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[Speculation] Report: Maple Leafs, Tavares have had extension talks


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Report: Maple Leafs, Tavares have had extension talks

 

Josh Wegman

October 08, 2024 06:08 PM EST

 

The Toronto Maple Leafs and veteran forward John Tavares have engaged in contract extension discussions, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

 

While LeBrun doesn't believe anything is imminent, he expects dialogue between the two sides to pick up again soon.

 

Tavares is entering the final campaign of the seven-year, $77-million contract he signed as a free agent in 2018.

 

The 34-year-old is coming off a season in which he tallied 29 goals and 36 assists in 80 contests. His 0.81 points per game represent his worst since his rookie season in 2009-10 with the New York Islanders.

 

Tavares has averaged 78 points per 82 games during his six campaigns in Toronto. His best came in 2018-19 when he set career highs with 47 goals and 88 points.

 

He's been less productive in the postseason, though, managing 12 goals and 12 assists in 38 playoff games during his Leafs tenure.

 

Toronto has only advanced past the first round of the playoffs once with Tavares, though he was the one to send them to Round 2 with a dramatic, series-clinching overtime winner in Game 6 versus the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023.

 

Tavares served as Toronto's captain for five seasons before passing the "C" to Auston Matthews this past offseason.

 

The Maple Leafs project to have roughly $30 million in cap space next summer. Mitch Marner and Jake McCabe (who the team has also discussed an extension with) highlight the team's other 2025 unrestricted free agents, alongside restricted free agents Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson, Connor Dewar, and Conor Timmins.

 

It's unclear how much Tavares might earn on his next contract, but Evolving-Hockey projects a three-year deal with a $7.51-million cap hit.

 

https://apple.news/AmKVD4JzxRNKUjFagiWVC-A

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I would give him max 3 years but be happier with 2 if I was a Leaf fan.....Tavares has been a good soldier, but he has never been fast and as he ages he's getting slower.

 

2x3.5 would be a team friendly deal and not handcuff them if he falls off cliff

 

As a Canucks fan I hope they sign him for 5x6 mil lol

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12 minutes ago, MillersWrister said:

I would give him max 3 years but be happier with 2 if I was a Leaf fan.....Tavares has been a good soldier, but he has never been fast and as he ages he's getting slower.

 

2x3.5 would be a team friendly deal and not handcuff them if he falls off cliff

 

As a Canucks fan I hope they sign him for 5x6 mil lol

breh, what? 2x3.5? for point per game veteran? What kind of high are you and where can I get some... hes not gonna sign for less than 7-8m

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4 minutes ago, Chickenspear said:

Leafs just keep going back to the dry well. Please, Treliving, Be my guest, and lock in a few more years of futility by overpaying a declining forward.


When playoff revenue and corporate sponsors are more important than a championship.

 

That organization will never make any bold moves or risk taking a step back 

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14 minutes ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said:

 

Or they could give him the Tavares special, max term x 11.375 million.  Comes in at a handy 91 million, matching his sweater number.  :hurhur:

 

That'll do pig, that'll do

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59 minutes ago, Drakrami said:

Overpaid as fook on his last contract. More like a 8.5million/year player the last 7 years, and that's on the high side. 

Overpaid yes, earned his deal yes too.   Unlike guys these days, he actually put the time in on a modest/cheap RFA deal, Captaining the NYI and took the first line role right off the hop.    He's not like some center's whose points are the only thing,  Tavares plays a full 200 feet, blocks shots, hits guys and does the little things.   I'd say more like 9-9.5.   Too bad his habits didn't rub off on Mathew's and Nylander earlier.    Mr Consistent up until last season.    Well too bad for Toronto.   And his playoff's were somewhat underwhelming too.    If a player puts his time in and far surpasses his second deal, don't take any issue with a huge payday.     Tavares (and Stamkos too for that matter) both took way less then we've seen other first overall phenom's get since for their RFA deals.    Now, it seems RFA's want to be paid like UFA's and get full term deals,  with or without a pedigree.    Tavares was a phenom.  Stamkos was pretty touted too, and by draft plus 2 was scoring 60 goals in the NHL as a first line center.   Can't say that about Guenther.     Tavares reminds me of this generations Sundin.   Never top tier, but always floating around and sometimes top ten in scoring. 

