No Regrets On The Tavares Signing

Équipe: 2020-21 Maple Leafs de Toronto

Date de création initiale: 27 nov. 2020

Publié: 27 nov. 2020

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

I don’t understand how anyone can think the Tavares signing was a mistake. To me, that’s just an irresponsible & uneducated way of evaluating the Leafs’ situation. Tavares is a franchise level center who consistently ranks in the top 2-3% league wide in generating shot attempts & scoring chances. He’s consistently scored at 70-80 point rates on horrendous Islander teams. He is well worth the money. Where the Leafs went wrong was:

1. Not trading Kadri while he had peak value for a number 1 defenceman. They could’ve easily sent Kadri, a prospect & a 1st for a top tier defenceman like Hamilton, Spurgeon or Ellis.

2. Overpay Marner by around 2 million. With that extra cap space, the Leafs could've easily afforded to add a top right-handed defenceman.

People are being too harsh on a superstar for having 1 season below his usual expectation (still scored at a 34 goal 78 point pace). It’s easy to look at his age and cap hit and be influenced that he is the problem, but oftentimes we need to go deeper than that.

In conclusion, the Leafs got a franchise level number 1 center for free. He is still in his prime and there should be no regrets about his signing whatsoever.

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