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John Tavares only needed to post a single photo on his Twitter account to explain the hold that the Maple Leafs have had on him since his childhood in the suburbs of Toronto.
The photo featured a Tavares less than 10 years old, asleep on a pillowcase and under a blanket adorned with Maple Leafs logos, accompanied by a note that read: "Not all the days you can live a childhood dreaming. "
Bidding farewell to the New York Islanders, where he was captain and face of the franchise since he was selected with the # 1 pick in In 2009, Tavares chose Toronto and accepted a $ 77 million contract over seven years, an hour after the signing of the NHL free agency began on Sunday.
Tavares, 27, has spent last week evaluating offers from the Islanders and Lightning, as well as from San Jose, Toronto, Dallas and Boston, calling his most difficult decision of his life to choose between staying in New York or taking "an act of faith calculated into an opportunity that I believe will be special to me and my family
In the end, he could not avoid the lure presented by Toronto and informed the Maple Leafs that he chose them late Saturday night.
"I just thought this opportunity was so rare, the moment the organization is at, and obviously the connection is here," Tavares said. I really believe that there is a big window to win, to be part of something special.
Tavares, whose 306 points over the past four seasons rank sixth in the players' ranks, has been the most prominent player in the market since Minnesota Wild signed with Zach Parise and Ryan Suter's contracts.
Quick story about Lightning signing D Ryan McDonagh at a $ 47 million extension over seven years. Both players acquired Rangers in February now locked in the long run. https://t.co/M5N7n3vRmM
– Greg Auman (@gregauman) July 1, 2018
The signing of Tavares led to a domino effect in the movement of the players.
Toronto lost two free agency attackers. James van Riemsdyk left the Maple Leafs after six seasons to return to Philadelphia, where he signed a $ 35 million, five-year deal. The Leafs also lost center Tyler Bozak, who signed a $ 15 million three-year deal with St. Louis, which then strengthened his position by buying Ryan O'Reilly in a successful Sabers trade. of Buffalo.
A portion of the money that the Lightning has saved by not catching Tavares has been spent on signing defenseman Ryan McDonagh to a $ 47.25 million seven-year extension, which will begin next summer.
Paul Stastny caused another wave of moves in the Western Conference. He left Winnipeg to sign a $ 19.5 million, three-year contract with Stanley Cup finalist Stanley Cup winner Golden Golden, a place left open after David Perron returned to St. Louis by signing a $ 16 million deal dollars over four years.
Vegas striker James Neal is one of the most prominent free agents.
In Nashville, the Predators will focus their attention on negotiating a contract extension with defenseman Ryan Ellis, who is entering the final year of his contract. The Ottawa Senators should do the same with their captain, Erik Karlsson.
John Tavares is expected to shoot up to $ 11 million a year, far more than the Lightning pays its most established leaders. #TBLighting #GoBolts #Isles #Islanders @TB_Times @gregauman https://t.co/B8WIEpevN0
– TampaBayTimesSports (@TBTimes_Sports 29 June 2018
Tavares' signature has the potential to change the balance of power in the Eastern Conference.
He joins a young and talented group that already presents Auston Matthews, No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft, a veteran Patrick Marleau and a top coach from Mike Babbad
The Leafs, who have not won a championship since their last appearance at the Stanley Cup In 1967, have made progress in three years since the arrival of Babbad.Toronto has played in the playoffs in each of the last two seasons after qualifying only once in the last 11 years. It has not, however, pbaded the first round of is 2004.
Tavares specifically mentions Matthews and Mitchell Mitchell, 21-year-old Marner, who led the Leafs with 69 points last season, is right to be optimistic.
"They have accomplished so much in so little time, you can only think of the trajectory on which they evolve, and that is what excites me," Tavares said.
The Islanders struggled even with Tavares by qualifying for the playoffs only three times in nine seasons.
Now, they face a daunting upward escalation minus their undisputed leader and point-a-game producer. In order to retain Tavares, the team has undergone organizational transformation in recent months. They hired Lou Lamoriello as President of Hockey Operations and Barry Trotz, the new Stanley Cup winner, as a coach.
"The New York Islanders would like to thank John Tavares for all he has done for the franchise during his nine seasons," Lamoriello said in a statement released by the team. "We wish him the best for his family and him."
Don Sweeney, general manager of the Bruins, expressed a lament while bowing to Tavares.
"I would have preferred it not to be in our division," Sweeney said, referring to Tavares making the Metropolitan's move to the Atlantic Division. "We put our best foot forward, but that did not spoil us."
Other Notable Cases:
• Veteran defenseman Jack Johnson signed a five-year deal worth $ 16.25 million with Pittsburgh. Johnson, 31, is an NHL veteran for 12 years, having spent the past six seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
• The Colorado Avalanche added two former Blue Jackets by signing defenseman Ian Cole and forward Matt Calvert to three-year contracts. Cole gets $ 12.75 million and Calvert gets $ 8.4 million.
• The Sabers filled a need for the goalie goal by signing a $ 8.25-million contract with former Carter Hutton substitute St. Louis Blues. Hutton will share starting duties with Linus Ullmark, who is stowed to make the leap to Buffalo after three seasons in the minors.
• The Arizona Coyotes have Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Star Defender, signed an eight-year contract extension with an average value of $ 8.25 million per year.
• The San Jose Sharks announced a $ 64 million extension for eight years with the Logan Couture Center.
• The New York Rangers agreed to sign a restricted free agent endorsement, Vladislav Namestnikov, for a two-year, $ 8 million contract.
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