On the Toronto Maple Leafs and John Tavares …
Bob McKenzie: IF John Tavares gets to free agency, it’s believed the Maple Leafs are creating a promotional video for Tavares that could have sales pitches from current Leafs.
Chris Nichols of FRS Hockey: Bob McKenzie was on TSN 1050, and was hesitate to say that if John Tavares was to get to free agency:
” … I wouldn’t be surprised if the Leafs put together a proposal or try to make something happen, get creative.
“I’m not saying they get him. I’m not not saying that it’s their Plan A. I’m just saying that I don’t think they would let that opportunity slide by without trying to get involved.”
Now adds he isn’t sure how the Maple Leafs could make it work with Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner needing new contracts eventually.
“… But I’ve been led to believe that the Leafs have been putting together something in the way of something that could be presented to Tavares if he gets – if he gets – to free agency. And it’s a big if.”
Maple Leafs Hot Stove: Bob McKenzie on TSN 1050 (adding on to Nichols above posting). Tavares can sign an eight-year deal with the Islanders, but if he signs anywhere else, it would be seven years.
“But Dubas is an interesting guy and I’d imagine that the Leafs would do everything to see if they could come up with a creative way to make it attractive to both sides. But there is going to be no shortage of teams doing that, so I’m not suggesting for a moment that Tavares’ predisposition is to go to Toronto at all, and I’m not suggesting that the only thing the Leafs are planning right now is to get John Tavares, because they’re not planning that as the focal point of everything that they do. I just think that if the opportunity were there, they’d be one of the 10 or 12 teams in there trying to find a way to make it happen. Not sure if it could, but I think they’d try.”