“I’m coming home. I’m coming home. Tell the world that I’m coming home.”

Earlier today, NHL superstar John Tavares announced he is leaving the New York Islanders to sign a 7-year, $77 million free agent contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Tavares is from Toronto and grew up cheering for the Maple Leafs.

Tavares released a statement on Twitter that ended with “The island, the fans, the organization, my teammates will always be special to me and my family but it’s time to live my childhood dream here in Toronto.”

The 27-year-old centre was drafted by the Islanders with the first overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft. A five-time All-Star, Tavares has amassed 621 points (272 goals, 349 assists) in 669 games with the Islanders over nine seasons. He also served as the captain of the Islanders.

Despite the individual success for Tavares, the Islanders made the playoffs only three times during his tenure, and didn’t advance past the second round. The team has also experienced stadium issues in recent years. After moving out of the old Nassau Coliseum in 2015, the Islanders have played their home games at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, which was designed to serve mainly as a basketball arena and has experienced ice and sight issues. The team has announced plans to build their own stadium near Belmont Park, which won’t be completed until 2021. Until then, the Islanders will split their home schedule between Barclays and the newly renovated Nassau Coliseum.

Tavares joins a Maple Leafs team that has made the playoffs the last two seasons and is already stacked with young talent with players such as Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander. Last season, Toronto lost to the Boston Bruins in an intense seven game first round playoff series. The Maple Leafs haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1967, currently the longest title-drought in the NHL.

As for the Islanders, all is not lost. This offseason, they hired legendary NHL executive Lou Lamoriello to serve as their President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, and Barry Trotz as their new head coach. Trotz won the Stanley Cup as coach of the Washington Capitals just three weeks ago.

The Islanders also have some young talent in Anthony Beauvillier and Mathew Barzal, who just won the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year. They will need to fix their goaltending issues, however, in order to make it back to the postseason.