Stay tuned here for the latest in news, rumours, and results regarding John Tavares. We will post updates as soon as we become aware of them.
July 1
That's a hometown discount from John Tavares. He may not be the last #leafs player to do that to keep this team together.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 1, 2018
The @MapleLeafs have agreed to terms with free agent forward John Tavares on a seven-year contract. The annual average value of the contract is $11 million. #TMLtalk
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) July 1, 2018
Confirmed: John Tavares has agreed to terms with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 1, 2018
Officially, there is confirmation John Tavares did not sign last night...he is now eligible for maximum a seven-year deal.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2018
June 29
Not chasing the story, so just hearsay: the hockey "insiders" I've talked to today think Tavares going to Toronto.
— Adrian Dater (@adater) June 30, 2018
Building off Dave’s intel, apparently an offer this morning came in that changed the landscape. Multiple teams have responded, you can make the argument that we now have a bidder war for Tavares. https://t.co/QFCDex1WYr
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) June 30, 2018
Happy Tavares Day! Teams are expected to be notified later this morning of his decision, with the Islanders getting the first call.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 30, 2018
June 29, 2018
Lamoriello and Trotz among #Isles staff watching final scrimmage of minicamp.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) June 30, 2018
On the Tavares front...Dialogue between CAA (in LA) and JT (in Toronto) continues. There has been continued talk with the 6 teams over the past 72 hours...as of 10:30 this morning some teams have been eliminated...but calls to those teams have yet to take place.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) June 30, 2018
Quick update: Expectation was a call with Islanders was set for this morning. Technically it’s still the ‘morning’ but I’m told that call hasn’t occurred yet. #breathe
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 30, 2018
As of a couple hours ago, #Isles were still in it, from what I understand. https://t.co/UDCH6j71Dm
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) June 30, 2018
Tavares, family, CAA and all involved still discussing and processing the options this morning. Speaks to how difficult this decision is.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 30, 2018
Tavares camp at this hour still hasn't notified any of the six teams either way... still deliberating and going through everything...
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 30, 2018
8:02 pm – June 29, 2018
Sounds like #TavaresWatch will extend into tomorrow.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) June 29, 2018
While things could certainly change, it would appear we won’t hear of any decision from the Tavares camp tonight. Still going through information.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) June 29, 2018
John Tavares' agent Pat Brisson has just informed me that while "I've been in constant communication with (the six) teams," no verdict has been relayed or made yet... So, hang tight.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 29, 2018
#tavareswatch pic.twitter.com/8ZgFtCd6zv
— Shahriar Balouchi (@13Leafs01) June 29, 2018
7:50 pm – June 28, 2018
Staple: Tavares flies home to Toronto as contract decision looms. By @StapeAthletic https://t.co/gIjDi1f9Dt
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) June 28, 2018
Per @StapeAthletic, it's believed that if John Tavares walks away from the Islanders, it's the Sharks and the Leafs at Nos. 1 and 2 on his list.
— Alex Seixeiro (@alexfan590) June 28, 2018
The John Tavares camp could start informing a few teams as early as Friday morning that they're no longer in the running... beyond that hard to say when the UFA centre for sure will be ready to pick his team. Obviously if it's the Isles that call is no later than Saturday...
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 28, 2018
John Tavares is on his way home from L.A., so no chance for another face to face with Lamoriello. Wouldn’t expect to hear anything on a decision today. #TavaresWatch
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) June 28, 2018
As John Tavares hears pitches from 6 NHL clubs, a look at the tax implications of signing with each team. pic.twitter.com/4FNfxWJ2Ce
— The Point (@PNThockey) June 27, 2018
10 pm – June 27, 2018
This is great from Colleague @MAGodin on Canadian tax disadvantages not being as big as they seem. https://t.co/2e5h5LmwC9
— dellowhockey (@dellowhockey) June 27, 2018
The John Tavares camp is taking a step back to decompress and review what they learned over more than 12 hours of face-to-face meetings this week. None of the six finalists has been ruled out.