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2 hours ago, IBatch said:

Overpaid yes, earned his deal yes too.   Unlike guys these days, he actually put the time in on a modest/cheap RFA deal, Captaining the NYI and took the first line role right off the hop.    He's not like some center's whose points are the only thing,  Tavares plays a full 200 feet, blocks shots, hits guys and does the little things.   I'd say more like 9-9.5.   Too bad his habits didn't rub off on Mathew's and Nylander earlier.    Mr Consistent up until last season.    Well too bad for Toronto.   And his playoff's were somewhat underwhelming too.    If a player puts his time in and far surpasses his second deal, don't take any issue with a huge payday.     Tavares (and Stamkos too for that matter) both took way less then we've seen other first overall phenom's get since for their RFA deals.    Now, it seems RFA's want to be paid like UFA's and get full term deals,  with or without a pedigree.    Tavares was a phenom.  Stamkos was pretty touted too, and by draft plus 2 was scoring 60 goals in the NHL as a first line center.   Can't say that about Guenther.     Tavares reminds me of this generations Sundin.   Never top tier, but always floating around and sometimes top ten in scoring. 

Yeah agree, not putting down Tavares or anything. He is an amazing player for sure and probably a top 3 player on any team he decided to sign in 7 years ago. But if you compare his contract to other players it is widely overpaid. Miller's new contract 8mil 100point workhorse. McDavid 12.5mil yearly Hart finalist. M. Tkachuk 9.5million leads his team to the finals 1 year + cup the next. 

 

In fact it could be argued if Toronto did not sign Tavares back then they'd be on a much better course. Matthews, Marner, Willander are still there. Coulda adjusted their team every season if they failed in the playoffs like what Allvin is doing now instead of pinching pennies scavenging AHL players to fill their lineup or convincing 35 year old past their prime players to take league minimum contracts. 

 

And 1 more thing about Tavares, NYI surprisingly did much better after he left. Made the playoffs the next 3 years and actually won 5 rounds. 

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3 hours ago, Drakrami said:

Yeah agree, not putting down Tavares or anything. He is an amazing player for sure and probably a top 3 player on any team he decided to sign in 7 years ago. But if you compare his contract to other players it is widely overpaid. Miller's new contract 8mil 100point workhorse. McDavid 12.5mil yearly Hart finalist. M. Tkachuk 9.5million leads his team to the finals 1 year + cup the next. 

 

In fact it could be argued if Toronto did not sign Tavares back then they'd be on a much better course. Matthews, Marner, Willander are still there. Coulda adjusted their team every season if they failed in the playoffs like what Allvin is doing now instead of pinching pennies scavenging AHL players to fill their lineup or convincing 35 year old past their prime players to take league minimum contracts. 

 

And 1 more thing about Tavares, NYI surprisingly did much better after he left. Made the playoffs the next 3 years and actually won 5 rounds. 

Yep.    Toronto did Toronto things and blew their chances despite the buzz at the time.   SJ was also ready to do this (same with Stamkos both TO and SJ).   Tavares and Stamkos are considered the best/biggest UFA's all-time to hit the market at their ages.      Crazy but that's the reality (so far anyways).   That was the buzz.     As for NYI that was mostly Trotz.   He came in and they made the final four twice in a row wasn't it?   Right after winning a cup with WSH.   Had little to do with Tavares and his relatively puny cap hit before hitting free agency. 

 

Let's get it right.  I agree signing Tavares to that size of deal was goofy.   As a free market, and playing in a tax crap province (like us 53%),  also acknowledge the player actually earned it.   He didn't get a massive pay day despite having all the accolades (special rule for juniors etc) first overall pick,  right to the NHL without missing a beat.   

 

Players a generation later, score 25 goals and sign an 8 year deal for the same cap percentage.   It's fucked up. 

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