On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs and John Tavares are not close to reaching an agreement on a contract extension, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reports.
LeBrun reported Saturday that while the two sides are actively engaging in negotiations, the gap has yet to narrow with 10 days to go until the veteran centre hits the open market.
“The stakes are high here,” LeBrun wrote. “You’ve got a 34-year-old player who doesn’t want to leave his home and a team that can ill-afford to lose a second-line center who just scored 38 goals and 74 points. Deadlines spur decisions. It’s probably still going to get done, but it’s a fascinating one to be sure.”
This comes after reports emerged on Thursday via The Leafs Nation’s Nick Alberga that the Leafs and Matthew Knies are ‘far apart’ in their extension discussion, with the added pressure of a potential offer sheet should the negotiations drag on beyond July 1st. While there is undoubtedly some optimism that new deals for Knies and Tavares will eventually get completed, the fact that it has yet to get across the finish line this close to the start of free agent frenzy may leave Leafs fans concerned.
In Tavares’ case, the delay likely boils down to the structure of the deal and what he would be looking for on what would likely be his last major pay day. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos appeared on Leafs Morning Take on Friday, where he suggested that the contract Matt Duchene ($4.5 million AAV) received from the Dallas Stars is a ballpark for what would be fair value for Tavares and the Leafs.
“That’s a fair comparable,” Kypreos said. “Excellent regular season players, can help you get there, but they’re not guys that I’m gonna look at as difference makers in the playoffs. Matt Duchene didn’t do much to help Dallas when they needed it most. Tavares has never had a reputation for playing his best hockey in the playoffs. He’s never seen the light of day of a Conference Final.”
Reports emerged later on Friday from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that Tavares on the open market could get a contract similar to what Brock Nelson ($7.5 million AAV) signed for with the Colorado Avalanche. Friedman suggested that the Leafs could opt to stretch out the length of the contract, similar to what they did with Chris Tanev, in an effort to lower the AAV of Tavares’ next contract.
Regardless, there isn’t much time left for the Leafs to get this contract over the finish line before they would have to compete with 31 other teams to retain Tavares’ services. There is no doubt that the veteran forward is eager to return given that he has stated his desires multiple times throughout the season, but it won’t matter until the two sides officially reach an agreement.
While Tavares and the Leafs are still chipping away at a potential contract extension, they aren’t close to getting it done at the time of filing.
More must-reads:
- Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen suffers freak injury in 'barbecue accident'
- Adam Lowry's contract extension with Jets is another blow to 2026 NHL free agency
- The 'NHL all-time goal leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Brandon Carlo, Morgan Rielly land on The Athletic’s top 25 trade targets list
With the Toronto Maple Leafs off to a mediocre start, it’s no surprise to hear that general manager Brad Treliving is keeping an eye on the trade market in an effort to retool this roster. However, the team may face some challenges on the market, with a shallow prospect pool and a lack of excess draft capital. On Wednesday, Chris Johnston of The Athletic published his latest top 25 trade targets. Appearing on the list from the Maple Leafs are Brandon Carlo at #9 and Morgan Rielly at #25. Carlo is off to a poor start this season on a struggling Toronto blue line, but still could have a lot to offer for a team looking for defensive support. He also landed on The Leafs Nation’s list of three players that make the most sense to be traded earlier this week. On Carlo, Johnston writes: Traded from Boston to Toronto ahead of last year’s deadline, Carlo is among a small handful of players who could bring the struggling Leafs back surplus value in a shakeup deal. Of course, they’d also be immediately looking for another sturdy defender who can patrol the right side if they elect to go down that road. Carlo is a 6-foot-5 defenseman who can kill penalties and help shut the game down. He’s not overly physical, but he’s no stranger to big-game hockey with 85 career playoff games on his resume. He’s signed for one season beyond this one, too. Meanwhile, questions about a possible Rielly trade are nothing new, but there continue to be barriers to getting it done and questions about his market value. On Rielly, Johnston writes: The longest-tenured member of the Maple Leafs owns a no-movement clause and no apparent desire for a change of scenery. However, a tough start to the season in Toronto has left management looking at all options. Rielly had a heart-to-heart with GM Brad Treliving in May and responded with a big summer, but the team is still searching for the right mix on its blue line. While Rielly’s skating may not be the separator it once was, he still does a strong job of getting his team playing offense and is a high-character player. The Maple Leafs are on the lookout for some fresh bodies on their roster, and Carlo and Rielly are two options they could be shopping right now. Leading off The Athletic’s list on Wednesday were Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson, Nashville Predators veteran Steven Stamkos, and winger Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres. Also notable, former Leaf Nazem Kadri landed at #21 on the list, with the potential of returning to Toronto this season. Give us your thoughts, what kind of return would you expect from a hypothetical Carlo or Rielly trade?