He's due to become a UFA in ~86 hours. #TavaresWatch
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 28, 2018
[Leafs Links] Burke on the Leafs’ pitch to John Tavares: “A top young goaltender, good young forwards around him, going to upgrade the blueline, stable ownership, spend to the cap every year… They can paint a pretty picture there”
+ more on free agencyhttps://t.co/dGJWJo7e4a
— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) June 28, 2018
3 pm – June 27, 2018
Insider Trading: Decision time nearing for Tavares http://fw.to/w8QQfbL
JT is showing us the list in plain sight. 1st day he meets with #Isles and #Leafs. Leafs 1st team to talk to him. Then on Day 2 he meets with SJ and Boston. Day 3 he meet s with Tampa and Dallas. So there it is
1)Leafs
2)NYI
3)SJ
4) Boston
5)Tampa
6)Dallas#TavaresWatch #tmltalk— Shahriar Balouchi (@13Leafs01) June 27, 2018
The Tavares camp is silent right now, anyone claiming to have info there is not telling the truth, but based on stuff I’ve heard from others in the know, I now have the race as follows...
T1) #Isles
T1) #Leafs
3) #SJSharks
4) #NHLBruins— NHL Rumors (@NHLRumorsDaily) June 27, 2018
Signing John Tavares is a long shot. The Bruins have to take it. https://t.co/PbFAlwom4p
— Fluto Shinzawa (@FlutoShinzawa) June 26, 2018
Leafs brought their 'A' game in pitch to Tavares: https://t.co/o2zCLMu3Sq pic.twitter.com/a4Z1PecvEd
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 27, 2018
Could still be communicating.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 27, 2018
No meeting for Blues. #stlblues https://t.co/uqsnMuN0fO
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) June 27, 2018
#TSN TAVARES CALCULATOR: Plug in an AAV for JT and figure out how much work teams have to do in order to make a competitive offer. Hint: #Bolts and #Stars have significant tax advantages - https://t.co/uYoOo96dQg #TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/DFRGbTaVuR
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 27, 2018
Tampa Bay and Dallas are the last 2 teams scheduled to meet with Tavares today. It doesn’t appear other teams will be added to the process.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 27, 2018
#Bruins delegation has finished its pitch in #TavaresWatch. Presentation was a little under 2 hours, seemingly the briefest of the 4 teams thus far. #TSN #NHL pic.twitter.com/LBMobSLSKN
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) June 26, 2018
The Bruins up next for John Tavares in LA. Tampa Bay and Dallas scheduled for Wed. No additonal teams have been added yet to the list.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 26, 2018
#SJSharks DeBoer and Wilson have arrived at CAA offices for their pitch #TavaresWatch #NHL #TSN pic.twitter.com/4T4q5ahT0X
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) June 26, 2018
10 pm – June 25, 2018
#NYI Lamoriello and Trotz have stealthily arrived at CAA for their meeting with Tavares and Brisson, avoiding us media stationed in front of the building. #TSN #FreeAgentFrenzy
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) June 26, 2018
Believe the Islanders get to present to Tavares after the Leafs tonight.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 25, 2018
Dreger: "Tavares isn't talking. Pat Brisson isn't going to give you that sort of intel because they're being respectful of the process. But the word that I received from a secondary source, I will call it, was that (JT) was very impressed w/ the Toronto Maple #Leafs." #Isles 1050
— Chris Nichols (@NicholsOnHockey) June 26, 2018
San Jose and Boston will present to John Tavares tomorrow in LA. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars will deliver their pitch on Wed.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 26, 2018
#NYI Lamoriello and Trotz have stealthily arrived at CAA for their meeting with Tavares and Brisson, avoiding us media stationed in front of the building. #TSN #FreeAgentFrenzy
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) June 26, 2018
#Leafs delegation has left the CAA offices. Meeting with Tavares’ camp was approximately 2 hours. Dubas to the media in attendance: “Would love to talk to you, but I can’t now.”#TSN #FreeAgentFrenzy pic.twitter.com/wopJLQzmjv
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) June 26, 2018
The Maple Leafs contingent has just arrived at the CAA offices in LA to present to John Tavares.
