NHL Rumors: John Tavares to Toronto Maple Leafs

John Tavares is reluctant to re-sign with the New York Islanders because the team's future is uncertain. The ice at Barclays Center is poor and the attendance at games is very low. Islanders' general manager, Garth Snow, was unable to re-sign key free agents and his first round drafting has not panned out the last few years.

Tavares, who is making $5.5 million per season will want a huge raise and will demand Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews money - $10.5 million per season. When Tavares is a free agent on July 1, 2018 the Mississauga native will strongly consider signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Leafs will clear up more than $16 million of dead money off the books in time for free agency 2018 – Joffrey Lupul, Stephane Robidas, Brooks Laich, Colin Greening and Milan Michalek. Tyler Bozak's $4.2 million per season contract will also be done.

NHLTR's Fantasy Hockey Guide 2017-18 

Craig Button speculates about Tavares signing a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs.

I think it’s a very good possibility. Here’s why: There is a lot of talk about windows of opportunity for teams based on where they’re at. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, with their good young players on entry-level contracts, you think, 'What a great opportunity.'

Why does John Tavares fit with the Toronto Maple Leafs? I’m proposing a one-year deal for John Tavares while Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are still on ELCs. They can clearly fit him in. He’s an elite number-one center. When you consider Mike Babcock’s real like for duos, how about this: Matthews-Nylander, Tavares-Marner, Kadri-Brown. That is a pretty good 1-2-3 when you consider duos. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, I think that John Tavares could fit into their situation on a one-year deal.

Toronto Maple Leafs may dream about John Tavares. I don’t think it’s so much of a dream. In fact, I think it’s something that has real legs and could be real possible. If John Tavares has to look at this from the perspective of who has the better chance of winning in the near future, I think it’s clearly the Toronto Maple Leafs.