Tavares is worth the money, and definitely worth pursuing if he decides to test the waters. I wouldn't blink an eye if the Flames gave him over 12 million a season.
I don't think it is your high-paid players that cripple your ability to field a competitive team. It is your over-priced bottom players like Brouwer. Thankfully, the Flames have a single player that fits that criteria, and it isn't too bad either, at least when compared to some of the crippling contracts league-wide, and with teams that have more than one of these.
Flames are in great shape to offer a huge payday to Tavares. It is starting to seem unlikely that Tavares will get to that point, and if he does, Flames would still be hard-pressed to sign him. However, I would without a doubt support that signing.
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