On John Tavares and the free agent window …
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.
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