After a long, and incredibly difficult negotiation with the New York Islanders, John Tavares has decided to leave the only NHL franchise he’s ever known. The 27-year old superstar has signed a seven-year, $77MM contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, his childhood and offseason home. Tavares confirmed his decision on Twitter:
I’ve been so fortunate to be an Islander not only because of the love and support of the fan base, but because of how lucky I was to be around so many great people. From ownership through management, staff and of course all my teammates, they helped me mature and grow into who I am today. I will always be thankful for how they molded and guided me to be a better person and hockey player. Memories and friendships that I will forever hold close to my heart.
Thank you everyone for your impact on me, I will always be grateful. My words will never be able to fully show the impact my time on the Island had on me.
These past six days have been nothing I could have ever expected. Making the toughest decision of my life: to stay where I have been my entire career or take a calculated leap of faith into an opportunity that I believe will be special to me and my family. The Island has been home, It’s what I know, it’s part of me–it always will be. I can’t thank you all enough for the dedication you have all shown. I’m sorry if this decision pains you, as you can tell it wasn’t easy, but have trust in the future because it is bright. The Islanders are in great hands. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to be an Islander for as long as I did. The Island, the fans, the organization, my teammates will always be special to me and my family but it’s time to live my childhood dream here in Toronto.
The Maple Leafs were one of six teams, including the Islanders, that were granted an in-person meeting with Tavares last week. The team was rumored to be presenting some “creative” contract options, and now Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports on what that may have referred to. The contract is nearly entirely made up of signing bonuses, meaning the deal is lockout-proof, and will give him the maximum amount available the first two seasons. It also includes full a no-movement/no-trade clause. The breakdown is as follows:
- 2018-19: $650K salary + $15.25MM signing bonus
- 2019-20: $650K salary + $15.25MM signing bonus
- 2020-21: $910K salary + $11.09MM signing bonus
- 2021-22: $910K salary + $8.44MM signing bonus
- 2022-23: $910K salary + $7.04MM signing bonus
- 2023-24: $910K salary + $7.04MM signing bonus
- 2024-25: $910K salary + $7.04MM signing bonus
Tavares was the belle of the ball in this year’s free agency, and is arguably the best player to ever reach the open market in the salary cap era. At 27 he is still well within what is considered a player’s prime, and has been a Hart Trophy finalist twice already. In his most recent season, Tavares recorded 37 goals and 84 points while still being a reliable defensive center and good faceoff option. His biggest flaw coming into the league, skating, has been addressed throughout the years to the point where it no longer is an issue, and will now be put on the ice with some of the best linemates of his career. The early suspicion is that Tavares will play with fellow Greater Toronto Area-born forward and former London Knight Mitch Marner, while Auston Matthews will remain alongside William Nylander. That gives Toronto two of the best pairs in the Atlantic Division, and a real threat to compete for the division title.
It’s that division that is the focus today, as the Boston Bruins miss out on Tavares and the Buffalo Sabres continue to be rumored in trade talks for Ryan O’Reilly. Toronto now has a good claim to the best 1-2-3 punch down the middle in the Atlantic, with Nazem Kadri—coming off consecutive 32-goal seasons—penciled into the third line. It’s going to make the Maple Leafs increasingly difficult to match up against, as they spread their skill across all four lines.
How they’ll be able to retain all that skill is a different question altogether. With Tavares now taking up a huge chunk of the salary cap as one of the highest-paid players in the league, the Maple Leafs will have some tough decisions on their hands going forward. William Nylander is a restricted free agent this summer and needs a new contract that could push above $6MM per season depending on the term, while Matthews and Marner are both a year away from being in a similar situation. The team also has Jake Gardiner entering the last season of his current deal, while the rest of the defense still needs an upgrade.
It’s on defense that many were expecting the Maple Leafs to make their next move, but instead they’ll try to load up at the center ice position. Tavares, Matthews and Kadri could easily be taking up more than $25MM in cap space a year from now, almost a third of the available salary for the whole team. They’re not complaining today, but it certainly isn’t an easy situation going forward.
Still, for young GM Kyle Dubas this is a win. Less than two months into his career as the Maple Leafs boss he went head-to-head with his former mentor in Lou Lamoriello and ended up securing one of the best players in the league. The team will have to decide how to pay everyone going forward and could end up losing a young player due to cap contraints, but that’s a chance that Dubas had to take to bring in a player who very well could be the next Toronto captain. Tavares tweeted out pictures of himself covered in Maple Leafs attire as a youth, while the team sent out a picture of a 14-year old Tavares in Marlies garb at the introductory press conference for the AHL team. The team is currently without a captain, and though there was much speculation that Matthews would eventually wear the “C” nothing is certain now.
