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The boy fainted on the picture with eyes closed and mouth agape. It is 11:41 pm, at least after the waking of Star Wars (19459005), perched on his childhood bed. Who knows exactly what fantasies crossed his mind that night many years ago, but that's not hard to guess. Just look at the pillowcase, blanket, fitted sheets … all sporting the blue and white colors and logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
John Tavares tweeted this picture at 1:06 pm Sunday afternoon, five minutes after finishing a 159-word goodbye to his former club with a simple statement that shook the hockey world: "Its time to live my childhood dream here in Toronto. Of course, any grammatical error can be forgiven given the week of torture that preceded this decision. "My instinct was torn apart," he told reporters later, dressed in a dark blue suit with a Maple Leafs pin attached to his left lapel. "My heart was torn apart trying to figure out what I wanted to do."
Finally, his heart and instinct – as well as his silky hands and hawkish vision – wanted Tavares to sign with Toronto for seven years and $ 77 million. dollars, a major city reduction compared to what the New York Islanders would have offered to retain his services as captain and front-line center. They were among the six suitors who came down on Beverly Hills last week, queuing in front of CAA's office of agent Pat Brisson as if it were Odysseus' palace. Representatives of the Bruins, Lightning, Sharks and Stars also made pilgrimages, trying to sell Tavares under the sun or cold money, immediate hopes or future projects, this or that. But Toronto offered two things that no one else could do: the best young NHL star and the feeling of belonging.
"I knew it was a bit uncomfortable to do," Tavares said at his introductory press conference. "But I did not want it to hold me back from taking a chance at a great opportunity."
Uncomfortable? Sure. Tavares is a sweet and monotonous superstar whose personal story rarely exceeds his supreme ability to pass and shoot pucks. He spent nine years on Long Island after being named # 1 in the overall standings in 2009, creating a turnaround that saw three consecutive seasons of 40 wins and three playoff appearances in four years. He is now 27, engaged to the fiancée Aryne Fuller, looking at the next stage of her life and career. Any movement – especially on the fiercest NHL market, hungry for its first Stanley Cup since 1967 – would certainly require mental adjustment.
But the greatest independent player since Boston's Zdeno Chara is certainly not, as some have described, a leap of blind faith. In Toronto, Tavares will form a three-headed monster in the middle alongside Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri who rivals the depth of the Stanley Cup champion in Washington (Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom, Lars Eller) and the recently dethroned Penguins ( Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Derick Brassard). There is dynamic winger Mitch Marner, who will open the season by skirting the right side of Tavares, not to mention defenseman Morgan Rielly, 24, of winger William Nylander, 22, and many other hopes.
As a player sent a text message to SI.com as a result of Tavares' decision: "Juiced like hell, it's great for leaf fans."
No, the signature does not guarantee instant success, even in the Atlantic Division. He also does not guarantee that Tavares, whose 0.98 points per game since -11 -12 rank sixth in the league, will advance beyond the second round for the first time in his career. The Lightning are still loaded after reaching their third conference final in four seasons. The Bruins are still perhaps the most dangerous trio in the NHL with Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. Even the Panthers are hiding in their swampy shadow, south Florida, ready to get up on the backs of Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and recently acquired winger Mike Hoffman. And who knows what domino effect will trigger this signing for Carolina's Jeff Skinner, Max Pacioretty of Montreal and the other fronts whose commercial destinies were suspended until fumata bianca sort of residency from Tavares to Toronto? 19659009] But do not forget that the ping pong balls made up for Matthews, before veteran Patrick Marleau signed the final offseason, before 32-year-old general manager Kyle Dubas replaced Lou Lamoriello behind the wheel. back the biggest free agency fish. Matthews, Marner and Nylander will all order major contract extensions soon, but these are problems for the distant days. After all, know how many boys and girls from the Toronto area fell asleep Sunday night, wrapped in their sheets of maple leaves, and dreamed of a Stanley Cup closer than their young lives did. Have never known
• What will happen to Islanders now that their franchise superstar is slender for more blue pastures? They offered eight years – more, apparently, enough scratch to fill the Long Island Strait – and still came out empty handed. Deep signatures like Leo Komarov (four years, $ 12 million) and Valtteri Filppula (one year, $ 2.75 million) will not fill the void, and the team still needs a another goalkeeper alongside Thomas Greiss. Forwards Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier, aged 21, are sure-fire players, but Lamoriello and new coach Barry Trotz will have their hands full to push back the Islanders.
• Other than Tavares, July 1st turned out to be a snoozer. The NHL interview window is a transparent joke just like its counterpart in the NBA; If precise figures can not be discussed, how James van Riemsdyk (Philadelphia, five, $ 35 million), Jack Johnson (Pittsburgh, five, $ 16.25 million) and Paul Stastny (Vegas, three, 19 , 5 million) in advance? At least the Pacific Division played its role by replacing the time-out between the eight-year extensions started by Logan Couture of San Jose ($ 64 million), Drew Doughty of Los Angeles ($ 88 million) and Oliver Ekman- Larsson of Arizona ($ 66 million). 19659003] • High marks for St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong for splashing Ryan O & # 39; Reilly in a Buffalo exchange and fortifying his depth by signing Tyler Bozak and David Perron. Detained Jim Benning of Vancouver, after giving 12 million dollars over 12 years to Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel, who scored 12 goals in 152 games last season.
• Keeping Vegas in control for its second season. GM George McPhee continues to be on the lookout for the expired contract of Ottawa defender Erik Karlsson and has a pay margin, even with restricted freelancers William Karlsson, Shea Theodore, Colin Miller and others to sign. A magical inaugural campaign cemented the Knights of Gold as the first act of entertainment in town, but did McPhee hide anything else in his sleeve?
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