Tavares, like Marner, grew up in the Toronto area dreaming of being a Maple Leaf. When he left the New York Islanders to sign a seven-year, $77 million contract ($11 million average annual value) on July 1, 2018, he publicly announced his decision by posting a childhood photo on social media of sleeping under Maple Leafs covers.

The Toronto Maple Leafs couldn't get the job done in Game 7 at home against the Florida Panthers. Despite leading the series 2-0 at one point, Toronto fell into the same old patterns and ended up falling short.