Speculation: Tavares to Toronto.... eventually?

[ThunderAlleyNomad]

I feel really bad for Isles fans and the vast majority of Leaf's fans that aren't insane. It's going to be a long stretch.

 

[Draiskull]

McDavid
Stamkos
Tavares

Atleast there is always someone to hope for in TOR.

 

[Leafs87]

Not this again

 

[Jozay]

Yeah sure, im down.

 

[DopeyFish]

This one has a real good chance of happening, too... the cap, toronto's talent up front and all their prospects align towards that season as being their first contention season.

 

[Christ]

Stop.

Sorry bud but you are going to have to brace yourself for the same kind of hoopla with JT as Tampa fans endured with regards to Stamkos. Maybe your fanbase will get lucky and Tavaras will sign early...

 

[ottawa]

Here we go again

 

[Riseonfire]

I think the Leafs should target Matthews as a free agent in a few years. He'll be a bit seasoned by then and cheaper AND younger than Tavares is now.

 

[Riseonfire]

Can we please keep threads like this locked until at LEAST July 1st? The Isles are legally not allowed to do any contract negotiating until then, so what's there to speculate on?

 

[SLAPSHOT723]

Can we please keep threads like this locked until at LEAST July 1st? The Isles are legally not allowed to do any contract negotiating until then, so what's there to speculate on?

But they didn't re-sign Okposo or Nielsen so how are they going to be able to keep Tavares?

 

[puckluck33*]

They should have their sights set on Jamie Benn next off season, is there a better winger out there for Matthews?

John Tavares and Jamie Benn will sign 8 year contracts before they ever become free agents.

 

[Dustin]

Nope. Matthews has changed the priorities for the future of this team. Now if you are talking #1 defenseman I'm all ears.

 

[Marlo Stanfield]

So are we gonna have to see these types of threads for the next 1-2 years now?

 

[Redline]

Oh no. Are people actually buying Strachans snake oil?
Too much.

Feel sorry for Islanders and Leafs fans.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

No wonder nobody likes us.

 

[HarrisonFord]

So are we gonna have to see these types of threads for the next 1-2 years now?

No. I'd say most Leaf fans are aware the Tavares isn't coming to Toronto

 

[Maukkis]

I can't think of a legal way in which the Isles can screw up so badly that Tavares wants to leave.

 

[Mad Brills*]

The factors that led to stamkos coming 48 hours within being a UFA won't happen here.

 

[BreakingGood]

Okay, so, I've posted ITT a lot, especially considering I don't think Tavares is coming here. But for me, it's kinda dumb to say guys don't want to come home. In my lifetime, the Leafs have gotten Curtis Joseph, Gary Roberts, Shayne Corson, Joe Nieuwendyk, Mike Peca, Eric Lindros, Jason Allison, David Clarkson, and Jeff O'Neill, all of whom stated their reasons for coming to Toronto was because they wanted to play here. Yes, they were mostly older. Also, the last time the Leafs were any good, the UFA age was 31. Nieuwendyk didn't sign until training camp because the GM situation was totally unsettled, and yes, O'Neill was a trade, but you can remember the context of him saying he had doubts he'd get a qualfying offer from Carolina, and that if he didn't, he hoped to make it work in Toronto, and yes, they did overpay for Jason Allison.

Some additional situations: Doug Gilmour always had issues in Calgary, despite scoring the Cup winning goal there. Flames fans were more principled about his alleged affair with an underaged girl, and he was never super well received there. He was also in the middle of a contract dispute. He demanded a trade specifically to Toronto. Gary Roberts also asked for a trade back to Toronto after leaving, though that was to be closer to his daughter. We all also remember Eric Lindros demanding a trade to the Leafs, and backing off it and accepting other teams when he realized Bobby Clarke wasn't going to give him what he wanted. It's worth noting that by all accounts, both Roberts and Lindros grew up Habs fans. Then there's Marc Savard, who it's been reported offered to sign at a discounted price with the Leafs when he went to Boston, but the Leafs were focusing on defense, and spent their money on Pavel Kubina and Hal Gill instead. Mike Cammalleri walked to the ACC to negotiate with Dave Nonis, and basically every reporter in Calgary said he'd be a Leaf, and he gave several answers for why he "chose" Montreal that never made any sense, before in the last year or so saying "it never really got that far" with Toronto. Burke probably didn't want him. Was it stupid for the Leafs to turn down Savard and Cammalleri? Well, yeah. But they both seemed very willing to come. Sean Avery also said he wanted to try to make it work in Toronto in 2008, and the Leafs said no, and well, for good reason.

The problem is that for the last twelve years, the Leafs have been terrible or capped out, but usually terrible and capped out. Guys aren't going to a bad team just because they grew up here, and in fact, even if the Leafs were good, there aren't a lot of guys that will risk injury not re-signing as early as possible just to get it done. But if a GTA native is a free agent, and the Leafs are good, and their offer is competitive, yeah, I think they have an advantage. The problem in this scenario is that the Leafs aren't very good right now, and the Islanders are pretty good, and of all guys, I don't think it's wise to assume Tavares would want to maneuver his way to Toronto. He's too understated, and he's a 25 year old millionaire on a good team in New York City. The Leafs would have to be an inch away from the Stanley Cup to even compete with that scenario.

