Bidding War Reportedly Picking Up for Top Free Agent
The 2022-23 season was another great one for veteran Tomas Tatar, and while he doesn't have a team for next season yet, it appears things are rapidly changing on that front.
A bounce back season
Between 2018 and 2020, Tatar was one of the best wingers in the Eastern Conference, compiling 47 goals and 119 points over two seasons, but then took a step back when he left for New Jersey.
Last season was a major bounce back however, as he managed 20 goals and 48 points, and now it appears he'll have his new team very soon, if his latest comments are anything to go by.
A bidding war
A recent interview with Sport.SK has revealed plenty about free agency thus far and his future in the NHL.
A lot of people asked me two years ago why I was going to the Devils. We made a lot of progress during the season. The NHL is such a balanced competition that the details really decide in it. The potential in the team was there, I saw that it could be something special and it turned out to be the right move in the end.
The situation is somewhat different now. I'm a bit older. We'll see, I'm trying to be very careful in my selection, because I want to achieve something in the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup would be wonderful. I try to think about many things when choosing a club and I hope that we will put it together as soon as possible,"
The last two days it has really moved after being stagnant for a while. I communicated directly with the coaches of the teams I could go to, what my role would be on the team. But I don't want to promise when it will be finally resolved.
The situation with the salary cap is not easy, I'm sorry that I was the one who jumped on it. But I won't complain about it. I may have to wait longer for some teams because of the changes they will have to make to make room for me. But I'm already pushing it so that it happens as soon as possible."
"It's been more teams since the beginning. There were many interested parties, which reassured me. The problem was more in the agreement. Whether it was about the length of the contract or the amount, we always fought with someone. The last few days I put some things aside and tried to look at teams where I would feel the best and it would make the most sense. Maybe that's why it moved in the right direction."
"I wanted at least two years again. Even if something didn't work the first year, it could then start to get better in the second year, just like it did with the Devils. If I had left there after the first year, I would have been disappointed, but I stayed a year longer and today I say with a smile that the Devils as an organization are definitely among the good ones.
I gained great leadership experience there and I will remember it fondly. That's why I'm trying to be very careful and today it's headed for a one-year contract because of the salary cap space.
The situation is somewhat different now. I'm a bit older. We'll see, I'm trying to be very careful in my selection, because I want to achieve something in the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup would be wonderful. I try to think about many things when choosing a club and I hope that we will put it together as soon as possible,"
The last two days it has really moved after being stagnant for a while. I communicated directly with the coaches of the teams I could go to, what my role would be on the team. But I don't want to promise when it will be finally resolved.
The situation with the salary cap is not easy, I'm sorry that I was the one who jumped on it. But I won't complain about it. I may have to wait longer for some teams because of the changes they will have to make to make room for me. But I'm already pushing it so that it happens as soon as possible."
"It's been more teams since the beginning. There were many interested parties, which reassured me. The problem was more in the agreement. Whether it was about the length of the contract or the amount, we always fought with someone. The last few days I put some things aside and tried to look at teams where I would feel the best and it would make the most sense. Maybe that's why it moved in the right direction."
"I wanted at least two years again. Even if something didn't work the first year, it could then start to get better in the second year, just like it did with the Devils. If I had left there after the first year, I would have been disappointed, but I stayed a year longer and today I say with a smile that the Devils as an organization are definitely among the good ones.
I gained great leadership experience there and I will remember it fondly. That's why I'm trying to be very careful and today it's headed for a one-year contract because of the salary cap space.
What we can learn from this is that Tatar got some offers early in free agency, but wanted to wait for more than a one year deal, but now that the eve of the NHL season is upon us, it appears there's plenty of teams interested, which will only ramp up in the coming days and weeks.
As Read on Hockey Feed - Bidding for Tatar picks up «over past two days»
| POLL | ||
AOÛT 10 | 110 ANSWERS Bidding War Reportedly Picking Up for Top Free Agent Can Tatar play a big role on a Cup winning team in 2023-24? | ||
| Yes | 48 | 43.6 % |
| No | 62 | 56.4 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
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| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
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| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
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| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
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| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
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