Quote:
Originally Posted by dissentowner
For me it is a big no. It is not that he is not an elite first line C but you sign Tavares to a long term 12M/yr deal and all of the sudden there is nothing to go to Bennett, Tkachuk, Ferland, and re-signing Backlund.
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Have you seen his effect on his linemates? He's played with trash his entire career, the likes of Josh Bailey and Anders Lee. But Josh Bailey and Anders Lee are playing at point-per-game pace this year? Yeah, because of Tavares. Both those guys have played with Neilson as their center in recent seasons. Bailey was unable to get to 40 points, he's on pace for 97 with Tavares as his center. Lee scored 15 goals when Neilson was his center. He's on pace for 49 this year.
That same season that Neilson centered Lee and Bailey, Tavares was centering Nelson and Okposo. Okposo put up a 67 point pace, today he is on pace for 47. Nelson put up 26 goals, today he's on pace for 17. In fairness to Nelson he had a decent year last year away from Tavares, but really pretty much any career or anomaly year an Islander has had in the last 10 years, there's a good chance Tavares was their center.
By the time Brodie and Hamilton are up, you have Brouwer, Frolik, Stone and, potentially, Hamonic off the books. You aren't losing them because Tavares signed.
Yeah, Backlund's days are numbered with Tavares. But Tavares-Monahan-Jankowski is far far far greater center depth. And, while I doubt it because of the cap inflation, the loss of Stajan, if Tavares did cause the Flames to lose out on someone like Bennett, I'd be fine with that. Just sign you to a league minimum contract and playing next to Tavares you'll score more goals than Bennett's career high.
It's a pipe dream but the team is instantly better with Tavares on the team regardless of cap constraints or losses without a doubt.
Tkachuk (5M) - Tavares (12M) - Bennett (4M)
Gaudreau (6.8M) - Monahan (6.4M) - Ferland (4M)
Mangiapane/Hathaway (1M) - Jankowski (3M) - Frolik (4.5M)
Brouwer (4.5M)-1-1
0.8
0.8
6.75-5.75
4.65-3.8
Stone (3.5)-0.8
0.8
That's 80M when the cap will be 80M+. You just need to make room for the goalies by moving the likes of Frolik or Stone, buying out Brouwer, or potentially looking at Ferland/Bennet walk.