John Tavares Could Tempt a Contending Team at the Trade Deadline, Per Insider

PUBLICATION

Chris Gerics
October 17, 2024 (9:50 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

John Tavares' role has been slimmed down on the Maple Leafs, and teams on the cusp of the playoffs might look to acquire him amid the final year of his contract.

John Tavares has been nothing short of spectacular since he arrived with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018, being one of the leaders of the team and the Toronto community and etching his name into the fabric of both the Maple Leafs and its fans. With the final year of his contract up at the climax of this season, many questions surround Tavares' status going forward.

According to a couple of NHL Insiders, John Tavares' role with Toronto not only diminished at an unexpected pace but that the former Maple Leafs captain and member of the Core Four could see himself out of town before his contract is even over. Speaking on their podcast 'Real Kyper & Bourne', co-hosts Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne spoke about Tavares' role with the Leafs so far and how he's sliding down the depth chart right before our eyes.

Kypreos stated:

"I'm watching last night and there's still this question mark or uncertainty of what's going to become of John Tavares and where's his fit. Again, up 3-0, less than a minute to go, kinda carrying the puck through the neutral zone, wants to do a complete 360 in the neutral zone, turns the puck over and it's right back. There's a few turnovers too in the last half of the game."

Kypreos' co-host Bourne then chimed in about Tavares' ice time, giving evidence that he's not been playing as much as he normally would be expected to:

"You look at his ice-times against Montreal where he played 18:48, but that was 6-on-5 for the last what, three minutes of the game where was out there. Then he plays 15:04 against New Jersey. Plays 16:10 last night, and how many powerplays? Four powerplays? You are watching his role be diminished in front of our eyes. He's becoming the third line center, it's happening."

Kypreos added a bit to Tavares' role as well right after:

"We saw the really brilliant goal in New Jersey where he shows in tight he can still make good places and shoot the puck in the net, it was if I'm not mistaken 5-on-5. Last night he got a nothing burger off a backhand, it wasn't even him though it was Copley. It's called a catcher's mitt, use it. Outside of that it wasn't exactly a 5-on-5 display by John Tavares and his linemates and that to me is a huge question mark."

John Tavares: Trade Candidate?

Toronto has a new second-line center in Max Domi, who alongside William Nylander and Bobby McMann (affectionately known as the BMW line) has been the bright spot for Toronto this season. Combining for 12 points and a +17 so far already, the line has shown incredible chemistry and a knack for being able to put the puck in the net quickly. Domi's been one of the best playmakers in the league for the past few seasons, and Nylander's breakout season last year only adds momentum to this season (not to mention a new 8-year extension). Bobby McMann has turned into Cam Neely before our eyes and under Craig Berube has shown new life even after a great season last year.

Tavares can be a more than capable offensive threat for the Maple Leafs' third line alongside Max Pacioretty and Nick Robertson, but Toronto still has some names in the mix who are returning from injury so Tavares' role will have even less room to shine.

So what about trading the former Maple Leafs captain?

It's a question that Bourne extended to Kypreos, who was a bit perplexed initially:

Uhh. I think if you were to move Tavares you'd of done so in the offseason whether or not you wanted to take 50% of that contract, that $11M, could you have found someone to bite for $6-7 million? I don't know. I think it would get easier for a team that may want to be on the outside looking in, pushing towards January/February."

Kypreos also brought up a good point regarding Tavares already being stripped of the captaincy, and now to ask him about potential teams he wants to be traded to would be devastating for the veteran:

"You ask him about taking the 'C' off the jersey, now this? This would be a huge distraction, a major, major story. He's already got a chip on his shoulder."

Tavares leaving Toronto would be heartbreaking to both fans and the former captain, as he's left his mark on the city forever and has made himself a Toronto icon since arriving. Maybe that's how we should leave it for now, as Tavares' admirers won't stop loving him wherever he goes, so if he leaves town; he's always got a place back home.