Mar 5, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (91) warms up before a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
After rumors surfaced following the NHL’s trade deadline that the Toronto Maple Leafs had considered trading Mitch Marner to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Mikko Rantanen, John Tavares was asked about his own future with the team following Toronto’s 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.
Tavares, who scored twice in the defeat and is closing in on the 30-goal mark this season, reiterated his commitment to the organization despite the uncertainty surrounding his contract status as he plays out the final season of a seven-year, $77 million contract.
“I love it here. I’ve said that I want to stay, and the team wants to take its time, which I totally get, said Tavares. “They know how I feel and want to make things work, so there will be time for that. Right now, we’re focused on earning a playoff spot and doing something special this year. That time will come.”
As no extension seems imminent, Tavares emphasized that his primary focus remains on the “task at hand.”
“Most importantly, I’m just focused on the task at hand, and when that time comes, we’ll get there, and we’ll work through it. Most importantly, focus on what happened here today and learn from it. Gotta get better and ready for a big game Monday,” he added.
Before the NHL trade deadline, insider Chris Johnston reported that the Leafs and Tavares were unlikely to agree on an extension before March 7. That turned out to be the case, as Tavares remains unsigned beyond this season.
Addressing both his own situation and Marner’s, Tavares believes the 27-year-old is handling the speculation well.
"I think Mitch is just focused on being a Leaf and doing everything he can to help the team," he said. "He's a great player. We love him in here, and we're just continuing to do what we do. We don't listen to any of those things that go on. It's part of the game, part of the business. We love him, and he's playing great."
Despite the uncertainty, Tavares has let his play do the talking, registering 26 goals and 29 assists for 55 points in 56 games this season. Amid injuries to key offensive players, he has remained a crucial piece for the Maple Leafs to rely on this season.
In February, head coach Craig Berube backed up Tavares’ level-headed approach to the situation when asked if he believed the contract talk had any impact on the veteran’s mindset.
“Not a little bit. He's a pro. He just does his thing,” Berube said. “It's every day. He just comes to work. He does his routine. He's got it down. And, you know, he's played extremely well for us. I don't think he thinks about it, to be honest with you. Not that I've noticed or I haven't noticed any of that with him.”
Since September, the former No.1 overall pick has reiterated to the media his desire to remain a Toronto Maple Leaf, the team he opted to join in free agency in the summer of 2018. Whether or not he remains in Toronto beyond this season remains a story for another day, but his open commitment to the team hasn’t wavered.
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