Saying goodbye is never easy.
After welcoming coveted free agent John Tavares to the club, Toronto Maple Leafs players were forced to bid farewell to longtime teammates Tyler Bozak, Leo Komarov and James van Riesmdyk after the three walked on the first day of free agency. Bozak agreed to a 3-year $15 million deal with the St. Louis Blues while JVR elected to stay within the Eastern Conference and and sign a 7-year $35 million contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. Komarov will also be sticking in the East after agreeing to a 4-year $12 million contract with the New York Islanders.
Clearly upset to see his friends leave, Kadri made an emotional post on Instagram, wishing them the best of look in their next chapter.
Kadri has essentially played his entire career with all three players. The four managed to lead the Leafs to three postseason appearances together and were all a part of the team that collapsed to the Boston Bruins in the 2013 postseason.
Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
It’s going to be real interesting to see how things play out when Bozak, Uncle Leo, and JVR both return to Toronto with their new teams.
(H/T Nazem Kadri)
