John Tavares leaving the New York Islanders to sign a seven-year, $77 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs was without question the biggest news of the first day of NHL free agency this offseason. It clearly impacts the Maple Leafs, but the ripple effects of his decision spread far and wide in the NHL.
Tavares didn't make the only headlines in the NHL on Sunday. There was a lot more to digest and dissect with the 2018 free agent signing period underway.
Here are eight takeaways:
NHL free agency starts with several significant signings, big trade
Tavares makes Toronto a Stanley Cup contender; Islanders turn to Plan B; Blues land O'Reilly