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Boston Bruins rumors: A closer look at John Tavares

By Paul Doran

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 30: John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders of the New York Islanders skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Barclays Center on March 30, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 30: John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders of the New York Islanders skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Barclays Center on March 30, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

The Promised Land

But oh, how sweet it would be if decided to play here. The Boston Bruins would finally have the pieces – up front at least – to match the Lightning in a playoff series. They’d probably even win, too. If paired with David Pastrnak on the first line*, you could see the first 100-point scorer in a Bruins uniform since Joe Thornton in 2002-03. (*Obviously, Bergeron and Marchand would also considered the first line. The Bruins would have two first lines. Wowza.)

They’d acquire another leader in the room, with Tavares wearing the “C” for the Islanders since  2013. Your power play instantly becomes leaps and bounds better. In that scenario, it would all be a matter of where he slots in. Does he play the point next to Charlie McAvoy? Or is he up on one of the wings beside Bergeron? You’re looking at Pittsburgh Penguins level good.

Bergeron and Tavares rivaling Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as the best 1-2 punch at center in the NHL. Gives me goosebumps. The Bruins signing Tavares could go a long way in rectifying past mistakes. He could serve as penance for letting Tyler Seguin and Blake Wheeler go. Furthermore, it could rectify passing on Mat Barzal three times in 2015.

Next: Boston Bruins: It's time to move on from Torey Krug

The long and short of it is simple. Tavares doesn’t deserve to be in the same breath as Barry Bonds and Dan Marino in terms of playoff success. His skill set and hockey IQ are far too good to wither away on the Island. He deserves Cups, and parades down Boylston Street in the sweltering Boston summer.

Some people don’t want to admit they deserve the best things for them. I just hope John Tavares isn’t that type of guy.

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