No matter what off-season it is, Toronto Maple Leafs fans are glued to their TV’s on July 1st hoping that they acquire the best free agent available.
For years, fans were hoping to acquire a top-line center like Brad Richards or Steven Stamkos, but for whatever reason the team could never win the star sweepstakes: until 2018, when John Tavares came home.
Tavares was the biggest free agent available and fans had prayed that he would leave Long Island and return to his hometown. Competing against the Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders, the Leafs were one of six teams in the hunt for the future Hall-of-Famer.