The free agent interview period is supposed to drum up intrigue around dozens of names that will undoubtedly change teams on July 1st, but all eyes this year have been on pitch meetings taking place at the CAA headquarters in Los Angeles. Those meetings are meant to woo John Tavares, who would arguably be the best free agent to ever hit the market in the salary cap era. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Tavares’ current team the New York Islanders presented on Monday, with the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks meeting with the superstar center and his representatives on Tuesday. Wednesday is blocked off for the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning, after which, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, Tavares will shut down all communication with other teams. There were previous reports that some teams, namely the Vegas Golden Knights and Nashville Predators, were in the running through phone conversations, but that doesn’t appear to be the case any longer.
So six teams—New York, Toronto, Boston, San Jose, Dallas and Tampa Bay—will wait patiently tonight after Tavares hears the final pitches, and await word of whether he’ll be leaving for a new address this summer. The Islanders of course are the only team that can offer Tavares an eight-year deal, and the other teams are not currently allowed to discuss contract details, only express interest. If Tavares reaches Sunday without a contract, the Islanders lose their advantage and become like any other team able to sign him to seven years. Should that happen, it seems unlikely that he’d be heading back to the Islanders, meaning the countdown is on for New York.
Of course there are different strengths and weaknesses from each market, and TSN has released a calculator to show off the differences surrounding state (or provincial) taxes. The Lightning and Stars have a huge advantage in this way, though it is obviously not the only determining factor. Even with a no-movement clause, there is no guarantee that a player spends his whole career in a certain state, meaning there likely won’t be any discounts for the teams which have the best tax rates.
what is even the point of an interview period if technically you can’t talk contract details. “hey you will love it here in our city. great fans, playoff hockey, etc. We know you will love playing here for an undisclosed amount of money for an undisclosed amount of years, so don’t even worry about the 11 million you can get from your own team.”
Comon leafs, don’t see Tampa being able to fit him in the cap unless they deal another big time player or 2. Boston still has cap problems, Dallas only has 1 year until they have major cap problems too. Think it’s down to Toronto, islanders and sharks with the likelihood he goes to the island cause if he leaves that franchise takes a major step back and will have to go full rebuild
Toronto also is going to have cap problems
Yes but nylander and others can be traded, only real cap problem year will be 2019/2020 season with Marleau’s last year and same year marner and Matthews will need new contracts
stupid to trade young building blocks for a couple years of prime. Toronto should build and be patient
while I agree mostly, Tavares is still young and a top 20 player in the NHL. nylander us never going to be that.
But yes if the Leafs can trade a player to avoid cap problems, any other team could too
Boston has 11M in cap space and they could still trade David K and Krug that frees up anther 10+ M
Boston…please!!!
It’s down to San Jose and New York. New York because it is what he knows and can offer 8th year, San Jose is the only team set up to absorb his contract and compete without needs ng to make major changes or have cap issues in 1 or 2 years, and laid back media atmosphere. I don’t see him wanting to return to Toronto with the pressure of this contract
Boston’s meeting lasted under 2 hours, not sure if that’s a good thing or not
I’ve been told before it’s not the length of the activity but the quality
She lied
I don’t think the length of a discussion matters. I would think Tavares already knows the contract that he’ll get from any one of the teams. I think it’s more a matter of what kind of questions can a team answer for him. For Boston I think the pitch was something like you’ll be playing with guys like Bergeron, Marchand, Pastrnak. And we are set up for the future in a handful of pretty talented players like Macavoy, Donato, Debrusk. I think it will come down to the coach and the organizations set up now and in the future. I think Boston has a legit shot so long as they are able to move Krejic and or Backes.
The only teams that can even afford him are the sharks, leafs, and isles. But the isles are bad, and the leafs have to sign nylander this year and marner and matthews next year. Not to mention that the leafs either have to make tavares or matthews team captain. Maybe the leafs get it done, but my money is only the stanley cup contending sharks.
What the TSN tax calculator doesn’t take into account is the exchange rate. Contract is paid in USD and his expenses would be in CAD if he signs in Canada. On a $11 million annual contract his take home in CAD is approx $47 million versus the USD $36 million the calculator estimates. Get paid in USD but all your living expenses are in CAD. That put the Leafs almost on par with Dallas and Tampa.
I don’t understand all this about some of these teams that actually sat down with him are not able to afford him??? That’s ridiculous! All of these teams have the ability to sign him to the 11 to 12 million he’s going to get. In addition, it’s pretty easy to clear cap space if you have pretty decent players.
This assumption would require some research to prove out. I wouldn’t think the exchange rate would have much affect for border cities. I.e., something costs in .75 US in Michigan would cost 1.00 CAD in Toronto.
Expatistan website shows an 18% higher cost of living in Toronto vs Tampa in same dollars. Of course he would probably live in Toronto half the year regardless of where he plays.