New York Islanders John Tavares $15 Million Man

If the rumor is true that another GM is looking to offer New York Islanders captain John Tavares $15 million a season is true, I wish him good luck. There’s no chance to build a winner around that.

We’ve all heard crazy takes about New York Islanders captain John Tavares and his pending unrestricted free agency. Remember that Craig Button take from a few months ago where he said Tavares could should sign a one year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs? I wont soon forget.

The rumors around Tavares and his landing spot in this drama won’t end until he signs with someone. Anyone.

The latest in this line of gossip is that TSN Darren Dreger is reporting there’s at least one GM out there who is willing to offer Tavares a seven-year $105 million deal. That’s $15 million a season for those counting at home.

To which I say: Good luck with that.

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Go. Take the Money.

I was a fervent believer that Tavares was waiting until the Belmont situation was sorted out. Everything he’d said up to that point had me totally convinced he was just waiting for that one domino to fall (in the right place) before committing.

But as the days go by and he has yet to sign, I’m thinking he takes this the entire way. As in he actually gets to the point were other teams can legally speak with him and make him pitches.

Which brings us to that $15 million a season deal. Lets assume for a second that that is true. And that Tavares actually signs it. We know Tavares isn’t going to be making Stamkos money next year. He’ll be somewhere between Kopitar ($10.5 million) and McDavid ($12.5 million). And that feels right based on Tavares’ skill set.

But to jump to $15 million a season is insane. Not because I don’t think Tavares deserves the money, the man has endured enough. But there’s no way to build a competitive roster with that type of investment on a single player.

Think about it this way. At $15 million Tavares alone would account for 71% of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane’s cap hit with the Chicago Blackhawks and look how they’re having to juggle the lineup around.

At $15 million whatever team would have (with the current cap) $60 million to field another 22 players. That’s an average salary of $2.7 million per player. The team in question better have one strong prospect pool to fill in the roster with lower wages to have some space to bring in a decent supporting cast.

Because if there’s one thing we know, Tavares can’t do it on his own. Look at the New York Islanders this season, they have Tavares who’s firing on all cylinders (as is Barzal and Bailey) and they still can’t get into the playoffs.

Next: New York Islanders Trade Deadline Preview

I hate to say it, but if that’s what it’s going to take in order to sign Tavares, I wish him luck wherever he goes.