John Tavares stunned the hockey world Sunday after reportedly agreeing to a reported seven-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The news was a stunner to the Islanders and their fans, as Tavares had been widely expected to stay up until midnight on July 1, when he could no longer sign an eight-year deal with New York, which indicated to many that he may actually leave the team. Tavares issued a statement on Twitter thanking Islanders fans but saying he was going to “live my childhood dream” by joining the Maple Leafs.
— John Tavares (@91Tavares) July 1, 2018
It’s a statement unlikely to console many Islanders fans. Few expected this even after Tavares opted to look at his options and meet with other teams. While many stars have hit free agency in their prime recently, none have actually decided to leave their organizations, and Tavares was expected to follow that trend. The pull of Toronto, very near Tavares’s hometown of Mississauga, was clearly a factor. The Maple Leafs’ status as a team on the rise may have been as well.
Tavares scored over 30 goals for the fourth time in his career last season. He’ll bring that scoring punch to Toronto, who will now be mentioned as a legitimate contender to win their first Stanley Cup since 1967.
