TORONTO (Apr. 14) — Moments after Maple Leafs’ GM Brian Burke dropped his bombshell today at the Air Canada Centre about pursuing junior phenom John Tavares this summer, I contacted Tavares by phone in London, Ont. for his reaction. The Mississauga native was unaware that Burke had told a room-full of reporters he’ll begin targeting the No. 1-rated prospect “as soon as tonight’s draft lottery ends”, and Tavares — while careful not to diss any potential employer — couldn’t hide his excitement.
“It’s kind of overwehlming — maybe even a bit shocking, to be honest,” he said. “For you telling me that — if [Burke] said it — I’m obviously excited that teams are interested, and Toronto would be an unbelievable place to play hockey. There’s probably no better city [in the NHL] for support and atmosphere.”
When told that Burke will be in hot pursuit of whichever team targets him in the June draft at Montreal, Tavares replied, “It is surprising and I guess it’s pretty neat as well to have someone [say they are] really interested in you like that — you know, a general manager coming out and saying something publicly. I just want to keep doing what I’m doing so, wherever I do end up, I can be a good player and a player that makes a difference. I want to win a Stanley Cup one day.”
When asked, flat out, if he’d like to play for the Leafs, Tavares hummed and hawed, then answered with the political correctness common among today’s elite prospects. “You know, I’m excited about the draft and whatever happens — where I play is out of my control,” he said. “Right now, I’m in a big post-season push here with my team [the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights] and I know that every [NHL] club is looking to improve, including Toronto. My goal is to play in the NHL and it’ll be exciting no matter which team gets me. All cities are special and different in their own ways, and Toronto is obviously one of the best.”
Burke acknowledged it will be no simple task to land Tavares; he understands, though, not only what the high-scoring forward could accomplish on the ice, but what Tavares’s marketability would mean to his employer — Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. The mere mention of this pursuit will probably be enough to induce a retailer somewhere to sew Tavares’s name on the back of a Toronto jersey. Imagine the amount of apparel that’ll be sold if Tavares actually winds up with the Blue & White.
As such, it’s unlikely Burke will put restrictions on particular assets a team would seek in pursuit of Tavares — whether he makes a deal before or after the entry draft. That means Luke Schenn has to be in the mix… perhaps unavoidably if Burke truly wishes to land the No. 1 prospect in the hockey world. Burke is also likely praying that the New York Islanders win tonight’s draft lottery. Tavares has cryptically made it known he not enthused about playing for the team with the best percentage chance to land him, and Burke will be very active in dealing with the club that owns the top pick.
Would the Islanders, for example, trade that choice to Burke for the Leafs’ first-round pick [No. 7 overall]; at least one second-round pick; Schenn, and a wad of cash [i.e. taking an existing contract off the Islanders' roster]? Schenn is certainly shaping up to be a dominating blue-liner, but is he in the “can’t miss/franchise-player” category of Tavares?
If Burke really wants Tavares — and it sounds like he does — that’s the sort of package he’ll have to offer.
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