In a coup to the islanders, John Tavares joins the Maple Leafs

John Tavares, an Islander for nine years and captain of the team over the past five seasons, has decided to return home. He signed a $ 77 million contract Sunday with the Toronto Maple Leafs, which will strengthen the club but leave the Islanders without the long face of their franchise.

Tavares, 27, was the Islanders' first choice in 2009 and led the team to score seven times. His signing was marked by the double overtime goal against Florida in the 2016 playoffs, which saw the Islanders win the series. It's turned out to be the only winning streak that Tavares has won in his almost decade with the team.

"I'm excited to begin a new chapter in my career and my life in Toronto," Tavares said on his Twitter feed. after accepting the agreement with the Maple Leafs. "I feel very lucky to join a team with a young kernel and play where I grew up learning and loving the game."

The Islanders missed the playoffs for the second year in a row last. The Islanders made big changes to the front office after last season, hiring Lou Lamoriello as president of the hockey operations and then appointing him general manager instead of Garth Snow. Lamoriello, in turn, hired Barry Trotz, who led the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup last spring, to replace Doug Weight as a coach.

But that was not enough to convince Tavares to stay, even with the Islanders. Majority owner, Jon Ledecky, and Snow have repeatedly stated that they want Tavares to remain an Islander for his entire career.

"It was difficult," Tavares said Sunday. "You've been in this place for so long, you're so entrenched, your roots are so deep in there, you care so much about the people and the people who cared about you."

Tavares grew up in Toronto, in Ontario, where he grew up as a fan of the Maple Leafs.In his statement on Twitter, he said that he was "grateful to have had the opportunity to be insular as well. as long as me, "but he added that it was" time to live my childhood dream here in Toronto. "

Tavares maintained all season, he did not want his contract situation to be He watched his teammates Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen follow the same process two years ago and pointed out in April that there would be plenty of time to think about his future after the season. public choice after months of tension for the Islanders fan base.

s Islanders with an emerging leader at Mathew Barzal, who won the Calder Trophy last season as the league's best rookie. The 21-year-old led the team with 85 points (22 goals and 63 badists).

"I know it was a bittersweet day," said Tavares, "but I truly believe that they have a bright future ahead of them."

Tavares, meanwhile, will join a talented Maple Leafs team that includes Auston Matthews, the overall draft pick in 2016, and young stars William Nylander and Mitch Marner

The Maple Leafs has not won the Stanley Cup since 1967, the longest drought period of the National Hockey League.

In other free key deals announced on Sunday, the Rangers rehired the 25-year-old striker Vladislav Namestnikov to two year contract It was acquired in a Tampa Bay trade in which Ryan McDonagh and JT Miller went to the Lightning. "McDonagh, the former Rangers captain, signed a seven-year extension with Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Rangers also signed a one-year contract with ec defender Fredrik Claesson. The 25-year-old Swede has played for Ottawa in the last three seasons

The St. Louis Blues have recruited forward Tyler Bozak, the Vegas Golden Knights have added Paul Stastny and James Van Riemsdyk have Leaving Toronto to return to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Detroit Golden Wings have signed Mike Green and former Islanders forward Thomas Vanek. The Boston Bruins have signed former Islanders goalkeeper Jaroslav Halak for a two-year contract worth $ 5.5 million.

Chicago signed four-time Stanley Cup champion Chris Kunitz, goalkeeper Cam Ward and defenseman Brandon Manning. And the Phoenix Coyotes have signed the former Ranger and Islanders striker Michael Grabner for a three-year deal worth more than $ 10 million

The Islanders made a move by rehiring the defenseman Thomas Hickey for four years and $ 10 million. [ad_2]
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