A Reunion with John Tavares Could Be a Win-Win for the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders

The New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs could mutually benefit from Toronto’s decision to anoint Auston Matthews as the team’s next captain.

The move, while reasonable in the eyes of most NHL observers, represents an unceremonious end to John Tavares’ time with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After stripping Tavares of his captaincy, the Leafs now have no choice but to trade him.

Unless the Leafs are inclined to live out a situation similar to the one the Los Angeles Kings faced with Dustin Brown, the best thing the Leafs could do is trade John Tavares.

Tavares should get his fair share of attention. However, given Tavares’ contract and no-movement clause, working out a trade won’t be easy.

But that’s where the Leafs’ loss could be the New York Islanders’ gain.

A reunion between the Isles and Tavares wouldn’t be as far-fetched as some might think. There’s a long history between both sides, making a return to The Island a smooth one for Tavares.

Plus, the New York Islanders could use a talented forward to shore up the team’s center depth. I can already envision Tavares becoming the Isles’ third-line center or playing on the wing on the first or second lines.

Now, I know what most New York Islanders fans are thinking. Bringing back Tavares would be stupid, especially after the way he bolted in 2018 for Toronto.

Yes, that’s true. The move stung. Some fans took Tavares’ decision very personally. But let’s not forget that hockey is also business. Like any other business, savvy managers take advantage of their competitors’ missteps.

Knowing Lou Lamoriello, he will certainly kick the tires on Tavares. Who knows, the Isles could get a motivated Tavares for a bag of pucks or two sticks. If that’s the price, the Isles would have to be crazy to pass up a chance to add Tavares… for the right price.

The Price to Get John Tavares Back with the New York Islanders

It must be said that any team interested in acquiring John Tavares would not have to pay through the nose to get him. At this point, the Toronto Maple Leafs are happy to get his cap hit off the books, even if there’s salary retention involved.

According to PuckPedia, Tavares is set to make $11 million in his final year. Even if the Leafs retained the 50% maximum on a deal, that saves them about $5.5 million against the cap. With that additional cap space, the Leafs can do whatever they see fit.

That being said, the cost to get Tavares should be no higher than a couple of mid-round picks or perhaps a pick and a mid-level prospect.

It’s tough to envision the Leafs asking for a first-round pick or a top-tier prospect. As such, the Isles could move players like Simon Holstrom or Oliver Wahlstrom in exchange for Tavares.

But let me go out on a limb for a second. Why not consider Jean-Gabriel Pageau in exchange for Tavares? A straight-up one-for-one deal might work for both sides.

For the Isles, Tavares is an upgrade over Pageau on the third line. While it may seem ironic that Anders Lee and Tavares could play together, Tavares instantly adds tremendous center depth behind Bo Horvat and Brock Nelson.

For Toronto, Pageau comes at a much lower cost and has two years left on his deal. That sort of deal gives Toronto more flexibility, making such a deal an option worth considering.

At the end of the day, the New York Islanders cannot afford to pass up a reunion with John Tavares for the right price. Overpaying would be a mistake. But given Toronto’s current circumstances, the Isles could be one of the few teams Tavares would be willing to move this no-trade clause to join.