So, Tavares isn't happening, and won't come close. It's really dumb, I think, to assume this sort of thing will never happen. I don't get why fans of other teams think this is impossible. The Canucks got guys like Dan Hamhuis to go home, and the Alberta teams both seem to fairly regularly get Alberta guys? Brian Rafalski went home to Michigan, and I'd bet you Jimmy Vesey is headed to Boston. There have been plenty of guys for several teams to want to go home. But they also don't want to play for a loser. That's the problem. Let's have this conversation again when the Leafs have won a playoff round in HD. It might be a while.

 

[Yemack]

You need to throw a bone to your dog once in awhile so your dog doesn't chew the **** out of something it should not.

 

[Mad Brills*]

Okay, so, I've posted ITT a lot, especially considering I don't think Tavares is coming here. But for me, it's kinda dumb to say guys don't want to come home. In my lifetime, the Leafs have gotten Curtis Joseph, Gary Roberts, Shayne Corson, Joe Nieuwendyk, Mike Peca, Eric Lindros, Jason Allison, David Clarkson, and Jeff O'Neill, all of whom stated their reasons for coming to Toronto was because they wanted to play here. Yes, they were mostly older. Also, the last time the Leafs were any good, the UFA age was 31. Nieuwendyk didn't sign until training camp because the GM situation was totally unsettled, and yes, O'Neill was a trade, but you can remember the context of him saying he had doubts he'd get a qualfying offer from Carolina, and that if he didn't, he hoped to make it work in Toronto, and yes, they did overpay for Jason Allison.

Some additional situations: Doug Gilmour always had issues in Calgary, despite scoring the Cup winning goal there. Flames fans were more principled about his alleged affair with an underaged girl, and he was never super well received there. He was also in the middle of a contract dispute. He demanded a trade specifically to Toronto. Gary Roberts also asked for a trade back to Toronto after leaving, though that was to be closer to his daughter. We all also remember Eric Lindros demanding a trade to the Leafs, and backing off it and accepting other teams when he realized Bobby Clarke wasn't going to give him what he wanted. It's worth noting that by all accounts, both Roberts and Lindros grew up Habs fans. Then there's Marc Savard, who it's been reported offered to sign at a discounted price with the Leafs when he went to Boston, but the Leafs were focusing on defense, and spent their money on Pavel Kubina and Hal Gill instead. Mike Cammalleri walked to the ACC to negotiate with Dave Nonis, and basically every reporter in Calgary said he'd be a Leaf, and he gave several answers for why he "chose" Montreal that never made any sense, before in the last year or so saying "it never really got that far" with Toronto. Burke probably didn't want him. Was it stupid for the Leafs to turn down Savard and Cammalleri? Well, yeah. But they both seemed very willing to come. Sean Avery also said he wanted to try to make it work in Toronto in 2008, and the Leafs said no, and well, for good reason.

The problem is that for the last twelve years, the Leafs have been terrible or capped out, but usually terrible and capped out. Guys aren't going to a bad team just because they grew up here, and in fact, even if the Leafs were good, there aren't a lot of guys that will risk injury not re-signing as early as possible just to get it done. But if a GTA native is a free agent, and the Leafs are good, and their offer is competitive, yeah, I think they have an advantage. The problem in this scenario is that the Leafs aren't very good right now, and the Islanders are pretty good, and of all guys, I don't think it's wise to assume Tavares would want to maneuver his way to Toronto. He's too understated, and he's a 25 year old millionaire on a good team in New York City. The Leafs would have to be an inch away from the Stanley Cup to even compete with that scenario.

So, Tavares isn't happening, and won't come close. It's really dumb, I think, to assume this sort of thing will never happen. I don't get why fans of other teams think this is impossible. The Canucks got guys like Dan Hamhuis to go home, and the Alberta teams both seem to fairly regularly get Alberta guys? Brian Rafalski went home to Michigan, and I'd bet you Jimmy Vesey is headed to Boston. There have been plenty of guys for several teams to want to go home. But they also don't want to play for a loser. That's the problem. Let's have this conversation again when the Leafs have won a playoff round in HD. It might be a while.

IF the team start to win again, people will hopefully come back.

That's how it works.


None of this mythlogical prodigal son ******** ever happens.

 

[ACC1224]

Please tell me we don't have to hear this for the next few years.

Grab some tissues and try and stay strong.

 

[KGL]

And so it begins.

I hope Tavares is extended ASAP so we don't have to hear about this BS.

 

[Hockeyfan6781]

gonna be a long 2 seasons

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

But they didn't re-sign Okposo or Nielsen so how are they going to be able to keep Tavares?

funny you say that, here is another tweet from him amidst the Tavares to TO tweets haha....


"If they can't keep Okposo what makes you think they can keep Tavares?"