On the day that Air Canada Centre was renamed Scotiabank Arena, the Leafs generously opened the vault. To the tune of $77 million to lure John Tavares, the crown jewel of the free agent market, to Toronto.
The acquisition of the 27-year-old Tavares, the two-time Hart Trophy finalist who had been the face of the New York Islanders franchise for nine seasons, immediately thrusts the Leafs into the upper echelon of teams that can contend for the Stanley Cup.
With a potent top-two centre duo of Auston Matthews and Tavares, complemented by Nazem Kadri as the pivot on the third line, the Leafs’ depth down the middle is as powerful as that of any team in the league.