NHL All-Star weekend in Tampa Bay saw the recruitment of John Tavares from multiple star players in full steam.
And it’s going to continue as July 1 inches closer.
If Tavares leaves the New York Islanders, it won’t be because of money where the Islanders are already prepared to put an 8 year offer worth at least $12-$13 million per season on the table for when Tavares and his agent Pat Brisson are ready to discuss numbers, something that won’t happen until the summer.
Tavares is extremely loyal to the Islanders organization but the recruitment of Tavares this weekend was so strong because of a belief from NHL executives and players close to Tavares that he is wide open to leaving millions on the table and signing with a contender to put himself in position to compete for Stanley Cups on a yearly basis.
“John just wants to win,” an NHL source said of Tavares. “This decision won’t squarely be on money, role or being the guy.”
Steven Stamkos one of Tavares’ best friends, as expected, has been front and center in recruiting Tavares to Tampa Bay and that continued this weekend.
The Lightning considered a strong contender to sign Tavares, will get a seat at the table if Tavares takes meetings in June and even giving Tampa Bay a seat at the table would be another sign that Tavares isn’t chasing the money, which he isn’t.
In Tampa Bay, General Manager Steve Yzerman has set a standard in setting a number on what to pay his franchise players.
Victor Hedman is at a $7.875 million cap hit long-term, Steven Stamkos at $8.5 million. That wouldn’t change with a pursuit of Tavares.
Joining a legitimate Stanley Cup contender like Tampa Bay or even to a lesser extent Toronto, the Tavares camp knows those teams would be maxed out at $9-$10 million per season.
This notion around the league that Tavares will value joining a consistent winner with star talent in place over money continues to give credence to clubs trying to put themselves in position to be a team that gets a meeting with Tavares this summer during the UFA window.
Super Teams exist in the NBA, could the NHL see a small version of it next season based on few star studded teams expected to get a consideration from Tavares?
The recruitment of Tavares this weekend even included the best player in the world To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Hey D, get Sarah Civian on this site. I don’t want her to write anything, just post some pics of her body. Not really interested in her face, as it’s not that great.
Classy, “blah, blah, blah court of public opinion” followed up with that? LOL. World is changing bruh, go find a girlfriend
Not sure who here still has DK subscriptions… Gajtka just quit… time to cancel your subscription lol
but but but Dale Lolley said…
wow, what is going on over there. Dejan’s pre-emptive strike on the deadspin article was a fascinating read.
It sounds like he has some really curious ways of how he runs his ship. He’s been accused of harassment too but the source of the accusation has a history of overstating things and neither Sara nor Katie have corroborated that side of DK so I’d take that with a grain of salt.
End of the day he’s chased away some decent writers like Yohe and now Gatjka so it becoming pointless to continue on.
Did he chase them away, or are the accusations by those women turn DK’s site into a sinking ship? Kinda hard to stick around and support the guy anymore if you wish to have a future….even if he is innocent. Unfortunately the system we live in, all DK needs to be is guilty to the court of public opinion and he then turns into the plague.
Its far more than the single accusation… the guy has had 30 writers, mostly male, leave his page since it started… Has fuckk all to do with the accusation. That, at this time, is a curiosity but I wouldn’t be so short-sighted to drop a “court of public opinion” comment which is basically page one of the victim blaming handbook. While I would like to know if the accusations have any basis in reality I would rather listen to the facts before I make such a statement. I mean the fact that you grouped all three when I clearly stated… Read more »
Same would rather have an overpaid Rick Nash than John Tavares. Anyone surprised?
Come on tbj start drooling
Of course you wouldn’t want Tavares. He’s good. You only like 4th line grinders and players 35 and older.
Trade Letang for Max Pac and sign Tavares. Boom.
I also heard that Tavares wont play on a team with Kris Letang on it …something about suckking ballz
Now sam is gonna be drooling all over Paul Byrons balls at the thought that Tavares has been linked to his favourite players team…
Im hearing Quebec will not be contenders to sign Tavares as he prefers to go to a team whos fans support them enough to not force relocation.
The only remote way that would be even a possibility is by getting rid of Kris The Turn Over Machine Letang.
In the words of the famous “Cat Ballou”…….”I’ll drink to that!”
And our Russian. Is. Not a turnover machine
Iginla is a pipe dream.
Bylsma deploying Iginla in the proper position was the real pipe dream
Truth!
That team had all the players to win the cup. Douglas Murray 2 2nd round picks and lose him following year. Morrow playing 4th line. Iggy miss used. Jussi jokinen healthy scratched for TK. And DB getting contract extension. After a swept be bruins
It’s almost as bad as npl mom keeping multiple jobs after her obama doesn’t care plan won’t cover her std from. The gangbangs he had performed
Martin, TK and a 3rd should get it done