Toronto Maple Leafs News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

NHL Rumors Shootdown: Tavares Won’t Hold Maple Leafs Hostage

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Jim Parsons | Last updated Apr 8, 2025 1:05 PM ET

In our latest NHL Rumors Shootdown report, despite recent speculation that John Tavares’ resurgence this season might price him out of Toronto, there’s little reason to believe the Maple Leafs captain will force the team into a financial corner when it comes time to negotiate his next contract.

Maple Leafs Did Miss an Opportunity to Sign Tavares

Yes, the veteran center is having a standout year. And yes, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the number the Leafs could have locked him in at last September is seemingly off the table. But the idea that Tavares is poised to come back at the Maple Leafs with a massive, potentially team-crippling contract ask doesn’t make much sense.

Perhaps Toronto didn’t see this kind of season coming from Tavares — and they wouldn’t be alone. Few predicted the veteran center would produce the way he has. With 70 points and 36 goals, all after the captaincy was effectively shifted to Auston Matthews, Tavares has surprised many fans and analysts. It’s been an impressive response, but it also forces the Leafs to look back at the fall and wonder if they missed their chance to lock him up at a more affordable price.

Tavares is Unlikely to Hold the Maple Leafs Hostage

While the decision to wait could cost the Maple Leafs a few bucks, it’s important to remember that Tavares wants to stay in Toronto. LeBrun confirmed during a recent appearance on OverDrive that Tavares would have signed an extension before the season even started — an early indication that his priority is remaining with the Maple Leafs. His play has warranted checking the market to see if the numbers being thrown his way will be worth considering, but it’s unlikely he’s going to test the open market for every last dollar.

Secondly, while it’s true that Tavares’s value has gone up — both due to his performance and the rising NHL salary cap — the Leafs are in a much better position to absorb a reasonable AAV. The cap is projected to jump significantly over the next two seasons, giving general manager Brad Treliving more flexibility to work with the former captain on a fair extension. This isn’t to say Tavares will take a massive hometown discount, but he understands that taking a fraction of his current $11 million AAV is a must. If anything, it’s more plausible that Tavares signs a longer-term deal, potentially a salary-deferred contract, with a lower AAV in order to help the team manage his cap hit.

Third, Tavares will be 35 years old when his current deal expires. No matter how strong a season he’s having, the days of cashing in on long-term, top-dollar contracts are likely behind him. Tavares knows this. More importantly, he knows that his odds of winning a Stanley Cup — the one thing that’s eluded him in his career — are as good in Toronto as they are potentially anywhere.

Finally, the Leafs may ultimately choose to move on. If the playoffs don’t go well, the organization may pivot and remove Tavares from the equation. Going younger is a real possibility. If that happens, it won’t matter what Tavares wants; an extension won’t be happening.

Tavares Understands The Situation He’s Facing

There is a chance this goes the way things went with Steven Stamkos in Tampa Bay or Jonathan Marchessault in Vegas. It would be a shame if the relationship between the Maple Leafs and Tavares ended on a sour note. All that said, Tavares understands the position he’s in and the choice he’ll have to make. Players in their mid-30s don’t win championships by taking up massive chunks of the salary cap.

If his next deal is about money, he’ll likely leave. If it’s about on-ice success, staying where he wants to be, and showing his leadership, loyalty, and desire to win are stronger motivators than a high AAV, he’ll make it work in Toronto.

LeBrun himself emphasized that Tavares still appears willing to take less to stay, even if the “discount” won’t be quite as sweet as it might’ve been last fall. He’s unlikely to try and hold the Leafs to the fire, even if he winds up with 40 goals and finishes the season at a point-per-game pace.