With Tavares not re-signing before the deadline with the Islanders have to think the likelihood he leaves has increased.
I think top 2 landing spots for him are:
1. Toronto
2. San Jose
My thought was that they canāt truly āguaranteeā the extension. Technically, Tavares could sign the one year deal and then not sign the extension or the Leafs could not give him the extension.
Per the CBA it has to be an extension to an existing contract. So in my mind even if they guarantee Tavares the extension he has to sign the one year deal first. And then until the extension is signed by both parties the other could always back out even if it was guaranteed up front.