Analyst urges Leafs against rushing $77M John Tavares contract extension

By Evan Bell

Modified Aug 15, 2024 17:57 GMT

Former Maple Leafs captain John Tavares is entering the final year of a seven-year deal worth $77 million signed prior to the start of the 2018-19 season. While Tavares has continued to produce at an impressive rate, given that he will be 34 years old by the time the 2024-25 NHL season starts, it's unclear what a potential extension could look like.

While Tavares seems likely to remain with Toronto until he retires, the question remains whether he will sign a long-term extension or a short-term deal that could leave room for another contract before hanging up his skates.

The way Nick Alberga of The Leafs Nation sees things, there's no reason to sign Tavares to a long-term extension right now before the start of training camp. Instead, he suggested that the Leafs should consider waiting to see how things play out in the season ahead before making any decisions about his future. He said, via The Leafs Nation:

"The best thing for the Leafs to do is let the season play out and reassess accordingly. Effectively, if they choose to go ahead and sign him to an extension now, in the long run, it could prove to be a bad decision."

After a season where the Maple Leafs failed to make it out of the first round for the third time in the past four years, next summer's offseason will go a long way in deciding the future of the franchise's core.

If they're able to improve on their play from last season, and it's clear that things are moving in the right direction, the team can extend John Tavares. If the team winds up struggling to make it out of the first round again, or misses the playoffs entirely, a roster overhaul may be in the works.

Looking at John Tavares' play in recent years as six-time All-Star enters final year of deal

While John Tavares may be 33 years old, he has continued to play efficient hockey, while staying healthy over the past few seasons. After a career-high 84 points in 82 games during the 2017-18 season, Tavares signed a seven-year deal worth $77 million.

He then had another career year, logging 88 points in 82 games during the 2018-19 season with 47 goals, another career high for the Canadian star. The following season, Tavares dealt with an injury that prevented him from playing in all 82 games for the third straight year. However, over the 63 games he played, Tavares nearly averaged a point per game once more, logging 60 points with 26 goals.

During the 2020-21 season, it was more of the same, with John Tavares dealing with injuries, but producing when healthy. For the second straight year, he played in under 65 games. Despite playing in just 56 games, he logged 50 points, proving that he still had what it takes to compete at an elite level.

The following year, Tavares was able to remain healthy, logging 76 points over 79 games, cementing his place as an elite-caliber player before then averaging a point per game during the 2022-23 season with 80 points in 80 games.

Last season, however, John Tavares wound up logging just 65 points despite remaining healthy and playing in 80 games. While his production dropped, he was able to remain a major contributor for Toronto.