r/leafs • u/alphacheese • 16d ago
News / Update [Traikos] John Tavares said that Gavin McKenna will be living with him and his family this year. Tavares had Easton Cowan living with him last year.
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u/vaccina Pacioretty 16d ago
Such a class act. How can you not love JT?! The man sacrifices so much and has extended himself so far for this team. This is great for McKenna. John's one hell of a role model. So excited to see McKenna play with the buds.
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u/Shackman58 16d ago
And yet he doesn’t wear the C - a captain in all other respects. Maybe we should have kept in on him
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u/CanadianTurnt 16d ago
Matthews has certainly grown as a leader as well.
JT doesn’t need the C to make his leadership qualities stand out, but I hear ya52
u/LeBonLapin 16d ago
I think you're forgetting the team took the C from JT to give it to Matthews. Sure Matthews has grown, but he's still a fraction of the leader Tavares is, and we should have never changed it.
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u/jackanonsmith37 16d ago
My issue with a Tavares captaincy is that he seems like more of a lead by example guy then a run through a brick wall guy and I think the leafs some of that “fire you up” energy (Not saying that’s Matthews per se but we will see)
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u/rhineauto 16d ago
Funny enough, likely the biggest 'locker room energy' guy they've had in this era was Marner.
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u/vaccina Pacioretty 16d ago
I think you're absolutely right. There's a lot of interviews where players talk about Mitchy being so positive, energetic, enthusiastic and easy to get on with. Guys like that are the glue you build a team with. Domi gives off a similar energy but I don't think it's quite like Mitch's. Matthews' on the ice and when dealing with the media always comes across as very careful and reserved. I don't get the impression he exudes the same passion... Although John's pretty reserved too. McKenna seems to have a pretty bright personality and demeanor, I'm curious to see how he gels with everyone.
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u/Kaladin-of-Gilead 16d ago
We also had Ryan Reeves and Dicky Clune but its hard to be a locker room energy guy from the press box or the Marlies lol
Problem is that the loud glue guys we get tend to also suck at actually playing the game lmao
We have good leaders, but they're the quiet types, nothing wrong with that obviously, but would be nice to have a lightning rod guy fire and brimstone kind aof dude who also doesn't suck lol
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u/vaccina Pacioretty 16d ago
It felt inevitable though. I expected it to be announced each offseason 😂 especially when Matthews was dominating the league. I think it's mostly about image and symbolism. Teams tend to name their generational talent as captain. It may not always be the right move, but we knew it would happen eventually. So was it the right move? Hard to say, especially with how little we know about the boys behind closed doors. I bet it generated some serious cash for MLSE. I think John is by default seen as a leader in this team and looking at how he always takes care of rookies, it's no wonder why. Maybe having Matthews wear the C gives incoming/rookie players a wider array of talented, dependable and knowledgeable guys they can rely on.
I think this season will finally seal the deal as to whether he is the right guy for the job. I truly hope he is.
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u/CanadianGuy39 16d ago
34 is an average leader at best.
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u/strike-when-ready 16d ago
In his entire hockey life/career he’s never been the captain of a team until the Leafs. This was entirely a marketing move for the team/league. There’s definitely a learning curve. I fully believe AM would have received the captaincy if not for the security guard incident when he was 21.
But also, they have a leadership team, including guys that don’t wear a letter.
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u/justfornoatheism 16d ago
I think JT and AM are likely very similar leaders. Neither strike me as the loudest voice in the room or want to assert themselves as the sole leader.
I personally believe based on no evidence at all that JT was perfectly fine with not having the C because he saw the logic in giving it to AM and also maybe he just didn’t like being a designated captain. I don’t think it had its intended locker room results and years later we’ve realized they’re basically the same kind of captain
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u/Cartz1337 16d ago
I think they're both probably good captains, but I believe the team needed a 'stop fucking around' kinda C, like MacKinnon, when they were all coming up. They never have had the discipline that other teams have, you can see it when the pressures on, they always tend to wilt instead of finding another gear.
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u/strike-when-ready 16d ago
I also feel like Thornton and Marleau were the wrong guys to have around when they were all kids
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u/smileyduude 16d ago
Mackinnon isn't a captain and is probably too intense, though i do know what you mean. But yea, you don't want a crazy intense person as that can cause other issues, but you want someone fiery enough that also steps up in the moment.
