Tomas Tatar gives his thoughts on his new deal
We now know which team Tomas Tatar will play for next season. The former CH player has reached an agreement with the New Jersey Devils for the next two seasons. "Tuna spoke to the media following his contract with his new team.
"I talked to different teams. I wanted to be in a place where we're going to win. I wanted to be on a competitive team. I hope to contribute to the team's success. I'm very excited to be with the Devils and to meet my new teammates. This is a great opportunity for me."
It was almost a certainty that Tatar would leave the Canadiens. During the Tricolore's playoff run, the number 90 watched most of the games from the bridge. On this subject, the main interested party says he did not understand the decision of the coaches.
"I really thought I could have helped in the final. But coaches make mistakes and so do players. I just wanted to prove what a big mistake it was. But I loved my time in Montreal, it was a special three years for me!"
Trailing quickly in the Stanley Cup Final against the Lightning, Tatar believes that lineup changes could have helped his former team's cause. It should not be forgotten that Tatar had 61 points in 68 games in 2019-2020, the best harvest with the Habs. Would he have made a difference in the final series?
"We knocked off Winnipeg without too much trouble and it was more split against Vegas. I didn't think it was necessary to make any changes. Against Tampa, I really felt I could have helped when the series wasn't going our way. Hopefully I'll play when the next opportunity comes along."
Looking forward to joining the Devils, Tatar says he is excited to join a team with young, talented players like Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. The work done during the free agent market also weighed in.
"I played more against Nico than Jack. Both players are extremely talented and smart. Having a duo like that in an organization shows you that the future is very bright. That's one of the reasons I was convinced. The Devils' other recent signings also helped."
After talking with general manager Tom Fitzgerald, Tatar concluded that he will have an important position in the Devils' offensive machinery. So it will be interesting to see if the Slovakian will have a season that lives up to his expectations next season.
