Though there is certainly no guarantee that John Tavares even reaches free agency, he’s now less than a week away from being allowed to sit down with teams around the league. Should he not sign an extension with the New York Islanders before that time comes, teams all across the NHL are expected to reach out and try to set up a meeting. Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs are one of those clubs, stating that they are “putting together a promotional video” that would include pitches from current players in order to try and woo Tavares into signing with them.
Tavares of course is from the Greater Toronto Area originally, and played his minor hockey there before heading to Oshawa and the OHL. There have been rumors for years that the team would attempt to sign him should he ever reach free agency, though those were purely speculative in nature. Tavares for his part has never indicated that he would like to return to Toronto, or even leave the Islanders in the first place. Still, with every passing day the idea that he will at least listen to other teams gains credibility just as it did with Steven Stamkos. Stamkos, for what it’s worth, did entertain a pitch from the Maple Leafs before deciding to re-sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Maple Leafs have huge decisions to make this summer when it comes to their own young players, as William Nylander is a restricted free agent while Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are eligible for extensions. Jake Gardiner, one of the team’s best defensemen is entering the final year of his current contract and would likely need a substantial raise to remain with the team. All of that puts Toronto in a precarious position when pitching to a player like Tavares, who will likely demand one of the biggest contracts in NHL history and become the second highest-paid player in the league behind Connor McDavid. While the Toronto media has been speculating about ways around a contract that would bring a big cap hit to the Maple Leafs, the league—and players’ union—are surely keeping a close eye on the situation.
New GM Kyle Dubas could make a huge splash by landing Tavares, though the team would have plenty of tough times ahead fitting the group under the cap. Even acquiring the superstar center doesn’t fix some of the problems the Maple Leafs have faced on the back end, where they’ve struggled defensively for years. A trio of Tavares, Matthews and Nazem Kadri up the middle would be one of the league’s best, but could come at the cost of help elsewhere on the roster.
In the end, all this confirms is that Toronto will be one of the bidders come July 1st should Tavares reach free agency. He’s expected to garner many offers, and he’ll have to choose if heading home is a priority.
Is it really smart for the Leafs to give Tavares a huge contract when they have Mathews, Marner & Nylander soon due new contracts? Tavares is a great player, but offense really isn’t Toronto’s issue. They need defense more than they need Tavares. They’d be smarter to make a pitch to John Carlson. That is a bigger need than adding Tavares
or they figure why pay nylander in the vicinity of 6 million when you can use him as a trade chip for a d man and sign Tavares. they won’t have a need for all 3 of the kids if Tavares was to sign long term and many teams would like a player under 23 who can put up 20-25 goals a season.
Maybe Nylander to Carolina for a Dman
Could we see a move between rivals potentially? Nylander to Boston for Krug and a prospect? Ideally Boston would then turn around and add another defenseman to pair with Carlo on the 2nd pair, but that would give Boston two lethal lines. They probably have the defensive depth to make that deal as well.
I’m not sure nylander plays the type of gritty skill style Boston covets. certainly has skills but the B’s like their players to have some toughness and I’m not sure you can say that about nylander on the ice.
Personally, despite injuries to AM this year, I see only him and MM sticking around in toronto long-term. Tavaras would be a huge benefit, but the Marlies just brought the first hockey championship to Toronto since 1967…and they’ve got plenty of fast and young talent with the Marlies that could make an impact in the next season or two!
They probably have 2 scenarios playing out. sign Tavares and make a trade or try and sign bozak and a dman. Thats my guess.
Leafs are trying to build a Stanley Cup team!!!! Strong Centre is where it begins, for the success the team is trying to achieve doesn’t necessarily mean they need to keep Nylander!!! He might have to be traded . . . . anyone think of that?
The Leafs defense is nowhere near good enough to win a Stanley Cup. Tavares isn’t going to help in that area. He already knows what it is like to play on a team with a poor defense. While the Leafs’ defense is better than the Islanders, it is not anywhere close to a Stanley Cup winning defensive corps. They need to strength the back end & while Nylander will bring back a quality d-man, he isn’t likely to bring back a #1 defenseman & that is what the Leafs really need. They need a #1 d-man a lot more than they need Tavares. The Leafs have enough offense
A Nylander and Gardiner package could get most teams top dman
Teams don’t trade #1D men. Karlsson may be the only exception to this rule, but that’s because of Hoffman’s fiancé (kidding, sorta) and he’s on a crappy team and contract year
Eric so what is your proposal. keep nylander as get what #1 d man and please don’t say Carlson. while he had a great season and playoff, he is the best of a bad bunch this year and certainly will be overpaid.
What is the point of trading Gardiner to get another d-man? The Leafs need their d crops to be better & deeper. Trading him doesn’t accomplish that. Also, what team is going to trade their #1 d-man for Nylander & Gardiner?
Carlson is a top pair d-man. He’s better than any d-man on the Leafs by a good margin. I’m not saying that the Leafs should necessarily keep Nylander. I just don’t think he is going to get you the defenseman you need in a trade. He will get a quality d-man that will help the corps be deeper, but he won’t get you the difference maker you need. I also don’t think John Tavares is what the Leafs need. Offense is not their problem. It isn’t the reason they haven’t won in the playoffs. Defense is. Adding Tavares doesn’t help you improve that area. It looks like the philosophy of we can’t stop you, so we’re going to outscore you. That is not how you win championships.
stating he is the too d man on a poor d isn’t a high bar. yes Carlson is good and would help but I don’t see him as a game changer. that Washington d has a ton of depth and guys who play defense allowing Carlson to do what he does best and push the puck up ice and create offense. guys like Reilly do that as well but when you have a lost little boy on the ice (gardner) taking risks can backfire. The Leafs could definitely use a #1 but they need Defensive Depth. Guys who can skate but are more stay at home and physical. this is where I think Orlov is incredibly underrated.
Gardiner one of their best Defencemen? Are you alright?
For every giveaway he has 20 good breakout passes. How many times did he send Nylander on a breakaway last year lol Maybe he’ll take last years playoffs and grow from it. He has the ability to be a 60pt dman, in my opinion.
PJB I don’t think anyone questions Gardner’s offense, they question his defense and mental game in his own zone. he is a great skater and can make a good pass, that doesnt create a defenceman. if Gardner was a wing he could be great. I think he gets too much credit for his offensive game when his goal is to help keep pucks out of his own goal. he didn’t just have a bad playoff game, it was a bad series and he looked lost on most plays. When he doesn’t have the puck he has no idea where to be and if that’s what is constantly being thrown out there for the Leafs, the Cup isn’t getting close to them.
Its a work in progress, the team is just getting started, let’s not get stuck that Marner, Mathews and especially Nylander are ingredients for championship runs, I say a Tavares and Mathews as 1 and 2 is a good base as a start.