John Tavares a Leaf in 2018?

[hockeyfan1]

According to New York Post writer Larry Brooks, New York Islanders captain John Tavares may very well become a Toronto Maple Leaf in the year 2018.


Tavares, who's in his fourth year of a six year contract at $5.5M/Y, is frustrated with the Islanders state of affairs.  Firstly, the Islanders play at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, but practice in Long Island.  The commute is said to be tiring and many of the players including Tavares, are fed up of this arrangement.  There is currently no practice facility for the hockey team in Brooklyn, strange as it all sounds.


Secondly, considering that the Islanders haven't made much stride in their quest to advance in the playoffs (their early exit last season) and there's no telling how they will fare this post-season neither. 


With Tavares becoming an impending UFA in two years, the thought of him being signed by the Leafs will surely make many fans happy, even though Tavares will be all of 27 by then, but certainly a good addition to a Leaf team that may begin to blossom into a competitive unit.


Who knows?  We'll see.



http://nypost.com/2016/02/13/why-brooklyn-frustrated-john-tavares-could-bolt-to-leafs-in-18/

[Peter D.]

Yes please.

[herman]

I'm also queuing up the Subban and McDavid rumours because Mike Babcock said he will make Toronto a safe place and players from the GTA will want to come back.

Larry Brooks is the NYP writer for the Rangers. I think he's just lobbing a flashbang into the Islander's territory and he knows that mentioning Toronto will generate traction even though it is all unsubstantiated speculation.

[Nik]

Yeah, this doesn't seem like anything other than the "Player X is from Ontario, you know what else is in Ontario? The Leafs!" stuff we've probably heard about 95% of local players.

[CarltonTheBear]

My dad told me he's signing with the Leafs guys, book it.

[Peter D.]

The question is, will a 27 soon to be 28-year old whose best days may be behind him fit well within the team's building strategy consisting of a bunch of 19- to 22-year olds?

[bustaheims]

Ugh. Another two year "will he or won't he?" Lovely.

[herman]

That being said...

Top GTA players to bring home from up to 2 jurisdictions outside of Toronto and of a vintage that they'd be useful to Toronto in our projected timeframe of success:

• McDavid
• Tavares
• Subban
• Seguin
• Stamkos

Did I forget anyone?

[tweet]700171462544494592[/tweet]

[RedLeaf]

The question is, will a 27 soon to be 28-year old whose best days may be behind him fit well within the team's building strategy consisting of a bunch of 19- to 22-year olds?

Its not a bad backup plan if the rebuild doesn't get off the ground. What would the oilers do if they had Stamkos and Tavares banging at the door I wonder?

[Nik]

Isn't McDavid from Newmarket? Cause I feel like we're already pushing it with Markham.

[CarltonTheBear]

Isn't McDavid from Newmarket? Cause I feel like we're already pushing it with Markham.

There's an exemption allowed for players who grew up with Leafs posters in their room.

But all that's still in the GTA.

[louisstamos]

Didn't P.K sign a giant extension with Montreal relatively recently?  Is there talk about them trading him, or are we talking about him signing as a UFA in 2022 or whenever it would be.

[bustaheims]

Didn't P.K sign a giant extension with Montreal relatively recently?  Is there talk about them trading him, or are we talking about him signing as a UFA in 2022 or whenever it would be.

Not until after Tavares doesn't hit UFA status or doesn't sign with the Leafs.

[AvroArrow]

Jeezus, lets not start this shit... ::)

[LuncheonMeat]

Didn't P.K sign a giant extension with Montreal relatively recently?  Is there talk about them trading him, or are we talking about him signing as a UFA in 2022 or whenever it would be.

Not until after Tavares doesn't hit UFA status or doesn't sign with the Leafs.

Not necessarily. Subban was benched in the final minute of last night's game. The Leafs will have first shot once the Habs waive him.