NEW YORK (AP) – John Tavares is bidding Long Island goodbye for a chance to play for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.
The New York Islanders captain agreed to $77 million, seven-year deal with Toronto and announced his long-awaited decision by posting a letter on his Twitter account about an hour after the free-agency signing period opened on Sunday.
“The island, the fans, the organization, my teammates will always be special to me and my family,” wrote Tavares, who is from Toronto’s suburb of Mississauga. “But it’s time to live my childhood dream here in Toronto.