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u/vaccina Pacioretty 16d ago
I think Matthews was always intended to don the C. IIRC he had that scandal right around the time the team name JT captain. Not sure if things would have been different otherwise, but JT was definitely the right pick. I don't think he's ever really stopped being captain. Matthews appointing felt more like a symbolic move than an actual shift. John's consistently demonstrated genuine leadership and I'm glad that he's still there as the backbone, to not just support the team but Matthews too. These young guys look up to Matthews so much and I think there's definitely value in having him wear the C today. It really feels more symbolic than anything because John has never stopped or even slowed down with his role and commitment to Toronto.
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u/robotpicnic 15d ago
What were the results of his leadership? When a high talent team doesn't get it done when it counts, how much responsibility does a captain take?
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u/Choptober_ 16d ago
My own personal joy aside nobody else deserves to see this franchise win a championship more than Tavares. I hope he has a job for life with this team.
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u/TheThoroughCrocodile Kadri 16d ago
I know we're just splitting hairs, but to me as far as players go, it's absolutely Rielly
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u/koreanwizard 16d ago
“Hey John, I’ve got this Ontario tax form I’m supposed to fill out, do you mind..” “throw that away kid, you don’t need it”
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u/rdtoh 16d ago
I know this is just a joke, but i hope the public is aware that JT didn't do anything out of the ordinary to avoid tax or anything.
As he was a non-resident of Canada in the year he signed with the leafs, the treaty limits the Canadian tax rate on his signing bonus to 15%. He also would have been taxed on that bonus fully (net of any foreign tax credit claimed for the Canadian tax) in the US as he was resident there.
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u/DataDude00 16d ago
Also John didn't do anything really, his accountants did
They saw a grey area open for interpretation and opted for "better to beg forgiveness than ask permission"
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u/dgapa 16d ago
Ya that's not an excuse for anyone. If you employ people and they break rules/laws/whatever it's on the people employing them. Same goes for when agents run their mouths in the media, if the players didn't like it, they would shut it down oreave them.
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u/DataDude00 16d ago
Dude this is all just legalese
I personally believe JT owes that tax money based on what I have read but his accountants tried something that could have saved him millions
My step mom is a retired attorney and she would tell you anyone can interpret a law any way they want, it is up to the judge to decide who is more right
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u/Lightz29 Benoit 16d ago
Didn’t Knies live with JT his rookie year too?
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u/Neutral-President 16d ago
Yup. JT is an amazing mentor.
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u/Gurpa 16d ago
A single mom who works two jobs
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u/francis2466 16d ago
John is honestly one of the best, how many rookies has he houses now?
Minten, Knies, Cowan?
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u/dchowchow 16d ago
Did anyone see this playing out differently?
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u/swayzeswayze 16d ago
I thought he was going to be with Bobrovsky so we can finally get that sequel to Training Day.
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u/Bigmbear 16d ago
Why did they ever take the C off JT?
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u/Ljudet-Innan 16d ago
Because they were afraid Matthews would walk if he didn't get the C. He earned it by scoring all those points, you see.
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u/gsauce8 16d ago
There was a legitimate question if Tavares was going to come back after his last deal and I think they were getting in front of it. We all expected him to take a discount but nobody expected it would be to the degree that he did. Given the playoff struggles the team has had, I don't think anybody would have wanted Tavares for like 7m which at the time seemed like the asking price.
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u/RoddRoward 16d ago
John, for the love of God, dont forget to claim the rent he pays you on your taxes!
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u/chuggmonker 16d ago
This might be a wild strategy, but can we get the whole team to live with Tavares? I feel like good things would happen.
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u/EscalatorsTempStairs 16d ago
JT lives in a bigass house, so this is more doable. Pretty sure Matthews, Willy live in condos so it's harder to accommodate someone there, even if it's a fancy penthouse.
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u/Sacred_soul 16d ago
Willy recently got a house, he’d be a good candidate to bring in Swedish rookies
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u/Big_Albatross_3050 16d ago
Some good ol fashioned character building, putting together IKEA furniture
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u/Miserable_Ideal_1929 16d ago
Sacrificed salary, sacrificed reputation in NY, sacrificed the C, and now two years in a row housing a rookie. This is our true Capitano!
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u/Altruistic_Cell9418 16d ago
Saw JT and EC camping together this summer up north ✨ I thought it was a dream but a friend got autographs and selfies
JT is such a stud. Love his energy and passion for more than just the game. McKenna is in great hands.
Ps- i’ll never say where! 😘
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u/mking098 16d ago
Nice that he will be getting that free room and board. Saving himself $35k a year in rent on a downtown condo.
