While the upcoming playoffs are the main topic of discussion around the hockey community, offseason chores should not be ignored. The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a very eventful summer with three key players coming off the books. Mitch Marner , Matthew Knies , and John Tavares will require new contracts at the end of this season. There’s plenty of uncertainty about whether all these players will be back next season or what their new deals could look like. However, the logistics of a new contract for Tavares is becoming clearer as July 1 approaches.
The Blueprint Of Tavares’ Next Contract
On Monday morning, TSN’s Darren Dreger outlined a potential scenario and contract details for Tavares’ next contract . He started by stating the obvious, saying the former Toronto captain won’t be receiving a contract like his last one. Tavares previously inked a seven-year deal , earning a whopping $11 million per season . He also had a full no-move clause, implemented by Kyle Dubas , who was the Leafs’ general manager at the time.
For next season, Dreger projected a much cheaper contract for the 34-year-old. It was suggested that the average annual value for Tavares’ next deal could be around the $6 million mark. This would be nearly a 50 percent decrease from his previous settlement with the team. Earlier in the year, David Pagnotta of TheFourthPeriod believed the veteran’s new contract could be between $6 million and $7 million. Nonetheless, it shouldn’t be surprising if he falls in that range.
As for the length of the contract, Dreger says it could be around a four or five-year commitment. This would be similar to Steven Stamkos ‘ contract with the Nashville Predators after the Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t want to meet that price. Stamkos agreed to a five-year contract with the Predators at $8 million AAV . Tavares would likely receive less than $8 million, but their age and length of the contract are comparable. However, if Toronto’s general manager Brad Treliving offered Tavares a three-year deal, then there’s the possibility that his price would rise.
Option For Deferred Money
It can almost be considered a fact that Tavares wants to remain a member of the Maple Leafs beyond this season and retire with the club. Furthermore, he signed with Toronto all those years ago when more valuable offers were on the table to send him elsewhere. Because of these intentions, it could make sense for the team and the player to settle on deferred money.
A small percentage of players in the NHL use this method. Frank Vatrano of the Anaheim Ducks and Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes , to name a couple. It’s a strategy to shave the salary against the cap. The player receives most of their money when they retire or when their contract is up. Since Tavares’ next contract will most likely be his last, it makes sense to go the deferred money route. That way, he can continue to live in his hometown and still receive his wages after his playing career. Meanwhile, it’s a big win for the Maple Leafs , who are typically up against the salary cap every season.
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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