"Should he be here at all?": Bryan Hayes questions John Tavares' rumored extension after failed Core Four experiment

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Aug 16, 2024 05:04 GMT

Bryan Hayes, Dave Feschuk, and 'NHL on TNT' analyst Eddie Olczyk questioned John Tavares' future with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hayes was puzzled by the debate over Tavares' contract.

He wondered if the real issue was whether Tavares should stay with the team.

[3:14] "Well, and even putting the value aside, this is what I find a bit confusing. There’s this big debate over, alright, what should the number be? Before you even get to that, should he be here at all? Like, that's—again, the core four—this is where there’s a divide in the fan base, and there always will be," Hayes said (via TSN).

The discussion touched on a big divide among Maple Leafs fans. Some are hopeful about the core group's potential, while others are frustrated. Hayes noted that the debate often centers on what works for Tavares instead of focusing on the team's needs. He wondered if the team might need a new approach, given the possible fatigue with the "Core Four" concept.

The Leafs have added new players, including defencemen Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and hired Craig Berube as head coach. However, they are keeping their core forwards: Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Tavares.

Matthews, who signed a four-year deal last year, replaces Tavares. Tavares has been captain since October 2019. This change follows another early playoff exit.

Matthews and Nylander have new contracts, but Marner and Tavares are in the final year of their deals. The debate about Tavares shows that, despite keeping core players, there is still doubt about their success.

Maple Leafs should wait on John Tavares' contract extension

John Tavares is in the last year of his $77 million contract with the Maple Leafs. At 34, he might sign a long-term or short-term deal next. Nick Alberga of The Leafs Nation suggests waiting until the season is over before making any decisions about his contract.

"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," Alberga writes.

He believes jumping into an extension now could be risky if the team doesn’t perform well. The Maple Leafs’ results this season will be key. If they do well, John Tavares might get an extension. If not, the team might need to rethink its roster.