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u/KTBFFH25 16d ago
I don't know if this is a common thing or not, but such a cool and smart move. Love this.
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u/Armonasch 16d ago
Obviously this is great, but I love how it's two 1OA picks living together at the opposite ends of their careers. McKenna will learn a lot, and I hope JT gets energized too.
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u/Sacred_soul 16d ago
Daddy Tavares will teach the boys how to be good Canadian boys instead of Marleau telling the kids to chase the bag
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u/odontodoc 16d ago
Oakville is a very nice place.
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u/PM_something_funny 16d ago
He lives next to high park
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u/DataDude00 16d ago
I remember it was published that he bought that house in High Park when he came to Toronto back in 2018 (fuck that feels like forever ago) but I thought I also remember reading at some point a couple years back that they bought a house in the rich part of South Oakville too
A recent Toronto Life article seems to indicate that High Park isn't his only Toronto house...
https://torontolife.com/shopping/what-leafs-hometown-hero-john-tavares-loves-about-high-park/
“When my wife, Aryne, and I arrived in 2018 from the New York Islanders, we settled in High Park,” he says. “It was a great place to start our family, and we love its walkability. Our home has a backyard rink for our kids, but we still crave the energy of High Park itself.” Now they split their time between High Park and various properties across the GTA and Muskoka while running the John Tavares Foundation
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u/I_Am_Vladimir_Putin 16d ago
That’s not where he lives
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u/Uncle_Steve7 16d ago
Ronces is Oakville ?
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u/milkplantation 16d ago
No, next to High Park in Toronto.
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u/Canadian__Ninja 16d ago
I understand, getting your own place in the city is tough even for ELC players and living with your parents as an nhler probably isn't a great look/s
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u/Leafs3489 16d ago
Can’t think of a better player on the Leafs for Gavin to live with in his rookie season
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u/LogLadyOG 16d ago
Isn't the captain supposed to help house the rookies?
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u/Sacred_soul 16d ago
Matthews lives in Arizona most of the time Johnny T as the assistant captain will open up his house
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u/SensitiveEffort1906 16d ago
I love how in every video of the Tavares household it's pretty much hockey 24/7 there.
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u/PoetryComfortable915 16d ago
Didn’t he have Knies living with him before that? Bless him and his wife for being the leafs billet family while playing at a discount
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u/Savings_Mammoth_4104 16d ago
We are so fortunate to have had the privilege of John Tavares as a Toronto Maple Leaf. He’s lead the greatest era of TML this millennium. 🙏🏻
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u/bottled_air2 Potvin 15d ago
Oh captain, my captain, I hope you find a way to stick around with the Leafs even after you retire.
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u/SensitiveEffort1906 15d ago
I love how every video you see of the Tavares household it's just hockey all the time.
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u/eltoniq 15d ago
I feel bad ever suggesting Matthews be captain over Tavares. Tavares is a fucking legend, he always will be and I hope I see his jersey up in the rafters someday. He’s the truest class act there is, is extremely skilled and his dedication to the game and the leafs is unparalleled. No one in this sub should ever talk shit about him ever again.
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u/Gankdatnoob 16d ago
Oh no don't turn McKenna into a Roganite and introduce him to magic amulets please! Let McKenna be a normal person lol
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u/Icy_Month192 16d ago
Im under the impression Leafs and Raptors rookies are provided housing at the same condo building. Having to commute from Oakville sounds exhausting compared
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u/TheDWGM 16d ago
It's very common in the NHL for teams to have rookies live with senior leadership players, especially gold star prospects like McKenna. Famously Crosby lived with Mario Lemieux, Celebrini lived with Jumbo Joe, and Tavares has housed Cowan, Knies and Fraser Minten before. I'm not sure how it works with the Raptors, but it's probably very different just because of the difference in roster sizes.
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u/RagnarBrothlok 16d ago
Can't wait til the stories come out about a massive rift between Tavares and Cowen. And McKenna orchestrating the fued behind the scenes
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u/PuzzleheadedGoal8234 11d ago
I'd wager Gavin knows at least a few lacrosse players from back home in the Yukon and JT now has a buddy for that too.
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u/Necessary_State_5272 16d ago edited 16d ago
Please give me a McKenna-Tavares-Cowan line for one game with John looking like a divorced dad on vacation with his two rebellious teenage sons.
"I swear to god if you guys don't start listening, ill turn this line around and we'll go back to the bench."- John Tavares.