With every passing game, Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares is making a strong case for the Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF).
For the past 15 years, Tavares has delivered on every team he's played on. He was named to the 2014 Olympics roster for Team Canada, but unfortunately suffered an injury that forced him out of action. That team went onto win the Gold Medal that year, but I feel like if he was healthy, he would have been a difference-maker and some of his critics may have looked at him differently.
However, for the course of his career, his team's underachievement's has devalued his individual success. Personally, I have looked past the fact that Tavares has only played in the Second Round twice in his career and have looked at the player who consistently performs during an 82-game regular season, because that playoff failure is never one individual's fault.
When he joined the Leafs in 2018, many of us fans felt a joy that we'd never felt before. One of the NHL's best players chose to come home and play in Toronto for the first time in forever and by doing so, we all thought a new leaf was turning over. It felt like this signing would help push the Leafs towards a Stanley Cup, but the team has failed to live up to the hype.
It's possible that this year will be different, but it's tough to say that will happen until we see it. However, that playoff failure should not deny the fact that the Leafs signed a future HHOF player back in 2018.
When you look at the HHOF and the most recent inductees, Tavares is on-pace with Daniel Alfresson and Jeremy Roenick. Alfredsson finished his career with 444 goals, 1157 points in 1246 games played, while Roenick had 513 goals, 1216 points in 1363 games played.
Tavares Should Be Inducted Into HHOF
As it currently stands, Tavares has 477 goals, 1085 points in 1157 games played. Currently in his 16th season, if Tavares plays for another four years, and is healthy, even if I'm being conservative, he'll most likely finish his career around these numbers: 582 goals and 1354 points, around 1400 games played.
Even if Tavares doesn't win a Stanley Cup or represents his country again, those numbers are HHOF numbers. To compare him to a former Leafs great who also never won a Stanley Cup, he'd basically be Mats Sundin 2.0
Sundin finished his career with 564 goals and 1349 points in 1346 games played. Their numbers are very similar, but the only difference with Sundin is that he had a little bit more playoff success, but not much.
If you want to argue that the Leafs shouldn't sign Tavares to a three-year deal worth $8M AAV or even re-sign him at all, especially if they fall in the playoffs this year, I'm fine with that. Even though he's a great player, sometimes a change is needed. However, I'm not fine with anyone saying that he's not deserving of the HHOF.
Tavares is one of the most underrated and under appreciated superstars of the past 20 years and Leafs fans should be thrilled to have been able to watch him during the prime of his career.