John Tavares - Toronto Maple Leaf

[Josh]

After all the speculation and hype, it really happened. John Tavares is a Toronto Maple Leaf.

[Josh]

7 years, $77M, $11M AAV.

[Alfie11]

It’s pretty crazy they were able to convince a guy like Tavares to sign there. They probably overpaid a bit, but he rejected $88M from NYI so he could have probably gotten more, honestly.

It does confuse me a little, though. Toronto has a good forward core with Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Kadri. They add Tavares, which makes them a better team, but wouldn’t it be more efficient to spend that cap money on some D help? It looked really bad in the playoffs.

[Dean Ambrose]

NHL is going to become the NBA with super teams at this rate.

Hopefully this can be the Habs with Barzal when he's 27.

[Jasmine]

Tavares contract breakdown:

Year 1, $650k salary, $15.25M sb;
Year 2, $910k salary, $15.25M sb;
Year 3, $910k salary, $11.09M sb;
Year 4, $910k salary, $8.44M sb;
Years 5-7, $910k salary, $7.04M sb in each of those years

- Pierre Lebrun

[Sara]

It's unimaginable to me that just a couple years ago we hit complete rock bottom and finished dead last in the league. Fast forward to now and we've got two of the best centres in the world and a young core that has the potential to do incredible things. Is this real life?

Welcome home, JT. Can't wait to be at your homecoming!

[Josh]

It's unimaginable to me that just a couple years ago we hit complete rock bottom and finished dead last in the league. Fast forward to now and we've got two of the best centres in the world and a young core that has the potential to do incredible things. Is this real life?

Welcome home, JT. Can't wait to be at your homecoming!

It really is amazing to see how far they’ve come. I remember thinking Burke was going to be their saviour, but really it turned out to be Shanahan, Lamoriello, Babcock, and co.

Great to see you here Sara!!

[Dean Ambrose]

It really is amazing to see how far they’ve come. I remember thinking Burke was going to be their saviour, but really it turned out to be Shanahan, Lamoriello, Babcock, and co.

Great to see you here Sara!!

Dubas has already done more than Lou did imo

in one summer Dubas has gotten rid of the toys Lou wouldn’t take away from Babcock. No more Komarov on the PP, players that Babcock couldn’t justify to play Martin over, etc.

Lou was alright for Toronto, but Dubas is already setting Toronto up to be the real deal and put them over the top.

hopefully in 6 years the Habs will be in a position to put themselves over the top by signing Barzal to make us a super team after we hit rock bottom soon lol

[Jasmine]

https://www.bardown.com/isles-fan-pens-letter-to-tavares-in-the-form-of-a-breakup-and-isles-nation-is-praising-the-accuracy-1.1139202

[Josh]

What do you guys think? Did he always know he was going to Toronto?

Does it even matter? So what if he did know he was going and didn’t want to be traded from the Islanders? That was 100% his right.

Yeah it sucks for fans, that’s for sure. But it’s his life and their favourite hockey team.

[matchesmalone]

Yeah it sucks for fans, that’s for sure. But it’s his life and their favourite hockey team.

A sentiment we all too rarely hear from fans.

[matchesmalone]

TSN seems dead set on Austin Matthew's being named captain. They've gotta be off their rockers, right?

Has to be Tavares. No two ways about it. Longtime captain of the Isles. Veteran presence but not too old yet so he could do it for the rest of his contract. Dunno what he's like in the room but from interviews he's such a calm, mature, professional demeanor. Loves the city and the team.

Would be a great story too. Not sure why TSN isn't all over that, unless they already know something we don't.

[Josh]

TSN seems dead set on Austin Matthew's being named captain. They've gotta be off their rockers, right?

Has to be Tavares. No two ways about it. Longtime captain of the Isles. Veteran presence but not too old yet so he could do it for the rest of his contract. Dunno what he's like in the room but from interviews he's such a calm, mature, professional demeanor. Loves the city and the team.

Would be a great story too. Not sure why TSN isn't all over that, unless they already know something we don't.

Fully agree. 100%.