What is clear, is that the Maple Leafs have taken a big step forward towards Stanley Cup contention today. Just two years after finishing dead last in the NHL, the team is working on back-to-back playoff appearances and now features some of the very best forwards in the entire league. Though no success is guaranteed in the NHL, Dubas and the team continue to work towards ending a championship drought that has now lasted more than a half-century.
I’m happy he left the Isles and the Metro. Would’ve been more happy if he left the East.
Lol at all the salty Isles fans on Twitter. You had 8-9 years with him and your ownership/GM did nothing to help build that team into a Stanley Cup contending team. You need to blame those guys, no Tavares.
he told the islanders not to trade him because this is where he wanted to finish his career and then he gives the islanders fans nothing more than an iphone note on is twitter that reads like it was written in 2 minutes. they have every right to be pissed rn
No they don’t. It’s sports. teams could lose players all the time. Maybe if snow had been fired 3 years ago it doesn’t get to this point.
besides what would you like him to do, buy a pacifier for every isles fan who is unhappy right now?
100% this.
Thats fresh coming from Toronto fans and Im not even an Islander fan but what Tavares did here was low, he should never had assured Islander management that he intended to re-sign because he didn’t want to be traded if he truly cared about the organization. They could have gotten some high end prospect and picks for him at the deadline.
Yeah he did them wrong. It’s so hard to lose your franchise player for absolutely nothing. If he didn’t want to stay he should’ve requested a trade at the deadline. He may have literally killed that franchise by doing this.
Why would a player do anything for a team that has done absolutely nothing for him? It’s a business for a reason. I would have done the same thing in his shoes. The owners right down to management know squat about the business end of things.
First Marleau now Tavares. Sharks must really hate the Leafs stealing their targets
Yep
That’s why they extended Couture when they did lol
The Sharks don’t need JT to be good besides there are other FA and there is Cap Space so stay tuned!He would have been nice but not necessary
Not really. James Neal is all thats out there now.
Toronto looking loaded up front…with three true centers, I wonder how the lines are going to look.
he took way less to go to toronto. he knew what he was doing the entire time, he used and played the islanders like the fools that they are
He didn’t really take significantly less. He’s still getting $11m AAV.
oh yeah true, isles reportedly offered 91 million, over 8 years though, still is taking way less in guaranteed money
As a Bruins fan this is the worst possible outcome unless Toronto decides to trade Nylander in division, to Boston.
yeah sure. nylander for McAvoy.
I bet you they would do mcavoy for Nylander and a first… would through gardiner in there for free
They look scary up front but this is going to cripple them in a couple years. They’ll need to make a run soon.
let’s get to a couple years down the road first. Yes it’s a lot of money and term but he’s a top 20 player in the league. whether he went to Boston or tbay moves had/have to be made to accommodate. they have three young pieces that are sure to garner interest if they need to address elsewhere or shed salary. plus, and likely a key factor for them was the fact landing Tavares and marleau last year shows a commitment to win in the next 2-3 which could result in a potential discount for someone looking to win a cup. look at the penguins, Blackhawks who despite being near the cap have remained competitive because they get that one or two discounts on a player who wants to win.
Why in the world did the Isles wait until the last minute…should have locked him up after last season…at the latest
Lol Tavares would still have to sign the contract. They can’t force him to sign. They offered him a contract extension and he wanted to test free agency.
Isles can’t get out of their own way
Tavares can send as warm a message to Islander fans as he wants but the fact is that he told ownership and management throughout the year he didn’t want to be traded and intended to resign and its obvious he didn’t.
Now, what does Toronto do with Nylander and Mariner? How can they afford them?
As a Canes fan, I’d love trading Faulk for one of them.
Can’t afford all 3 kids my guess is Nylander is gone and marner is signed long term. With kadri is gonna be traded once the leafs are right up against the cap in a couple years
They can easily afford the core group and run years with prospects. Johns deal is all frontloaded so they already have thought about down the road over 30 million is in first 2 years
Queso! Queso!!!
That’s it my first sons name is gonna be JT plan the parade boys
Hahahaha that’s awesome. Gas to expensive for a parade.
Bummer, Tavares would’ve looked real good in Black and Gold