Mavericks' Mark Cuban sends strong message on Anthony Davis, but he should change his tune
The Dallas Mavericks still believe they can make it work with forward Anthony Davis. Entering Wednesday, the Mavericks (4-11) were 13th in the Western Conference and had lost eight of their past 10 games. Amid the slow start, a report surfaced that the team would explore trading Davis. However, minority owner Mark Cuban shut down that rumor. Mark Cuban says the Mavericks aren't trading Anthony Davis "We won't. We want to try to win," Cuban said Wednesday in an email when asked if the Mavericks would trade Davis, via The Athletic's Joe Vardon. A healthy Davis would help Dallas win more games. In 14 seasons, the No. 1 pick of the 2012 NBA Draft has made 10 All-Star Games and won a championship. In five games this season, the 32-year-old veteran has averaged 20.8 PPG on an above-average 52% shooting from the field and recorded 10.2 rebounds per game and 1.2 blocks per game. The problem, though, is that Davis is injury-prone. He has played in 75 regular-season games or more three times in his career. Since acquiring him in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, the oft-injured Davis has played in just 14 games for the Mavericks. He hasn't played since Oct. 29 because of a left calf strain, which will be re-evaluated in seven to 10 days, per the team. Even when he has been playing, the Mavericks have still stunk. Dallas has a 2-3 record with Davis in the lineup. Davis was supposed to form a tandem with star guard Kyrie Irving that would keep the Mavericks in championship contention. That vision may not become a reality. Irving is still recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in March. While he's making progress, it's unclear if/when the 33-year-old star will return this season. Cuban sending the email is his way of reestablishing his authority within the organization. He's acting as an "adviser" to majority owner Patrick Dumont, who fired general manager Nico Harrison on Nov. 11. The unpopular former GM, of course, sent star guard Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Davis. Cuban helped the Mavericks make 18 playoff appearances and win one title before selling his majority stake in 2023. So, he certainly feels responsible for Dallas' lackluster product on the court. But the responsible thing would be admitting it may be time to trade Davis. The Mavericks aren't winning a title even if he stays healthy, which seems unlikely. And it would be wise to stockpile draft capital to build around rookie forward Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick of the 2025 draft.
Packers Receive Disappointing Injury News Before Vikings Matchup
Jayden Reed’s anticipated return to the practice field for the Green Bay Packers will have to wait a little longer. Despite some growing hope earlier this week that the dynamic wide receiver could begin the next phase of his recovery, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Wednesday that Reed will not open his 21-day practice window yet. “He’s not practicing today,” LaFleur said ahead of Sunday’s critical matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. When pressed for a clearer timeline on the second-year standout, who remains on injured reserve with collarbone and foot injuries, LaFleur deferred to the medical staff. “I don’t know. As soon as medical clears him, he’ll be out there,” LaFleur said. “I know he’s excited to get back. As am I.” The optimism had spiked in recent days. On Monday, LaFleur indicated there was a chance Reed and/or rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd could start their practice windows this week. Reed himself fueled the excitement Tuesday by sharing a photo of himself dressed in full uniform on social media. Those plans, however, are now on hold. Reed’s surgically repaired foot seems to have healed satisfactorily, but the collarbone—fractured on a diving attempt during the first half of Green Bay’s Week 2 victory over the Washington Commanders—still needs additional time. For a wide receiver whose job involves regular physical contact and the risk of landing hard on the shoulder, the medical staff is requiring clear imaging evidence that the bone is strong enough before green-lighting a return. The cautious approach echoes the Packers’ handling of Aaron Rodgers’ similar collarbone injury in 2017, when the former quarterback sat out seven games while waiting for full healing. Nearly 10 weeks removed from the injury and having already missed eight contests, Reed could still require another one to two weeks before doctors are comfortable clearing him for football activities. That timeline keeps a potential return for the Thanksgiving night clash with the Detroit Lions or the following week against the Chicago Bears realistically in play. Before the injury, Reed had established himself as Green Bay’s top receiving weapon. He paced the team in receiving yards in both 2023 and 2024, and in the two games he played this season while managing the foot issue, he recorded three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. The Green Bay Packers will continue their Week 12 preparations without their leading wideout on the practice field, with LaFleur and the organization prioritizing full recovery over a rushed comeback.
MLB’s new media deal may end up being a bad deal for consumers
Major League Baseball will have a new television deal heading into 2026, with NBC/Peacock getting the best portion of the pie. The network, which already hosts "Sunday Night Football," will now also host "Sunday Night Baseball" after spending 36 years on ESPN, according to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand. NBC/Peacock will also play host to the first round of the playoffs. Marchand adds that the streaming platform Netflix will get the rights to broadcast the Home Run Derby, the Field of Dreams game and the standalone Opening Day game featured in prime time. NBC/Peacock is paying nearly $200 million per year (total of $600 million) for its broadcasting rights, while Netflix is paying $50 million (total of $150 million) for its portion. ESPN, meanwhile, was allowed to broadcast all out-of-market games for all 30 major league clubs, while also getting the right to broadcast in-market games for six teams. ESPN had opted out of its remaining three years of its deal with Major League Baseball back in March. How does MLB's new media deal affect baseball viewing moving forward? This new deal for Major League Baseball isn’t necessarily the best for consumers. Bringing three of the four major pro sports in the United States (baseball, football and basketball) under one umbrella (NBC/Peacock), Major League Baseball will now reach 42 million more people with this maneuver than it originally did. Peacock recently reached that many new subscribers this past October. However, with the U.S. population at 340.1 million people, that number is deceiving. Sports viewers don’t usually stream, with 17 percent of Americans not having streaming services, according to a Pew Research Center poll. There was a recent scandal between ESPN and YouTube TV, in which they were at odds over their deal, cutting off "Monday Night Football," college football and other sports like Formula 1 from 10 million viewers. After a two-week standoff, both sides finally agreed on a deal. NBC/Peacock had its own standoff with the streaming platform heading into October. However, both sides agreed at the final hour. The costs of streaming have gone up over the years, when the point was to be cheaper than cable. With Netflix costing $25 a month (premium), Peacock costing $14 a month ($140 a year) and the ESPN app costing $30 a month ($300 per year), fans' frustrations may continue to mount as the cost to watch sports rises.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
