Confirmed with Link: Tavares to Toronto (7 years, $11M AAV)

[TheFloater]

Can we just skip ahead to training camp?

 

[Joey Hoser]

Happy Canada will forever be known as Happy John Tavares Day at least in TO it will. !!!!!!!!!

I've given you a hard time occasionally over the years, but let me say I'm pleased to see you this happy after all these years.

 

[MJ65]

 

[Derekhanna89]

Man, i can't wait to see this offense in action next year.

 

[DarkKnight]

Have to admit, seeing all this hatred for the Leafs from other Canadian teams in particular....oh how sweet the nectar today, the envy of everyone. Enjoy.

 

[Pocket Hercules]

Holy crap, them Islanders fans are going next level. I understand being upset you didn’t get to trade him for a few assets but they are going hard after his fiancé, calling him a sociopath and seem to think Lou’s going to offersheet Matthews.

****ing whackadoos over there.

I sympathize with the level headed Isles fans, but to all of the ones like the above...f*** YOU!!!! I vividly remember those type of Isles fans burning the Canadian flag in the Nassau Coliseum parking lot during the 2002 playoffs solely because we were winning the series. f***ing lowlifes...looks good on them!!!

 

[PromisedLand]

Getting Tavares also makes it much easier to insert young wingers like Johnsson and Kapanen up in the lineup because there going to be playing with a really good center.

This takes off alot of pressure off the young players we would have been expecting to contribute next season.

Johnsson - Tavares - Marner would be a really exciting line to try out. Give him two really speedy wingers with great playmaking abilities.

So many possibilities now with this get.

if I had the option of making the lines then:

Johnsson-Tavares-Marner
Leivo-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Kadri-Kapanen
Hyman-GOAT-Brown
Grundstrom

OR spread the love

Leivo-Tavares-Marner
Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Kadri-Brown
Johnsson-GOAT-Kapanen
Grundstrom

 

[The Masters]

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/babcock-it-was-great-to-see-john-make-this-decision~1430399

babs talking

 

[The Masters]

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/tavare...fetime-opportunity-i-couldn-t-pass-up~1430395

tavares talking
both tsn

 

[weems]

Have to admit, seeing all this hatred for the Leafs from other Canadian teams in particular....oh how sweet the nectar today, the envy of everyone. Enjoy.

All the hate is basically a compliment to our current situation.

All those fans that were ripping our D or drastically downplaying how good we already were obviously were very concerned at the thought of Tavares joining our group.

Deep down many of the haters know how stacked we are and getting Tavares would make us one scary team.

 

[Daisy Jane]

A lot of clamoring for teams to come and offer sheet our big three. William Nylander is now vulnerable to that.

I would be interested in seeing them resolve Nylander ASAP, lock Matthews into the same deal as Tavares' AAV and see where Marner is at.

honestly -
if someone wanted to offer-sheet anyone
if it's a crap team - do it, because I love Will, but it's not like it would make that big of a difference to said crap team, and you can't lotto pick offer sheet picks.

if it's a great team. do it, and trade'em to a bad team for a bucketload anyway.

but as offer sheets never happen it's moot.
we'll get him signed.

 

[Daisy Jane]

All the hate is basically a compliment to our current situation.

All those fans that were ripping our D or drastically downplaying how good we already were obviously were very concerned at the thought of Tavares joining our group.

Deep down many of the haters know how stacked we are and getting Tavares would make us one scary team.

I love it.
While you can argue centre wise we may be 3rd in our conference.
Pitt/WSH, fourth if you put Tampa in there

I think as a whole forwards - we're damned scarier now

 

[Glenn Isildur Healy]

It's about time we surrounded Hyman with some talent

 

[JohnTonelliRises]

I sympathize with the level headed Isles fans, but to all of the ones like the above...**** YOU!!!! I vividly remember those type of Isles fans burning the Canadian flag in the Nassau Coliseum parking lot during the 2002 playoffs solely because we were winning the series. ****ing lowlifes...looks good on them!!!

Without bothering to recognize the antics of other fans, our fanbase has the right to be slightly frustrated. He could of told us he wanted out several months ago, I don't know the exact discussions that took place, but it doesn't look great when any player pulls what he pulled.

I can't blame him though, we've been the epitome of a joke organization for the last 14 years. We've only recently started to right the ship with bringing LL and Trotz onboard (which makes JT's tactics questionable in that he really never let on that he wanted to leave).

Either way, great FA signing regardless of what has transpired.

 

[inthe6ix]

I know it shouldn't, but Lou's "individual success" comment pisses me off.

Was also hoping we would get to see him don the jersey with a C during today's presser, but guess I can wait.

What's a few more months, when we've been waiting 9 years for him to come home!

 

[TimPeel]

New

I would like to thank the Islanders Organization, Charles Wang, and Garth Snow for drafting and developing John Tavares. I would also like to thank Lou Lamierollo for rebuilding the Leafs organization for making today possible!​

 

[The Masters]

Babcock is so smart

very good communicator ... love listening to him. Im sure JT was impressed by babs' words at the interview.

happy for babs

 

[weems]

I love it.
While you can argue centre wise we may be 3rd in our conference.
Pitt/WSH, fourth if you put Tampa in there

I think as a whole forwards - we're damned scarier now

Getting Tavares has essentially eliminated the Matthews being targeted and shutdown gameplan.

Now you try that and boom Tavares and others will crush you.

Having three centers of this quality is something you dream of when thinking about best case scenario.

Remember when Sundin left and how long we looked so weak at C? Crazy to think we have essentially three star C's if you put it into perspective of comparing them to others who play on those lines.

Kadri is going to be the best 3rd line center in the league and we have enough talent to put around him to have 3 great scoring lines.

Tavares changes the entire dynamics of our offense and limits the opposing teams ability to shut us down.

 

[Stand Witness]

Reilly just RTd this on twitter.

NSFW

 

[XXIV97]

I hate the Leafs but good signing! Hopefully, Parayko comes back to Edmonton in Free Agency too!

Good Luck!

 

[inthe6ix]

All the hate is basically a compliment to our current situation.

All those fans that were ripping our D or drastically downplaying how good we already were obviously were very concerned at the thought of Tavares joining our group.

Deep down many of the haters know how stacked we are and getting Tavares would make us one scary team.

what they fail to realize is that we went through a similar situation with sundin who refused to be traded and then we lost our captain for nothing.. he was a bit older but nonetheless it's not like we don't know where they are coming from, even a little

 

[Pocket Hercules]

Without bothering to recognize the antics of other fans, our fanbase has the right to be slightly frustrated. He could of told us he wanted out several months ago, I don't know the exact discussions that took place, but it doesn't look great when any player pulls what he pulls.

I can't blame him though, we've been the epitome of a joke organization for the last 14 years. We've only recently started to right the ship with bringing LL and Trotz onboard (which makes JT's tactics questionable in that he really never let on that he wanted to leave).

Either way, great FA signing regardless of what has transpired.

Of course...you guys have every right to feel frustrated. I would as well if the tables were turned. But the clowns that are wishing him ill will, calling his wife and family names, and blaming us Leaf fans for how all of this all unfolded comes across as childish and immature. Again, I know not all Isles fans are bad apples, but some of the stuff that I've read in this forum was completely over the top and uncalled for. But anyways, thanks for the well wishes, and I wish your team success in the next season.

 

[Superstar]

masai the goat

That's really being creative and using all your resources...kudos to Dubas.

 

[lovemyleafs]

 

[Mikeyg]

Man I just have this vision of 91 burying so many sauces from 16. Damnit still 2 more months until preseason!!!