60 million or 80 million - doesn't really make much of a difference at some point.
and we're not even talking endorsement money
- MaximusAurelius

It makes a difference when the government is taking half of it. Plus his agent. Plus his family. Plus his expenses.

He doesn't have to play in Toronto to get endorsements.

It's always the same story with every big name UFA. Toronto is somehow the no-brain decision for them to come to and the day comes and goes and guess what, the player goes somewhere else.

i dont want to ruin the mood or anything but perhaps we don't know what tavares is thinking. perhaps not even he knows where he would prefer to play right now.

could he sign here? yes. could he sign somewhere else? yes. could he be gull's secret lover? yes.
- daeth

Hell, he could shock us all and sign in the KHL for all we know.

All I know is that it's fun to speculate, and I wish him well no matter what his decision is.

- gergeswillems

That whole team was suppose to sign in Toronto because they all grew up dreaming about winning a Cup in Toronto.

Plus the endorsements.

It makes a difference when the government is taking half of it. Plus his agent. Plus his family. Plus his expenses.

He doesn't have to play in Toronto to get endorsements.

It's always the same story with every big name UFA. Toronto is somehow the no-brain decision for them to come to and the day comes and goes and guess what, the player goes somewhere else.
- Unholy_Goalie

The difference is this time they're a Cup contender. Why wouldn't a home town Toronto boy not want to sign with the Leafs who will be Cup contenders for the next decade?

perhaps star UFA players have never sign in toronto because they've never had a team that looked set to contend for a cup for many years going forward

i'd at least consider that

I'll bet that Taveres was always a jock, and lego wasn't high on his priority list.

Boyhood dreams tend to stick with you throughout your life, at least I know that mine have even though I know I will never fulfil them. He now has the chance to make his come true, and that has to be compelling.

Why do you keep with that tax thing? It isn't true.
- TrashPanda

You're assuming his dreams. You don't know what his dreams were or what they are today. Just because you dream about him winning a Cup as a Leaf, doesn't mean he does too.

Because it's 100% true. The tax rate in Toronto is completely different than it is in other states. Florida has no state tax. Neither does Texas. These are decisions that end up costing players millions of dollars.

The difference is this time they're a Cup contender. Why wouldn't a home town Toronto boy not want to sign with the Leafs who will be Cup contenders for the next decade?
- gergeswillems

damn it

Winning one is hard enough as it is, expecting a good chance at 3 is a ridiculous expectation.

Crosby and Malkin are a combo that break the rules.
- Unholy_Goalie

I don’t see how Matthews and Tavares couldn’t “break the rules either”.

Especially along with Nylander and Marner.

The difference is this time they're a Cup contender. Why wouldn't a home town Toronto boy not want to sign with the Leafs who will be Cup contenders for the next decade?
- gergeswillems

More money from another team. Lower taxes which puts more money in his pocket.

Privacy.

There's no guarantee of winning so the risk of backlash to failed expectations.

That whole team was suppose to sign in Toronto because they all grew up dreaming about winning a Cup in Toronto.

Plus the endorsements.
- Unholy_Goalie

Lidstrom, Chelios, Hull, Datsyuk, Robitaille, Duchene, Olausson, Fedorov, Larionov, Holmstrom, Fischer, Hasek all grew up dreaming to be Leafs?

More money from another team. Lower taxes which puts more money in his pocket.

Privacy.

There's no guarantee of winning so the risk of backlash to failed expectations.
- Unholy_Goalie

No guarantees in winning with any team. Leafs are more likely than most with the Big 3 up front.

Lidstrom, Chelios, Hull, Datsyuk, Robitaille, Fedorov, Larionov, Holmstrom, Fischer, Hasek all grew up dreaming to be Leafs?
- gergeswillems

Yes because their endorsement deals would have been astronomical.

Especially Shanahan.

It makes a difference when the government is taking half of it. Plus his agent. Plus his family. Plus his expenses.

He doesn't have to play in Toronto to get endorsements.

It's always the same story with every big name UFA. Toronto is somehow the no-brain decision for them to come to and the day comes and goes and guess what, the player goes somewhere else.
- Unholy_Goalie

That settles it then - if he cuts out his family then he can save enough to come to Toronto!

Seriously though... As a Canadian, if you work abroad then you also have to pay Canadian taxes. Taveres is a Canadian citizen, so the tax benefit you speak of isn't as important as you think.

Do you actually think he would make as much in endorsements and appearances literally anywhere else then he would in Toronto as a cup winner?

No guarantees in winning with any team. Leafs are more likely than most with the Big 3 up front.
- gergeswillems

So if there's no guarantees, which there aren't, go with the team that pays you the most, gives you the most privacy and better tax rate.

Better than Nashville? Winnipeg? San Jose? Colorado? Edmonton?

That settles it then - if he cuts out his family then he can save enough to come to Toronto!

Seriously though... As a Canadian, if you work abroad then you also have to pay Canadian taxes. Taveres is a Canadian citizen, so the tax benefit you speak of isn't as important as you think.

