Maple Leafs and John Tavares Reportedly 'Not Close' on Extension

Will John Tavares remain a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs after his contract expires? According to the latest from The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, it’s not looking like a sure thing. In his NHL rumblings column published on Saturday, LeBrun revealed that the two sides are not close on finalizing a contract extension.

Tavares is finishing a seven-year contract that paid him an average annual value of $11 million per season. It has been widely believed that the 34-year-old will sign for a lower annual value than his previous contract, but how much lower is still to be determined. The former Leafs captain finished the 2024-25 season with 38 goals. After his team’s elimination in the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, an emotional Tavares made it clear his preference was to remain in Toronto. However, the discrepancy between his desired salary and his market value has likely complicated things.

While Toronto wants to retain its second-line center, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving must also allocate money to restricted free agent Matthew Knies, who is due for a massive increase from his recently expired entry-level contract. The market for centers provides important context.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, multiple teams feel Tavares could get something similar to the three-year, $7.5 million AAV extension that Brock Nelson just signed with the Colorado Avalanche. Steven Stamkos is another close comparable in age, position, and leadership; he signed a four-year deal worth $8 million per season with the Nashville Predators last year.

The notion of a "hometown discount" has been pitched, where Tavares might accept a lower annual salary spread out over a longer term, similar to what the Leafs did with defenseman Chris Tanev. Of course, Toronto has to weigh who would fill the void if Tavares signs elsewhere. The premium for centers on the open market is high, with not many prime choices available to fill a second-line role.

The next week should be revealing, showing how committed Tavares is to remaining a Leaf and how eager the club is to keep him.