Leafs sign John Tavares to four-year deal before star forward hits free agency
Veteran forward signs four-year extension worth $4.38 million per season.
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Rather than take the money and run, John Tavares took less and stayed.
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And the Maple Leafs are better for his four-year extension — organizationally, spiritually and financially — with one less potentially huge headache for general manager Brad Treliving, who is facing the imminent loss of Mitch Marner.
The scope of Tavares’ hometown discount was revealed Friday. If the hockey-centric fan in Toronto liked Tavares’ effort level in his first seven seasons here, budget-conscious among the blue and white faithful will love him at a $4.38 million US annual cap hit.
Tavares just completed a seven-year, $77-million pact, which for all of his on-ice production and serving as team captain up 2023-24, put a strain atop long-term deals for fellow ‘Core Four’ members Auston Matthews, William Nylander and
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Marner. Tavares could’ve looked elsewhere on July 1 as an unrestricted free agent or even held out.
“I stated clearly I wanted to stay, have a deal that would work for both sides,” Tavares said on a media Zoom call on Friday.
“Even through the ups, downs and disappointments, my belief in the team is we can do something really special.
“Even though I left some money out there, I’ve done pretty well (in the last big Leafs deal and before that with the New York Islanders) and am doing pretty well. I get to play for an amazing club in a great city where I’m from (Oakville).”
It was a stance the Leafs at one time hoped Marner might have considered. But not after a string of criticized playoff struggles for the latter and with an annual salary in the range of $13-$14 million likely awaiting the 28-year-old winger elsewhere.
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Tavares didn’t have three kids when he first signed here, but has made a huge emotional investment in the Leafs, despite their constant inability to get past the second round of the playoffs.
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The 34-year-old played 75 games last season, recording 74 points, maintaining his near point-a-game average (1,114 in 1,184 NHL appearances).
He’ll continue to fill the second or perhaps third-line centre role behind Matthews and spare Treliving from pursuing an extra pivot when the UFA market opens next week. The GM isn’t worried about Tavares turning 35 when training camp starts in September or that he might not hold the second-line role behind Matthews, depending on who the Leafs might acquire in free agency or develop from within.
“We all expect the aging curve to set in, but his approach to taking care of his body is second to none,” Treliving said.
“He’s an important player for us. I won’t speak for (head coach Craig Berube’s roster plans), but we’ll see how it turns out. Some guys defy (age), can play well into their late 30s. Father Time is undefeated, but i expect we’ll have a good player going forward.”
In the playoffs, Tavares managed 53 points in 75 games, though he hasn’t been as much of a spring game-breaker as desired with the Leafs still unable to get past the second round since his arrival in 2018.
“It only gets harder as my runway gets shorter,” Tavares reasoned. “I’m clearly on the back nine holes. not the front.”
Yet the post-season defeats haven’t dulled his enthusiasm, in fact he insists he’s hungrier than ever for a long playoff run here.
“Playoffs are hard and you’ve got to beat four teams, four times,” he reminded in expressing admiration that the Florida Panthers have been to the past three Cup finals. “But Tree wants to round out the roster and there’s a lot of belief in the team. I’ve talked to a number of our guys and they badly want to find our way.”
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After ceding the captaincy to Matthews at the start of last season, many wondered if Tavares would still be an effective leader. Treliving said his goals, assists, faceoff acumen and physicality down low keep validating his status, as well as actions off the ice.
Treliving revealed that Thursday, when the GM was being coy with invited media about the state of Tavares’ contract talks, the latter was on the other side of the wall in the Leafs’ Ford Performance Centre gym, well into his summer workouts.
“You see it every day, it’s a lifestyle,” Treliving said of his commitment to being in shape. “We’d have a one-day road trip and you’d think he’s going three weeks. He has extra bags for all his apparatuses for his stretching and his plyometrics. He watches what he eats before and after a game. He’s got a God-given talent since he was a young lad.”
Chris Johnston of The Athletic reported the deal includes a no-movement clause for two seasons, converting to a five-team trade list afterwards.
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