavily relied on and might be worth the 11 million (although I think 11 million for Tavares is a bit high but to each their own).

 

[TheNumber4]

He’s about 2.5 M overpaid looking at production and his on ice contributions.

 

[Phil68]

None even sir.. Hyped up centers playing with elite wingers. Tavares has taken the Islanders to the playoffs playing with no one on his wing. Matt Moulson and Kyle Okposo aren't exactly top players.. Look at the centers you names.. Who were/are the wingers playing with them...

 

[Rehabguy]

But having the opportunity to live your childhood dream is priceless. I'm sure JT would have taken more if they offered.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Before the season I thought that Tavares was still going to be better than Matthews for a couple seasons but it's clear now I was wrong