The Toronto Maple Leafs are approaching the 2025 Trade Deadline with hopes of bolstering their roster as they look to win their first Stanley Cup since 1967. Fans are split down the middle on what the team needs to be considered championship contenders, but they aren’t expected to stay the same heading toward the playoffs. They added Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Anthony Stolarz before the 2024-25 season started, and they have all been fantastic additions to the lineup. Now, they have to see what else is available to them.
One thing they may need to focus on sooner rather than later is a new contract for forward John Tavares, who has been playing extremely well and has made it clear on numerous occasions that he wants to finish his career as a member of the Maple Leafs. While it seems inevitable that a deal will get done at some point, a recent segment of TSN’s Insider Trading suggests it won’t be done before the trade deadline. Tavares is in the final season of his contract and is a pending unrestricted free agent, who currently has an $11 million cap hit. His new deal is widely expected to come in under that.
Tavares, who is 34 years old, has scored 23 goals and added 27 assists for 50 points through 53 games this season. Throughout his career, he has scored 479 goals and added 611 assists for 1090 points through 1162 games which comes out to a 0.94 points-per-game average. He has built a reputation for being a trustworthy two-way forward and has maintained an elite level of play despite being a veteran. I don’t think he ever plays for another team and a deal will eventually get done, just not before the deadline on Friday (Mar. 7).
What Could Tavares Get on His New Contract?
Tavares’ $11 million cap hit is not an indication of what he could make on his next deal. He is still an elite player at both ends of the ice that can help the Maple Leafs win games and potentially make a deep playoff run this season and in the future, but his new contract will have to come in at a discounted rate if he wants to stay in Toronto. The Maple Leafs still need to re-sign Mitchell Marner and can’t overspend on bringing back Tavares considering their eventual need to re-sign Auston Matthews to a long-term deal on top of their need to make a splash during free agency next offseason.
If I had to guess, I would predict Tavares will sign a three-year extension worth $6.825 million annually. It is a fair price for a player of his caliber, but still slightly under what he could be valued. I would assume he would be open to taking a pay cut to remain with the Maple Leafs, bringing his annual cap hit under $7 million per season. If the Maple Leafs think he would come down in price to remain there longer, maybe they find a way to get a four or five-year contract completed for an even lower number annually. Something like a five-year extension worth $6 million annually.
Either way, Tavares will eventually re-sign with the Maple Leafs. Ever since he joined them in free agency back in 2018, he has made it clear he wants to finish his career with them. If they can find even ground and get an extension done sooner rather than later, they can shift their focus to filling other holes in their lineup, but it seems like that isn’t something they’ll be able to do before the 2025 Trade Deadline.
As the 2024-25 season moves along, be sure to continue following The Hockey Writers as your source for news from around the NHL and the hockey world.
