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Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Signing John Tavares

By Mike Stephens

TORONTO, ON - JULY 1 -(L-R) John Tavares and general manager Kyle Dubas smile during the press conference.The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed John Tavares for seven years, $77 million. July 1, 2018. (Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JULY 1 -(L-R) John Tavares and general manager Kyle Dubas smile during the press conference.The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed John Tavares for seven years, $77 million. July 1, 2018. (Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JULY 1: Kyle Dubas, General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs speaks at a press conference about signing free agent, John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs, as Brendan Shanahan, President of the Toronto Maple Leafs, looks on, at the Scotiabank Arena on July 1, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JULY 1: Kyle Dubas, General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs speaks at a press conference about signing free agent, John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs, as Brendan Shanahan, President of the Toronto Maple Leafs, looks on, at the Scotiabank Arena on July 1, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Christopher Vassos

To answer your question, yes and no. Let me start with the ‘yes’.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had an amazing season last year by anyone’s standards. 105 points and good for 6th in the league. Along with a 2nd ranked powerplay and 11th best penalty kill, they were truly very talented.

Now does that make them a contender? It’s all relative to each person and whether or not they deem the team a contender.

Some people say that you need to have a very high chance of winning. Lets try and define this a little further. Out of the 31 teams, 16 make the playoffs. In theory, all 16 of those teams beat out the bottom 15 for a chance to contend for the Stanley Cup. Right there, technically over half the league are contenders.

What about the 8 teams who win the first round? The 4 teams who make the conference finals? What about the conference champions? Whatever definition of contender YOU use is what will determine whether YOU think the Toronto Maple Leafs are contenders.

Does this one player help out the team substantially? Yes. Even though the Maple Leafs set a franchise record for points last season, can they do better? Yes. Do I think the Toronto Maple Leafs are legitimate contenders for the Stanley Cup? Yes.

Now for the ‘No’ part. I don’t think signing John Tavares made the Toronto Maple Leafs contenders for the Stanley Cup. Because they were already good enough last season.

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