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Former NHL executive suggests John Tavares could achieve greater glory by giving up his role in Maple Leafs
On Thursday's Leafs Morning Take podcast episode, former NHL executive Pierre McGuire suggested that John Tavares could find more success with the Toronto Maple Leafs. McGuire thinks he will need to change his role in the team to achieve this.
McGuire, who won a Stanley Cup as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992, believes a new position could unlock Tavares' full potential.
McGuire compared John Tavares to Bryan Trottier, a player he coached. When Trottier joined the Pittsburgh Penguins from the New York Islanders in 1990, he played a third-line role instead of competing with stars like Mario Lemieux.
"When we got him, Trottier wasn’t going to play ahead of Mario Lemieux or eventually Ron Francis," McGuire said. "So, he goes in the three-hole. ... It worked, and he became the Pied Piper for the team.
"I believe John Tavares could be similar. If you move him to the three-hole and create the proper role for him, I think he could be an elite player in that position. Forget what he makes. Don't pay attention to the money. Just play him in the three-hole, and you watch how important he is to the team."
John Tavares is eligible to sign an extension with Toronto Maple Leafs
John Tavares signed a seven-year, $77 million contract in July 2018 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This is the final year of his contract, and he is eligible for an extension.
After Toronto’s playoff loss, Tavares expressed his wish to stay with the team. He appreciates the city's talent and commitment to winning. Additionally, the Leafs signed Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the free agency to make their Blue line strong.
Tavares scored 29 goals and 36 assists for 65 points in 80 games last season. Over his six years with Toronto, he has scored 184 goals and 235 assists for 419 points in 440 games. As McGuire suggests, moving Tavares to a third-line role could provide the Leafs with needed depth.
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