It is so funny seeing all these Tavares trades. Tavares is never going to waive his NMC, just stop already

It's been a few years since it was permissible to make a draft choice conditional upon a player's signing a new contract.

I disagree. You tell a guy he's not resigning and you'll trade him to a choice destination and he'll leave. The alternative is he stays another year only to get destroyed by the media before finally leaving anyways. I don't get why it's so far-fetched to you.

No schit eh. Didn't know that.

Do you remember when Toronto signed Tavaras and how everyone made a big deal about him coming home. The picture of him as a kid with his Maple Leaf bed sheets. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for him to waive. But it could end up working in the Leafs favor. If Toronto doesn't win the Cup this season or next season, I could see him taking a lot less to stay in Toronto and getting a couple more cracks at a Cup.

That's a fair point and up until recently I thought this way too. However, I think Tavares is a big part of the problem. He's our captain but he barely speaks, he doesn't hit much, he's below average as a defensive centre, and I've never seen him fight. Whether he retains his captaincy or not he sets the tone and is a big part of the culture problem. I think turning a corner starts with trading tavares and continuing focus on building a tough defensive team.

This season was his 15th would he even want to play if it involves moving to a new city?

I get what you are saying, even if you could get him cheap how do you take away his C. I can only think of one way where everyone saves face but it's HIGHLY UNPROBABLE!! After next season if he waits a month or 2 into the season to deicide if he want to play. By that time the new Leafs captain has had time to settle in. But I don't see happening.