A quick hit here with a little news from the rumour mill as we await what’s happening with John Tavares.



The Maple Leafs are all-in on Tavares this off-season. He’s their top priority, and they’ve dedicated a lot of the past couple weeks to that chase. I have heard that Tavares and CAA were very impressed with the presentation that Leafs GM Kyle Dubas made this week at the agency’s offices in Los Angeles.



But the Leafs have also worked on some contingency plans in case they don’t get Tavares, who is believed to be choosing between the Islanders, Sharks and Leafs at this point.



At the top of that contingency list appears to be Derek Ryan.



Everything has been pointing to the Calgary Flames signing Ryan when he hits the free agent market at noon on Sunday, but I’m told he has multiple suitors willing to give him a multi-year deal worth more than $3-million a season. It’s believed that the Leafs have told Ryan to...