Editor In Leaf
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Toronto Maple Leafs: For John Tavares Every Goal Is a Career High Now

By James Tanner

UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 26: Toronto Maple Leafs Center John Tavares (91) sets up in front of New York Islanders Goalie Robin Lehner (40) during a game between the New York Islanders and the Calgary Flames on February 26, 2019 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 26: Toronto Maple Leafs Center John Tavares (91) sets up in front of New York Islanders Goalie Robin Lehner (40) during a game between the New York Islanders and the Calgary Flames on February 26, 2019 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs signed John Tavares to the biggest unrestricted free agency contract in NHL history this past July.

As if you need me to tell you this. but it’s worked out perfectly.  The Toronto Maple Leafs sit in 5th place overall, and John Tavares is having a career year.

When he scored his 38th goal of the season on Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers, he tied his career high.

Now like me, I’m betting many of you reading this had to do a double take when you heard that.  Johnny T’s career high was only 38 goals?

I could have sworn it was more.

It is now.

John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs

Tavares set his career high on Saturday, then Wednesday night in an otherwise forgettable game against the Black Hawks, he set it again.

He’s now got 39, and counting.

With 12 games left, it’s going to be hard (not impossible) for him to get 50, but regardless, he’s having one hell of a season.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs single season record is 54 in the 81-82 season, set by Rick Vaive.  If Tavares hit 45 he’ll enter the top ten and tie Wendel Clark.

Tavares is currently on pace for 90 points, but he’ll need 94 to tie Sundin’s best season and squeak into the top-ten.   It’s doable.  At the least, he should surpass his 86 point career high.  (Again, could have sworn it was higher).

Regardless of whether or not he hits 50 goals or 90 points, Tavares season has been fantastic.  And yet, I don’t feel it’s got quite the amount of press that it deserves.

I think that’s probably because he’s not leading the league, going on any bizarre streaks, just showing up and scoring a workman like point per game and goal every other game.  He’s the most quietly effective superstar I’ve ever seen or heard about.

For example, Ovechkin has the league-lead in goals at 46.  That’s impressive, but Tavares leads the NHL in 5v5 goals and that’s harder to do and more impressive. (naturalstattrick.com)

Tavares is also fourth in the NHL with 52 5v5 points. He’s got a 53% CF (if you don’t know about possession stats, that is VERY good) and is a positive differential in all other important stats (shots, scoring chances and goals).  In fact, with Tavares on the ice at even strength, the Leafs have scored an incredible 25 more goals than the opposition.

Next. EIL Roundtable Thoughts on Tavares Signing. dark

People talk more about Freddie Andersen or Morgan Rielly or Mitch Marner when it comes to team MVP, but for my money John Tavares should win it walking away.  Nikita Kucherov has already won the Hart Trophy, but in a normal year where someone didn’t just completely steal it by January, I think we’d be talking about Tavares as a legitimate candidate.

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