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John Tavares signed a seven-year, $ 77 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.
The 27-year-old captain of the New York Islanders since 2013-14 has been selected by New York with the # 1 pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, as a fan of the Maple Leafs.
"That was quite the process," said Tavares at the Scotiabank Arena. "… it was hard, you have been in a place for so long, you are so anchored, your roots are so deep there and you care so much about people, and people who care about you.
"It really took the right opportunity and the right cut. I thought the timing could not be beat. Certainly from here, and I think about where this team is and how good and young their players are … it was hard to refuse. It was difficult to refuse this opportunity. It's obviously one of the first organizations, not just in hockey, but in the sport.
"When I was a kid, I encouraged the Leafs to grow up, you would start feeling those feelings again, once I passed the interview process and got I got said the timing was too good, that I did not want to refuse, that I was a child who watched the Leafs and followed my favorite players. Maple leaf. "
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The Maple Leafs were one of six teams Tavares discussed in Los Angeles last week, including the Islanders, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning.
"I think we had a lot of hope, we thought we had a very good deal," said Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas. "All we did was 39 is to introduce the people we have here, the coaching staff, Brendan's leadership and the rest of our team. "
" I think the most important part was to introduce the players. play with, and in the end … that's why players want to come to different places, because the players with whom they will play and be with every day in the team. And our guys were very, very good to let him know how we work and what he could expect here. "
Video: Tavares presented as a member of the Maple Leafs
The maximum contract that he could It took seven years to any team other than the Islanders, and it is believed that New York offered him the maximum of eight years.
"I think all the teams I've met were great and I took it very seriously." The commitment that it meant for these teams to travel to Los Angeles to introduce myself, I did not want to include someone in there to waste time. I wanted to be very complete, I wanted to be very honest and very open to everything.
"But on our return from Los Angeles I had the impression that my heart was in two places: from where I come from, and where I have been for a long time that has helped become the man I am today.their intestine was tearing, my heart was tearing apart trying to figure out what I wanted to do. "
Tavares could have re-signed with Islanders anytime after July 1st. He took his "I knew it was maybe a little uncomfortable thing to do, but I did not want it to hold me back from taking a chance at a great opportunity," Tavares said. to do my best and do my best and, of course, we will be able to do special things. "
Lou Lamoriello was hired by the Islanders as President of the Hockey Operations on May 22. After three seasons as Maple Leafs general manager Lamoriello took the Islanders general manager position on June 5 after firing GM Garth Snow and coach Doug Weight and said the changes had nothing to do with Tavares Barry Trotz, who coached the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup last season, was hired June 21.
These steps were not enough to convince Tavares to stay in New York, where he played all season of The New York Islanders would like to thank John Tavares for all he has done for the franchise over the last nine seasons, "said Lamoriello. A declaration. "John has had great individual success on the ice and has dedicated a lot of his time and energy to the community, and we wish him the best of luck."
Video: Rosen and Tanguay Take a Look at the Tavares Decision
In the Modern Era of the Free NHL Agency, which debuted in 1995 , a choice No. 1 had never chosen to leave the team that had drafted it to sign with another. [Saturday] was a heck of a day, "said Tavares." You can ask my fiancee just how many times I've walked into the pool of my house, just to try to figure it out. that I wanted to do and the path I wanted to take. The moment where is this organization, where is the team, obviously the connection to be here … I think this team has such an opportunity, not just for the first years of my contract. What was important, it was every seven years, to really believe that there was a big window to win and be part of something special, and to be here, you start to feel these emotions. the meeting we had, my feelings during the few days then [Saturday] I felt really good and that was what I wanted to do.
The Maple Leafs have qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs have not won a series since 2004 or the Stanley Cup since 1967. They finished third in the NTIC Atlético Division the season last (49-26-7) and lost to the Bruins in the first round of the Eastern Conference in seven games.
"Late last night, it became clear that it was the way John was leaning with his decision," Dubas told me. "Then we had to make a deal, of course, very, very late last night in the morning and this morning."
Tavares had 84 points (37 goals, 47 assists) last season and his 621 points (272 goals, 349 Passes) He ranked fifth in the history of the Islanders and first among the players who did not play in the four consecutive Stanley Cup New York teams from 1980 to 1983. He has led the Islanders in seven of his nine seasons in the NHL and finished at least two seconds.
He has scored at least 24 goals each season and 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 24 playoff games. He scored in the second overtime of a 2-1 win against the Florida Panthers in the sixth game of the first round of the Eastern Conference in 2016 to give the Islanders their only win in the playoffs playoff since 1993.
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