Tavares meeting with teams...

[ericdaoust]

This is starting to sound a lot like the Joe Smith salary cap scandal in the NBA several years ago...

[2014olympicgold]

This is starting to sound a lot like the Joe Smith salary cap scandal in the NBA several years ago...

It's funny cause it's essentially what GSW are doing right now across the whole team, just not saying the "IF you sign this contract, your next one will be higher". It's a "sign this one, and your next one will be this".

The Joe Smith contract "scandal" was dumb. I think a player should be able to do that, heck, NHL did that when the salary cap came in originally with difference in salary year to year.

[StuntMan12]

My goodness, imagine if Tavares takes his talents to Tampa Bay? Assuming they'd put Tavares on the top PP unit.

Powerplay

Kucherov - Stamkos - Tavares

Hedman - Point

If that pp wasn't already very potent.

[tweetdrivr]

According to Pierre LeBrun, it’s the Isels, Bruins, Stars, Sharks, Leafs, Lightning on the list with phone pitches coming from a few other teams (Montreal and Vegas?).

http://www.tsn.ca/1.1122000.1529937494

[2014olympicgold]

According to Pierre LeBrun, it’s the Isels, Bruins, Stars, Sharks, Leafs, Lightning on the list with phone pitches coming from a few other teams (Montreal and Vegas?).

http://www.tsn.ca/1.1122000.1529937494

Montreal was told weeks ago by JTs team he won't go there.

I think it was Nashville as a darkhorse.

[tweetdrivr]

Montreal was told weeks ago by JTs team he won't go there.

I think it was Nashville as a darkhorse.

Quit crushing my dreams...

[lucafen4]

Quit crushing my dreams...

Mtl just drafted their own Tavares - KottonKandi

[Pengwin7]

The two teams that I've speculated on over last two years are Toronto & San Jose.
I, personally, think the Leafs are out because they've got Nylander @ RFA this summer and Matthews/Marner/Kapanen @ RFA next summer.
If they sign Tavares for $9m and then he gets outpointed by Matthews & Marner, then what are they worth?!!

San Jose has been my front runner since they patch 1-year signed Thornton and let Marleau walk.
Their cap is all set up for this and they insanely strong top 6 with Hertl emerging as C2 and Pavelski likely to reshift to RW1 alongside Tavares.
Evander Kane, Couture and the hotter of Labanc/Meier will fill out the other 3 top six spots.
And I think Chris Tierney is a very underrated C3 for next year.

Mostly, I think the SJ lockerroom culture fits Tavares. A core of 30-year old-ish Canadians (Braun & Pavelski are practically Canadian, being Minnesota & Wisconsin) in Burns (33), Couture (29), Vlasic (31), Braun (31), Pavelski (33).
Those guys are just solid guys with non-flashy top-end games. It just completely fits Tavares.
Hockey players approaching 30 are thinking about winning their cup and enjoying their lockerroom. $1m more from some team ain't gonna influence that.

(and EF seems to think SJ is set up for it.)

[2014olympicgold]

@P7, if Toronto signs JT (huge if in my eyes. I'm thinking this is all just a Stamkos thing again), I'd HOPE they sign Marner, and Matthews to extensions this yr. So you don't have that potential of "Well, I got more points than Tavares and he makes 10mill, so I deserve 10mill".

[Axeman33]

I have no doubt that Leafs fans would love to have JT, but realistically, I think they need JVR more than they need JT.

[Bass56]

5 teams Tavares is going to listen too:

Vegas, San Jose, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Toronto..

No way he listens to Monreal or Vancouver in my opinion.. If I was to take one team out, it would be Dallas for St.Louis..

Ultimately I think he stays with the Islanders and signs a 8 year $88 million dollar deal!!

Darn it Z... you were right and now I?m going to go kick a hole in the wall. It?s going to be another long year in Mtl...

[ericdaoust]

I hope KHL teams show up with presentation videos just to make fans have a meltdown

[Zorro]

I?m soooo gonna revisit this thread after he meets with the Habs to rub your face in it (it being a Z-Lime Pie!!)

Looks like you aren't getting any pie as Tavares rejected the call from Bergevin.. That's gotta hurt Marc's ego!!

[Zorro]

Darn it Z... you were right and now I?m going to go kick a hole in the wall. It?s going to be another long year in Mtl...

I love being right.. It happens only a few times a day!!

[2014olympicgold]

Is it odd that the Leafs had their meeting before the Islanders? Leafs 1st one yesterday, then the Islanders 2nd.