John Tavares has been an important factor in the success of the Toronto Maple Leafs
When John Tavares announced he was signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs with his cryptic tweet of him sleeping in a Leafs bed with the caption “Not everyday you can live a childhood dream”, fans were in disbelief that the star player chose to play for his hometown team.
Fans were in delight, celebrating and cheering that another superstar has chosen to play for the Leafs which boosted their chances of winning a Stanley Cup. People were calling it the biggest free agent signing in franchise history. Fast forward two years into his Leafs tenure, people are now saying that signing #91 was a mistake and that they shouldn’t have pursued him. The people who are saying that are making a mistake themselves.
In his first year in Toronto, Tavares had the best year of his career.
Toronto Maple Leafs and John Tavares
Tavares played in all 82 games scoring a career-high 47 goals with 41 assists for a career-high 88 points. In his second year, which he was named captain of the most storied franchise in the league, he totaled 60 points (26 goals and 34 assists) in 63 games. (stats hockeydb.com).
He also performed decently well in the playoffs in a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. In 12 playoff games over the past two years, even if the team hasn’t exactly had a lot to show for it.
Not only is Tavares a great player on the ice as well as an important piece to the success of the team, but he’s also an even better person off the ice and a true leader in the clubhouse. Despite only being 29, a relatively young age in the NHL, he’s the right guy to lead a talented young Toronto Maple Leafs team that consists of Auston Matthews (22), Mitch Marner (23), William Nylander (24) and other young players. He’s considered a veteran in the clubhouse and due to his quality leadership traits is the reason why he was named captain.
With the Leafs making changes to their roster (they already did so by shipping Kasperi Kapanen out of Toronto), he’ll be able to adjust to having new faces in the locker room with ease and will welcome the fresh faces with open arms as they aim to achieve the one goal on everyone’s minds, to win a Stanely Cup.
Those that are saying that signing Tavares was a mistake will eat their words quickly as he’ll prove both on and off the ice that he was a great addition to the team.