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John Tavares & Maple Leafs Finalizing 3-Year Contract Extension: Report

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Feb 13, 2025 5:45 AM ET

As clear as John Tavares has made his intentions to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs once his current deal expires next July, fans hadn't heard a legitimate update on where things stood between the player and the franchise regarding a contract extension.

That changed on Saturday as The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta reported that Tavares and the Maple Leafs have agreed to a contract extension for the Mississauga native to stay put in Toronto.

While not yet officially announced pending "some finetuning," the deal is believed to be for three years at an average annual value of around $7 million.

“Tavares needs a new contract. There has been chatter of a three-year extension in place that requires some finetuning, but nobody will confirm,” Pagnotta wrote. “His AAV will drop, likely in the $7 million range.”

Tavares, 34, has remained a key contributor for the Leafs this season following his removal from team captaincy, tallying 21 goals and 24 assists in 47 games.

With Auston Matthews taking over the captaincy at the start of the season, Tavares has still played a leadership role and stepped up when Matthews was sidelined earlier this campaign.

If Pagnotta's information is correct, Tavares would go from earning $11 million annually to $7 million, a $4 million drop from his current cap hit.

With the NHL’s salary cap expected to rise significantly in the coming years—reaching a projected $104 million in 2026-27—Tavares’ new contract would also take a smaller percentage of the Leafs’ payroll over time.

The New York Islanders originally drafted Tavares with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NHL draft. Tavares joined the Leafs as a free agent in 2018 signing a seven-year, $77 million contract, and so far he's gone on to score 464 points in 487 games with Toronto.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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