The Toronto Maple Leafs fell 6-1 to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the second round on Sunday night, marking the end of John Tavares’ seven-year, $77 million contract signed in 2018.

The former New York Islanders captain famously left Long Island following the 2017-18 season to join his hometown team with hopes of joining a more competitive roster.

At the time, the Leafs were widely viewed as a team with an exciting future, and Tavares was expected to be the final piece to push them over the hump.

But this was far from the case.

Tavares’ Leafs won just two playoff series during his contract and never advanced past the second round.

Meanwhile, the Islanders won five playoff series over that span, reaching the playoff semifinals in 2020 -- equivalent to the Eastern Conference Final in any non-COVID season -- and then making the actual Eastern Conference Final in 2021, where they lost 1-0 in Game 7 to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning for the second straight season.

While Toronto made the playoffs in all seven seasons of Tavares' tenure – the Islanders made the playoffs five times – New York played four more total postseason games, earned five more wins, and recorded two fewer losses.

Individually, Tavares’ postseason production in Toronto underwhelmed, with just 31 points (17 goals, 14 assists) in 51 playoff games.

Notably, former Islander Josh Bailey -- often labeled a product of playing alongside Tavares --  recorded 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) in 49 playoff games for the Islanders after Tavares’ departure in 2018, outdueling his former linemate.

Suffice to say, losing Tavares proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Islanders, who went on to build a more complete roster that came close to capturing the franchise’s fifth Stanley Cup.

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