The Friday Four takes a look at interesting player storylines in the NHL. This week`s topics include:
• Is John Tavares being undervalued?
• Nikita Kucherov`s strong push for the Hart Trophy
• Should Jack Eichel be considered for the Selke Trophy?
• Can Juuse Saros bounce back next season?
John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs
John Tavares might have reason to feel underappreciated.
After losing the team captaincy to Auston Matthews and being overlooked for Team Canada, Tavares is also without a contract for the upcoming season. He has expressed his desire to stay with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but several factors are complicating this. The primary issue is Mitch Marner`s contract situation, which is likely causing the Leafs to hold off on other contract discussions, potentially affecting Tavares and Matthew Knies.
Despite these uncertainties, Tavares is having a strong season, on pace for his second-highest career goal total and exceeding a point-per-game pace. After a less productive year in 2023-24, some considered Tavares to be declining, but he is proving otherwise. With Matthews missing games and not always at his best, Tavares` consistent performance at centre has been crucial.
Notably, Tavares has maintained his high level of play late in the season, defying typical age-related concerns. In fact, his game has improved since the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
His faceoff win percentage remains among the league`s best, currently at 58.2 percent. He demonstrated this skill by winning 13 of 17 faceoffs against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, also scoring a goal in a significant regular-season game for the Leafs. While there have been suggestions to move Tavares down the lineup, his performance this year clearly warrants a top-six role.
Tavares is in a contract year and, while his next contract will likely be less than his current $11 million, his strong play raises the question of how much less. With the salary cap increasing and Tavares`s continued high performance, a contract around $7 million per year seems reasonable for the Leafs. While contract length is a consideration given his age, Tavares`s playing style, which relies on skill around the net rather than speed, suggests he could age gracefully. His commitment to fitness further supports the idea that he could be a reliable player for several more years. Committing to Tavares in his mid-thirties appears to be a relatively safe long-term investment.
A key reason the Leafs haven`t been able to reduce Tavares`s role is the difficulty of improving their centre depth. This has been a goal since trading Nazem Kadri. They haven`t found impactful free-agent centres, and trade acquisitions haven`t consistently worked out or stayed long-term. While signing a free agent in July is an option, it`s questionable if there`s a better replacement for Tavares available.
Sam Bennett is a different style of player who could be effective, but he seems likely to stay with the Panthers. Other potential free agents like Brock Nelson and Mikael Granlund may not be upgrades. Matt Duchene might be considered, but he`s arguably a similar level player. Considering Tavares`s contributions and the expected contract price, it`s difficult to see how Toronto could significantly improve their centre position through free agency this summer.
This also assumes that top free agents would choose Toronto. Despite the Leafs` historical significance, attracting top free agents has been challenging. Steven Stamkos re-signed with Tampa Bay, Ryan O`Reilly left for Nashville, and Brayden Schenn reportedly declined a trade to Toronto.
John Tavares, however, chose Toronto. He was an elite player who committed his prime years to the Maple Leafs, a rare occurrence for the organization and the city. If the Leafs don`t reciprocate this commitment to Tavares, they might regret it.
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
While Nathan MacKinnon and Leon Draisaitl have dominated Hart Trophy discussions, Nikita Kucherov is gaining momentum. His impressive streak of 19 points in 10 games has put him in contention for the league scoring lead and made the Tampa Bay Lightning a team everyone wants to avoid in the first round of the playoffs.
Kucherov has had statistically better seasons, likely not reaching the 144 points that won him the Art Ross Trophy last year. However, this season highlights his crucial importance to the Lightning. Their window for Stanley Cup contention is still open but narrower, placing more pressure on Kucherov to maintain his elite level into his thirties.
The Lightning also underwent a significant roster change, not re-signing Steven Stamkos last summer after 16 years with the team. Although Jake Guentzel is a talented replacement, the transition wasn`t guaranteed to be seamless. Stamkos was a key power-play contributor and a frequent target of Kucherov`s passes, scoring 39 power-play points the previous year. Despite losing Stamkos, the Lightning`s power play remains highly effective. Guentzel is tied for the league lead in power-play goals with 16, and Kucherov leads the NHL in power-play assists with 33.
Replacing Stamkos with Guentzel has also made the Lightning younger. Combined with forward additions at the trade deadline and Andrei Vasilevskiy`s resurgence, Tampa Bay looks more formidable than they have in some time. Having an elite talent like Kucherov, who consistently scores over 100 points and elevates his linemates, makes it easier for the Lightning to continue making trades to stay competitive.
The race for the top spot in the Atlantic Division will be exciting in the final weeks. The second and third-place teams will face tough first-round matchups. While the Stanley Cup Playoffs are always challenging, no team wants to face Tampa Bay and Nikita Kucherov in the opening round.
Tristan Blackwood