Tavares became eligible to sign an extension with the Leafs on July 1.
The Toronto Maple Leafs made headlines on Wednesday as they unveiled the club’s 26th captain in franchise history, Auston Matthews. The now-former captain, John Tavares, who held the top leadership role for five seasons, gave a brief speech and handed off the torch to his teammate.
Tavares’ display of class was commendable, and it was certainly no easy task for the hometown forward to relinquish the captaincy. The transition, though bittersweet, reflects his commitment to both his personal and professional growth within the organization. However, the 33-year-old only has one year remaining on his current seven-year, $77 million contract he signed in the summer of 2018.
Since Tavares became eligible to sign an extension with the organization on July 1, the possibility of a new deal has become a focal point. Given the uncertainty of his future, TSN’s Chris Johnston believes a new deal is a priority for Tavares and his family, and he anticipates discussions will soon begin.
“I think that there will be some discussions now about the possibility of an extension. It’s probably more of a priority for John Tavares and his family,” Johnston said, standing outside Scotiabank Arena. “He made a big move at the time he moved back to Toronto when he took that free agent deal, he had a number of other opportunities at that point in time.”
And it’s true. In 2018, Tavares was coming off his second-best season in the NHL, scoring 37 goals and adding 47 assists for an 84-point regular season. Though the price was steep for the Leafs, they were adding an elite center in his prime for seven years. From Tavares’ perspective, he could have stayed in New York or chosen a more lucrative offer elsewhere, but instead, he opted to pursue a Stanley Cup in his hometown.
With Tavares now eligible for an extension and the captaincy transferred to Matthews, the timing seems ideal for discussions about his future with the Leafs. His commitment to the team and the city is clear, but as Johnston mentions, life is different now from 2018. Since then, he’s had his three children born in Toronto, further solidifying his ties to the city and the team.
“At that point in time, he didn’t have kids, those three kids that were sitting in the front row today have all been born in Toronto,” Johnston said. “I think it’s very important on his end of things to try and find something that works and the Leafs will have to work through that with him.”
Although no deal is imminent, it’s believed that discussions will take place. Besides, given Tavares’ sacrifice in handing over the captaincy to the cornerstone player of the franchise, both parties seem motivated to find a new role for him moving forward. At the press conference, general manager Brad Treliving indicated that Tavares will wear an ‘A’ next season.
“I don’t get the sense that anything is close at this time but I do think those discussions happen and maybe that’s the flip side to how well he’s handled this,” Johnston explained. “It really is incumbent upon him to make sure this transition goes well, to make sure the team doesn’t suffer, and there could be a new role, slightly reduced one in terms of what he’s paid, where he’s playing in the lineup, and wearing an ‘A’ instead of a ‘C’.”
After the club’s opening-round playoff series loss to the Boston Bruins, Tavares reaffirmed his desire to remain with the club for the foreseeable future, stating, “I haven't put much thought to it, but I mean, I love playing here. I think it's a remarkable place to play. And when I committed here six years ago, obviously I saw a tremendous amount of talent and an amazing hockey market and organization that's fully committed to winning.”
