All indications suggest that John Tavares will surrender the opportunity to test unrestricted free agency long before Steven Stamkos did earlier this summer. The star waited until just hours before what would have been the end of a five-year contract and eight-year term with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Stamkos' life advice, though, applies regardless.

The only thing he's told his World Cup teammate about the lead-in to free agency (still two summers from now), and the inevitable rumors of Toronto's interest, is to be careful on Twitter.

"That was my only advice," Stamkos said, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. "'Don't stir the pot accidentally. Be careful.'"

Stamkos is invoking the incident in which he accidentally "liked" an article linking him to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Tavares, for his part, told a Toronto radio station earlier this week that he intends to finish what he's started and re-up with the New York Islanders.

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