Crew is Brendan Shanahan, Kyle Dubas and Mike Babcock. pic.twitter.com/XROHxy1XoM
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) June 25, 2018
#Leafs Shanahan, Dubas and Babcock just arrived at CAA offices for Tavares meeting. #NHL #TSN
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) June 25, 2018
10:30 am – June 24, 2018
Confirmed teams that John Tavares will meet with this week at CAA offices in L.A.: Dallas, Boston, San Jose, Toronto, Tampa (plus of course NYI). The Tavares camp will also have conversations with 2-3 other teams over the phone and perhaps also meet with 1-2 of them.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 25, 2018
Tavares meeting with Dallas, Tor, Isles, SJ and Tampa between today and Wednesday in LA.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 25, 2018
8:30 am – June 24, 2018
Arthur Staple: John Tavares’ list of teams he will meet with is close to being finalized.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars are in.
The Boston Bruins are believed to be in as well.
The Montreal Canadiens and Vegas Golden Knights don’t appear to be on the list.
The New York Islanders are still in it.
Arthur Staple: It is sounding like the Tampa Bay Lightning and/or the Nashville Predators could round out the teams that Tavares is meeting with. Could be six teams and not five that meet with him, excluding the Islanders. Teams will start meeting with Tavares today.
Michael Traikos of the National Post: It should be a surprise that after meeting with teams, John Tavares re-signs with the New York Islanders like Steven Stamkos did with the Tampa Bay Lightning the previous year.
Adding John Tavares’ salary would force some teams to get creative.
“We would have to make room,” said Lightning GM Steve Yzerman. “We would have to make room if we brought in a significant salary.”
The Maple Leafs may not want to sign another forward when their defense needs help to a long-term deal at $11-$12 million. William Nylander is an RFA this summer, followed by Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner next offseason. What if the Leafs offered Tavares a “lucrative one-year “win-now” deal.”
The San Jose Sharks have cleared out lots of cap space, with the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas having enough space as well.
Sheng Peng: Vegas Golden Knights GM George McPhee won’t confirm if he’ll be speaking with Tavares this week: “I can’t say yet.”
Brett Cyrgalis of the NY Post: Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello isn’t disappointed that Tavares is going to be talking with other teams, adding “I think he’s earned every right to make whatever choice he has.”
It’s believed that three of the teams are the San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, and Toronto Maple Leafs. The other two teams could be two of the Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, and Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Islanders can offer eight-years, everyone else seven, with the money range expected to be between $10 and $12 million.
Lamoriello has said that they will be active as anyone else on the free agent market, with their two biggest needs being at least one top-four defenseman and a legit No. 1 goalie.
The Islanders were in on Ilya Kovalchuk. Blue Jackets Artemi Panarin could be available.
Greg Wyshynski of ESPN: Lamoriello when asked if they’ve done enough to keep Tavares?
“That’s a question you need to ask him,” Lamoriello said. “There’s been a commitment from ownership. They want us to be the best team in the NHL, and they gave me the authority to do that. The first decision was to get a coach, and in my opinion, we got one of the best ones in the NHL. Now we have to convince our player that this the best decision for him.”
Arthur Staple of The Ahtletic: Isles GM Lamoriello has headed to L.A. and will wait there as Tavares will meet with teams at the CAA offices in L.A.
The Maple Leafs and Sharks definitely have a spot to meet with Tavares. The Stars could have a spot as well. The Lightning might get an interview, but they may have salary cap issues. The Vegas Golden Knights and maybe the Montreal Canadiens get an invite.