Do you actually think he would make as much in endorsements and appearances literally anywhere else then he would in Toronto as a cup winner?
- TrashPanda

Not if you change your citizenship and residence. You think Stamkos is paying taxes to the Canadian government when he could be saving millions of dollars by being a resident of Florida?

So if there's no guarantees, which there aren't, go with the team that pays you the most, gives you the most privacy and better tax rate.

Better than Nashville? Winnipeg? San Jose? Colorado? Edmonton?
- Unholy_Goalie

Some people feed off being “the guy” or the celebrity. Why do you think Tavares seeks this privacy angle so much? You’re inferring you know something about the guy, which I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you don’t.

I don’t think he signs back in NY so I’d say there’s a pretty decent chance he signs in Toronto. I wouldn’t be surprised.

They’ll be a lot teams making pushes though, so I guess we’ll see
- RickJames77

I honestly think he signs with the leafs as well. It will be 9.8 x 7 years. They will let Jvr and Boz walk and insert a rookie Like Johnson full time. Would you rather have Jvr 6.9 and Boz 4.2= 11.1 mill or Tavares 9.8 and Johnson 1.2= 11 mill. Even paying 10 mill for Taveres still works. Id rather have Mathews,Tavares,Kadri down the middle with Johnson on the wing then Mathews,Kadri, Bozak with Jvr on the wing. People will still wine that Johnson wont be able to replace Jvr's production and look past the point that Bozak was replaced with Tavares but i'm still expecting it.

So if there's no guarantees, which there aren't, go with the team that pays you the most, gives you the most privacy and better tax rate.

Better than Nashville? Winnipeg? San Jose? Colorado? Edmonton?
- Unholy_Goalie

I still choose the Leafs. Best coach. Best management. Franchise player in Mathews. 2 more studs up front in Marner and Nylander. Team drafts well. Young nucleus only going to improve. If I want to win I choose Toronto.

Great city to live in, close to family. Money will be the same more or less. If we're talking money, endorsements are much greater in the centre of the Hockey universe.

Some people feed off being “the guy” or the celebrity. Why do you think Tavares seeks this privacy angle so much? You’re inferring you know something about the guy, which I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you don’t.
- RickJames77

It's perfectly OK for him to do it in a negative light but no one else is allowed to do it in a positive one.

Some people feed off being “the guy” or the celebrity. Why do you think Tavares seeks this privacy angle so much? You’re inferring you know something about the guy, which I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you don’t.
- RickJames77

There's little to no evidence that suggests Tavares is "that guy". If we were talking about PK Subban, okay, but nothing I've ever seen suggests Tavares desires to be the center of attention in Toronto. He actually comes across as the polar opposite, quiet, reserved and private.

I still choose the Leafs. Best coach. Best management. Franchise player in Mathews. 2 more studs up front in Marner and Nylander. Team drafts well. Young nucleus only going to improve. If I want to win I choose Toronto.

Great city to live in, close to family. Money will be the same more or less. If we're talking money, endorsements are much greater in the centre of the Hockey universe.
- gergeswillems

Leafs over Nashville? The 1st place team in the NHL who went to the Cup Finals last year and is literally just missing one thing which is filled by Tavares? Nashville has one of the most stable GMs of the past 20 years in Poile, Cup winner coach Laviolette, so nothing wrong with that management or coaching situation either.

Money isn't the same either. Neither is the ability to go out in public and not deal with bullpoop from people or a crazy media.

Not if you change your citizenship and residence. You think Stamkos is paying taxes to the Canadian government when he could be saving millions of dollars by being a resident of Florida?
- Unholy_Goalie

Stamkos stayed in Tampa because they're a Cup contender. I'm sure he loves living there and paying no taxes. But if Tampa stunk, he'd be a Leaf right now.

Not if you change your citizenship and residence. You think Stamkos is paying taxes to the Canadian government when he could be saving millions of dollars by being a resident of Florida?
- Unholy_Goalie

Whoa there big guy... Renouncing citizenship is a pretty big step to take to avoid paying a bit of tax - there are other implications to consider.

Yes, Stamkos does file annual tax returns to the CRA, likely accompanied by a cheque. It's the law.

There's little to no evidence that suggests Tavares is "that guy". If we were talking about PK Subban, okay, but nothing I've ever seen suggests Tavares desires to be the center of attention in Toronto. He actually comes across as the polar opposite, quiet, reserved and private.
- Unholy_Goalie

This is purely an assumption. I can also say there’s little to no evidence that he doesn’t want to be that guy or to be the center of attention.

Just because someone may not be as flashy as P.K doesn’t mean they wouldn’t want to be a star in a great hockey market.

Stamkos stayed in Tampa because they're a Cup contender. I'm sure he loves living there and paying no taxes. But if Tampa stunk, he'd be a Leaf right now.
- gergeswillems

Or another state with lower taxes and equal or better shot to win.