The Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot of players who will be unrestricted free agents this offseason. While Mitch Marner‘s contract talks have been kept out of the media, former Maple Leafs captain John Tavares is not afraid to discuss his contract negotiations.
Tavares has a history of talking about where he would like to play on an expiring deal. He spoke with Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com, where he spoke about his time as a Toronto Maple Leaf and his intentions to remain with the team moving forward. “I’ve said it before, I would love to stay and hope it works out,” Tavares said. “I think that’s, that’s my goal and my intention.”
Now, if those comments sound familiar, they are similar to what he said when he was a pending unrestricted free agent with the New York Islanders before signing a seven-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs back in the summer of 2018.
“I want to stay on Long Island … I haven’t thought about being anywhere except with the Islanders,” he said to Newsday’s Arthur Staple.
There has been a history of players who have said similar things to Tavares only to end up signing with another team in free agency. Now, the signing benefited both the Islanders and Maple Leafs. Maybe more so the Islanders, who went to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 and 2021; however, John Tavares has put up great statistical numbers for the Maple Leafs in his time in Toronto.
Tavares Showing He’s Worth Keeping Around
During his time with the Maple Leafs, he has recorded 451 points (199 goals and 252 assists) in 473 career regular season games. This includes 31 points (15 goals and 16 assists) in 32 games this season with Toronto. He is proving a lot to himself and the team this season.
Tavares is still showing he is one of the best players in the NHL. He is the model of consistency, especially at the center position, and with the weight of being captain off his shoulders, Tavares is more relaxed out there on the ice. While still wearing a letter, he leads like a captain on the ice with his play.
What Will John Tavares Sign For?
Tavares is in the final year of his seven-year deal, which pays him $11 million on an AAV. That number will come down. But it will not come down to the point many thought it would be at the beginning of the season. There was talk of potentially Tavares getting $4 million on an AAV on a three-year deal. While the term is going to be three years, the number could be slightly higher, as Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period reports.
As for Tavares, the conversations continuing between the Leafs and his camp. Neither side is in panic mode. I think both sides understand they want to get an extension done. He’s going to be a UFA in July. I don’t know if he gets to July 1st but I also don’t know if they’re going to sign in season. Conversation’s fluid. They can figure this out at any point, but again, neither side is concerned. You’re probably looking at something in the three-year range of $6 to $7.5M per year, which seems to be the consensus around the league with where the money may fall.
The Maple Leafs are in the hunt for a center as well. But with the way Tavares is playing for them, they could keep him for a couple of more seasons and develop someone along the way.
Again, it was John Tavares who ended the Maple Leafs’ first-round playoff drought against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023, scoring the game-winning series-clinching overtime goal. And while he did not deliver a Stanley Cup to the Maple Leafs, he has been everything and more to the franchise.
With a rising salary cap, a salary between $6 million and $7.5 million is not unreasonable. But again, who gets a new contract, Tavares or Mitch Marner? Because that Marner number could determine what Tavares gets if he does want to stay.
Next: Hyman Rolling: NHL Trade Talk Morning Roundup: Dec. 23
