Expect a monster campaign for Toronto Maple Leafs, captain John Tavares this year.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs signed John Tavares to a seven-year deal, worth $11M AAV, the fanbase was overjoyed. Not only was everyone celebrating Canada Day that afternoon, but they were celebrating the fact that a homegrown talent chose the Leafs in free agency for the first time.
Tavares was the golden child. Everyone who grew up playing hockey in the GTHL understood how talented he was at a young age and that eventually garnered him “exceptional status” into the OHL. From there, he’d be drafted first overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and has been an excellent professional for the past 13 seasons.