John Tavares will officially have a new home for the 2018-19 season, as he told the New York Islanders on Sunday morning that he won't return to the club, reports Arthur Staple of The Athletic.
The Islanders, who revamped their front office by adding Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz in the offseason, offered Tavares a massive eight-year deal, adds Staple, but the 27-year-old isn't solely basing his decision on money.
Tavares was drafted first overall by the Islanders in 2009, and was named the club's captain in 2013. In 669 games in New York across nine seasons, he recorded 621 points and emerged as one of the league's top talents. Despite his individual success, the Isles qualified for the playoffs only three times in Tavares' tenure.
Over the last week, Tavares met with six teams. His decision to leave the Islanders makes him one of biggest names to hit the open market in NHL history.