Surprising Team Out West Will Show Interest In Tavares

While it is likely that the Toronto Maple Leafs re-sign John Tavares before he becomes a UFA, there is a chance that he makes it to free agency. In that event, the Anaheim Ducks would be interested in signing him according to Elliotte Friedman.

There has already been a report that the Ducks will be in on every name that was available this offseason and it makes a lot of sense. They could use some upgrades, but at the same time, the team is going to get even better with the growth of their younger players and Joel Quenneville now the head coach.

The good thing about the Ducks is that even though they seem set at center for next season, Ryan Strome, Mason McTavish, and Trevor Zegras are all able to play the wing and have. There is a great mix of veterans and young talent and Tavares would only improve the forward group, no matter the cost since the Ducks have so much to spend.

Anaheim has over $32 million in projected cap space and only need to take a chunk out of that with a new contract for McTavish and Dostal. The Ducks could realistically bring in a few highly skilled players and really turn things around in a hurry.

If what the Maple Leafs are offering is too low and a bit of an insult to Tavares, he still wants to win, so he wouldn't be signing with a non-contender. Maybe not next season, but the Ducks will be a big threat to the league very soon. Tavares is 34 years old and still has time. Anaheim would be competing well before he retires and it is a less stressful environment with an easy transition to a third line role eventually.