Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving hinted on Thursday that the Leafs and veteran center John Tavares were close on a contract extension and on the day of the NHL Draft, the club announced they have signed the former captain to a four-year contract, with an AAV of $4.38 million.
The 34-year-old had his second-best season in Blue and White last season, with 38 goals and 36 assists in 75 games.
According to Pierre LeBrun of the Athletic, the contract breaks down as a $1 million base salary and $4.5 million signing bonus in 2025-26, $1 million base salary and $4 million signing bonus in 2026-27, $3.7 million salary in 2027-28, and a $1.8 million base salary, with $2 million signing bonus deferred payment payable in 2033. The deferred payment lowers the cap hit from $4.5 million to $4.38 million, which means it is the same deal that Pat Brisson’s other client, Matt Duchene, signed in Dallas last week.
The deal includes a full no-movement clause in the first two years and a five-team modified no-trade clause in the final two years.
This contract is a win for the Leafs, GM Brad Treliving and Tavares. The Leafs would have been hard pressed to find a replacement as good at second-line center next season, and with this deal, it will still be good as Tavares ages and moves down to third-line center or to the wing.
Treliving re-signed a quality player and quality person to a salary well below expectations, giving the Leafs more flexibility to make deals or add players in free agency. As for Tavares, he gets to stay in Toronto likely for the rest of his career and will enjoy the admiration and goodwill of his hometown. Something that another Toronto native about to leave the organization will not receive.
Run it back…