[Oling_Roachinen]

Just remember Matt Moulson was a point-per-game player with Tavares too one year. I'm sure Buffalo doesn't regret signing him to a 5M, 5 year contract to play in the AHL.

With respect to Tavares and his teammates that he has carried through the years:

Spoiler!

2012-2013: Moulson (44 points in 47 games), Boyes (35 points in 48 games)

Moulson was a nobody in LA. Islanders bring him over and he plays with Tavares putting up a PPG pace nearly. Traded to Buffalo the next season and goes from a 70 point player to a 35 point player away from Tavares. 4 years later, he's out of the league completely.

Boyes had sucked for several years, comes to the Island for a season and revitalizes his career. Signs in Florida the next year and becomes a 35 point scrub (lockout year he was on pace for 60 points) before disappearing.

2013-2014: Okposo (69 points in 71 games), Vanek (44 points in 47 games)

Okposo had 24 points the season before playing with Neilsen. Instantly, the young player is turned into a PPG player by Tavares.

Vanek signs in Minnesota the year after and puts up 52 points in 80 games. From near PPG to 50 point player the season he leaves Tavares. In fairness, Vanek had good seasons in Buffalo prior.

2014-2015: Okposo (51 points in 60 games)/Lee, Bailey/Kulemin

Both Bailey and Kulemin have better years then the year before but this year
while Lee comes out of nowhere to put up 25 goals. Tavares just plays with everyone really. He puts up 86 points, despite never knowing which 2 anchors he's going to make look like legitimate top liners that night. Only Okposo surpasses 50 points on the team, outside of Tavares.

2015-2016: Okposo (64 points in 79 games), Nelson (26 goals)

Another solid year for Okposo as he hits free agency. Brought in as a player the Sabres were banking on producing 65+ points like he did with the Islanders. Two years later, he's on pace for under 50 points.

Nelson gets his career high 26 goals.

2016-2017: Bailey (56 points in 82 games), Lee (34 goals)

Bailey had 32 points the season before. He hadn't really done anything of note except for the brief time in 2014 when he got to piggyback off Tavares. Pretty much established himself as a 35 point player.

Lee, who had 36 points the year before now has 34 goals playing with Tavares. This year they are on pace for even crazier production. These are 27 and 28 year olds who had done relatively nothing. Lee is in the Rocket Richard race, Bailey has the same PPG as Gaudreau in that top 5. They aren't hitting their stride-they're playing with Tavares.

Moulson/Lee/Bailey/Okposo have all shown they are not capable top liners without Tavares, arguably only Okposo has shown to be maybe a top 6 player. Throw in him playing with projects like Kulemin and Boyes, and the only legit player they have brought in to play with Tavares is Vanek. And he looked lost without Tavares the very next season.

Vanek - bought out after signing with Minnesota
Boyes - bought out after signing with Florida
Moulson - cleared waivers, likely to be bought out
Okposo - 6M for a player who might not reach 50 points is going to look like an albatross contract in 7 years when he's old.

I guess moral of the story is, for all that is holy do not sign anyone who Tavares plays with. Poor sap of a team that is going to get stuck with a 30 point player in Bailey after paying him for point-per-game production or a 15 goal scorer in Lee after Tavares carries him to the Rocket Richard.