John Tavares wasn't shy about his desire to stay a Toronto Maple Leaf and now NHL Insider Pierre Lebrun believes an extension is closer than many expected.
The Toronto Maple Leafs made a big change this summer, anointing Auston Matthews as the new captain to usurp John Tavares. Many people were stunned by this change, but as the season nears closer it feels more and more like it's Matthews team. With Tavares' contract coming up, and his captaincy removed; what's next for John Tavares?
According to Pierre Lebrun, NHL Insider, Tavares is going to stay a Maple Leaf, and do so for a steep discount:
'There have been contract talks. There's been back and forth between Tavares' camp and the Leafs' front office. I don't think anything is imminent, though I do hear the dialogue is supposed to pick up again.There is a mutual desire between the team and John Tavares to get something done at some point. From the Leafs' perspective, it is something they want to get done, but I don't know if they're in a rush to do it.'
The Future of John Tavares
So will John Tavares end up signing with Toronto? Most likely yes. It's obvious that he's not only a big part of the team identity but of the entire city of Toronto. He means a lot to the entire community and his leaving would be a huge blow to the morale of the Maple Leafs and their fans.
He won't be getting a discount to the point of the league minimum, nor should he as a more than capable playmaker who can heavily influence what happens on the ice. But he will get paid less than the $11M he's currently receiving, and whether Tavares decides to sign long-term for around $5-6M per year for the next three or four years, it could be a big steal for the Maple Leafs if he keeps his production level up. Tavares could also go the short-term route, playing for a new contract each year and taking a steadily lowered discount as the years go on. He would still be paid what he's worth, and if he has some decline then Toronto can leverage it during negotiations.
It looks like John Tavares will be a Maple Leaf for the rest of his career, something that he could only have dreamed of as a kid.
