TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS TAVARES INJURY SERIES

Tavares is likely to turn to the newly acquired Andrew Ladd, who is seemingly destined to fill Okposo’s spot on the first line and power-play unit after being brought in on a new seven-year deal, in addition to the handful of other young talented forwards that have been developing. Now the big question facing the 2009 first-overall pick is how he’ll fare without winger and long-time teammate Kyle Okposo, who inked a new deal up north in Buffalo this summer. The drop in production can be attributed to his somewhat lackluster first half, but he was able to pick up the pace at better than a point-per-game rate in the second half. A rebound to his old point-per-game ways wouldn't be surprising, nor would a trade-deadline deal, though he does have a limited no-trade clause.Įntering last season with massive expectations after a career-best 86 points in 2014-2015 – good for second in league scoring – Tavares finished last year with 70 points in 78 games.

However, with the 2009 draft’s top pick in the middle of his prime as he enters his age-27 season and a shiny new right winger in Jordan Eberle to ride shotgun (not to mention rapidly developing sniper Anders Lee on his left wing), Tavares is in great position to earn a lucrative long-term deal even if it isn't with New York. Additionally, the Islanders have a lot of promising prospects coming up and may choose to fully embrace their youth movement. After all, while it may seem unreasonable to complain too much about last year's 66 points in 77 games, that was a substandard performance by Tavares' standards, his worst scoring rate since 2009-10.

He’s said he wants to stay with the Isles - which is a bit surprising, considering that they've had a ton of trouble finding quality help for him - but the team may be questioning whether it can commit to the star center for the long run. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Tavares has come to a pivotal moment of his career, as he’s entering the final season of his six-year contract with the Islanders. And Panthers forward Sam Bennett, who was a pain in the Leafs’ butt in the series, was available two years ago at the trade deadline. And before we go too far down a path of complimenting Dubas for recognizing what the Leafs might have required to finally get it right in the post-season, recall that it’s the same GM who once had players such as Nazem Kadri, Zach Hyman, Connor Brown and Mason Marchment on his roster. Thing is, the trades didn’t matter in the end. Jake McCabe’s first trip through the playoffs won’t be memorable for the right reasons.

WARMINGTON: The puck was not the only thing that crossed the line in the stolen goal of 2023Īs for the additions Dubas made at the deadline, whether it was veteran savvy or a rugged manner, Ryan O’Reilly, Luke Schenn, Noel Acciari and Sam Lafferty all provided a different flavour to the Leafs.

Leaf notes: A wide field if Sheldon Keefe is replaced as coach.

What’s to say it’s not the final step before the Leafs finally break through and win the Cup in 2024? Does coach Sheldon Keefe get that opportunity? The Leafs, even if it was just one win more, went further in the playoffs with this core than it had previously.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS TAVARES INJURY SERIES

Weighed against that is the fact that Matthews, despite numerous chances, didn’t score in the series against the Panthers and couldn’t make a difference when his team absolutely required it. But he will have just turned 26 around the time training camp starts in September, and as excellent as he has been in his first seven seasons in the National Hockey League, his most valuable days are ahead of him.Ĭentres of Matthews’ ilk don’t come around every day. No, Matthews has not led the Leafs anywhere yet. The larger issue for the Leafs involves the future of Matthews, who is eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1.

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