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The Toronto Maple Leafs made their pitch to John Tavares and his representatives at the offices of CAA in Los Angeles, CA. The Leafs contingent of Brendan Shanahan, Kyle Dubas and Mike Babcock met with the pending free agent for more than two hours, likely laying out the blueprint of how the 27-year-old center would fit into the plans of the club either on a one-year max contract or the maximum seven-year deal that a team other than the New York Islanders can offer.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman in his “31 Thoughts… column indicated that the key to the Leafs presentation may be the approach that Dubas took.
Unlike two years ago, when the club invited the Mayor of Toronto and the CEO of Canadian Tire to preach the positives to Steven Stamkos about coming home and being the savior of a team that had just finished last overall and whose best prospects (Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner) had not played an NHL game, Tavares is being asked to add to the Leafs young core and perhaps be the final part of puzzle to make the Leafs a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
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Friedman also confirmed something that had long been speculated here, that the Leafs were willing to move their first round pick in a deal for a defenseman, but they were unable to find the right fit for a deal at the NHL Draft last weekend in Dallas.
It is expected that Dubas will be looking for an opportunity to find a top-four defensive option in free agency or via trade as the dominoes fall over the next week. With teams looking for scoring help, Toronto may be in position to move one of their wingers to bolster their blueline, but if the Leafs are unable to woo Tavares, they will have to scramble to find help up the middle if Tyler Bozak signs elsewhere on July 1.
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The Leafs opened up their five day rookie development camp at the MasterCard Center in Etobicoke, ON. on Tuesday with some skating and situational drills, with two scrimmages held on Thursday and Saturday.
Some instruction going on at Day 1 of #Leafs Development Camp at the Mastercard Centre in Etobicoke, ON. pic.twitter.com/TPu3NSVk2j
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) June 26, 2018
Of the 46 players who are participating, all but four draft picks who did not play or practice with the Toronto Marlies during their Calder Cup run are in attendance.
Three Russian prospects (Semyon Kizimov (2018-7th rounder), Yegor Korshkov (2016-2nd rounder), Vladimir Bobylev(2016-5th rounder) and 2014 draftee Dakota Joshua, who is completing some school work in advance of his senior season at Ohio State. It would have been the fifth camp for the big 22-year-old center, who could be an intriguing prospect with his size and speed for an organization with not a lot of center depth.
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