Tavares Deep Market Center and beyond

NHL teams looking for a center are lucky, especially those who can get an audience with John Tavares.

It is not a secret that Tavares is where the free agency begins. He and his representatives have already met the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Boston Bruins and the San Jose Sharks and are expected to meet with the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. The Nashville Predators, the Vegas Golden Knights and the current Tavares team, the New York Islanders, are also in the running for the 27-year-old superstar.

"We had a discussion about that," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said on Saturday in the NHL Entry Draft. I think it's still a little to be determined. "

As the number one stand-alone player, Tavares not only distributes his rose as the "The Bachelor" version of hockey, he can set the tone for other players available. Only Islanders can offer an eight-year contract – unless they run a signature to recover value – and he could very well become the second highest-paid player in the league behind the Oilers captain. Edmonton, Connor McDavid. $ 12.5 million per season.

& # 39; & # 39; I think (to) 91Tavares should join the Sharks! & # 39; & # 39; Joe Pavelski's grandmother, San Jose captain Joe Ann, tweeted.

As soon as Tavares decides to stay with the Islanders or sign elsewhere, the movement will begin.

Paul Stastny should be the best center available after 15 points in 17 playoff games with Winnipeg. Tyler Bozak of Toronto, 32, could be a fallback plan for teams that will not sign Tavares, and Buffalo will continue to receive calls about star Ryan O'Reilly as a push of the contenders for add sets of talent. up

The Sharks are in the middle of many of these conversations. Owner Hasso Plattner, General Manager Doug Wilson and Coach Peter DeBoer made their presentation to Tavares at the Creative Artists' office in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

& # 39; & # 39; We are exploring everything, every opportunity, "said Wilson Saturday after Ilya Kovalchuk chose to sign with Los Angeles. It's a good thing that I think players consider our place as a place that they want to consider. "

The Lightning, which has re-signed JT Miller, which has a five-year deal with $ 26.25 million, is an attractive destination for Tavares and others, having reached the final of the Conference of the East with a young core, but the Tampa Bay pay gap is tight.

& # 39; & # 39; We should be making room, "said General Manager Steve Yzerman. We will have to make room if we bring a significant salary. "

Dallas may soon be agreeing with Tyler Seguin's center for a long-term contract, but it has much more ceiling space than Tampa Bay to use this summer. Expect GM Jim Nill to be active.

& # 39; & # 39; We will receive many calls from players, "Nill said. & # 39; & # 39; It's exciting to see what's out there. & # 39; & # 39;

Here are some things to look for in the free agency beyond Tavares:

THE WING WITH JVR

Only two unrestricted free-agent players have scored 30 goals this season: Tavares and Maple Leafs left-winger James van Riemsdyk, who had 36 points in a year after recording 62 career points in 2016-17. The teams will not normally let a 6-footer, 3-inch player, like Van Riemsdyk, go through on July 1, but the Maple Leafs will be pressed into future capital cities with young stars Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander. the road.

With that in mind, van Riemsdyk could easily get a free seven-year contract in a free agency – perhaps the New York Rangers for which he grew up, or Islanders or Devils nearby. The New Jersey acquisition, Patrick Maroon, and veteran Rick Nash are also doing business with teams looking for big strikers capable of filling the net.

"We had excellent communication with Rick and his officials," Sweeney said of Nash, who the Bruins traded in February. & # 39; & # 39; Time is at his court and at his stage to initiate all the discussions that he wants where he wants to go. I think he's strongly indicated that Boston is a place he would consider and we would do it. "

GOALTENDERS DEFECTIVE

Harvesting of available plugs lacks safe starters. Veterans Jaroslav Halak, Kari Lehtonen and Cam Ward have already done so, but they may be at the stage of their careers having to share their time.

Carter Hutton, 32, is not the No. 1 in the NHL, but he seems to have that potential after his save percentage of .931 last season, who was the best of the goaltenders who participated in at least 20 games. The teams could also attempt a shot at goaltenders who have not been retained as free officers and who are now ready to sign to sign anywhere: Robin Lehner and Petr Mrazek .

The story continues