The Toronto Maple Leafs captain may have an overpriced cap hit right now, but John Tavares has come up clutch in some of the team's biggest moments.
John Tavares often surfaces as a topic of debate and criticism during Toronto Maple Leafs games.
With an $11-million cap hit and only 65 points in 80 games, at one point playing on the third line this season, it's not unexpected.
But the 33-year-old captain scored the overtime-winning goal last season, putting the Maple Leafs into the second round for the first time in 19 years. And on the brink of elimination against the Boston Bruins in Game 5, Tavares drove the net to create an opportunity for Matthew Knies to force Game 6.
And as George Nassios discussed with Jacob Stoller on The Hockey News Action Show, Tavares' contract may not be the one that's holding the team back: