Toronto Maple Leafs Eyeing Controversial Deferred Salary Tactic for Extension With John Tavares
John Tavares's next contract is a big topic for next year, and the Maple Leafs and his agent have been discussing an extension.
There's a lot of rumor and speculation regarding John Tavares' next contract. It's no secret the former captain wants to stay in Toronto for the rest of his career, and Toronto would love to have him.
Tavares' agent Pat Brisson has been chatting with the Maple Leafs but haven't come to an agreement as of yet.
But there is the question of what is Tavares going to cost.
He's currently making $11M in the final year of his deal and will make less in his next deal, but he won't be taking the league minimum.
He's still able to contribute and is a big reason for Toronto's success so far this season.
This year he has shown no signs of his age as he's put together 20 points so far (9G, 11A) and has been a huge part of Toronto's success without Auston Matthews as they've gone 7-2-0 without their captain.
For his career in Toronto, Tavares has been fantastic; scoring 439 points (193G, 246A) in 461 games and being Toronto's captain for the last few seasons before Auston Matthews took over this year.
So with that being said: What is Tavares' next deal going to look like? Let's dive into three options.
Three Potential Contract Options For John Tavares
Option 1: 1-Year, $6M
The first option is probably the most realistic of the bunch. Tavares is at the point where he's not going to sign long-term contracts according to Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period as he stated back at the end of October.
John Tavares is 34, and there's no telling if he's going to keep up the same pace as he currently is.
Time is the enemy here, and Tavares isn't getting younger. He's made a substantial amount of money in his career ($111M) and while financial stability is always a positive, Tavares can take a pay cut.
This figure gives Tavares just under half of what he currently makes and is comparable to other veterans around his age such as Claude Giroux and Anze Kopitar who make $6.5 and $7M respectively.
The window for Toronto to win is slowly closing and they may want to take it year by year to gauge how Tavares is playing.
Option 2: 4-Years, $16M
This seems a bit wild, but if Toronto's window is the next two or three years, they want to make sure they have Tavares in tow. There is the potential risk another team with fat pockets comes in and offers him a deal too good to pass up.
Tavares is a proven veteran who can make an impact regardless of production. He gives priceless knowledge and advice to rookies, provides them a place to stay when drafted, and makes sure their transition is as smooth as possible.
That will be huge for any team with rookie superstars who need a veteran's guidance, and Tavares is the cream of the crop when it comes to being a leader.
Toronto locking him up would give Toronto a chance to keep at least three of their Core Four together if Mitch Marner leaves, but it's questionable to commit to Tavares until he's 38 with no guarantees he keeps up his production.
But Toronto could also use deferred salary in order to help the salary cap issue; they have the chance to offer Tavares a large swath of bonuses in replacement for contract value and saves money while Tavares makes money. It's a win-win.
Option 3: Let John Tavares Walk
It's the unpopular option but it's a feasible one nonetheless. Toronto can use the increased cap and Tavares' potential salary to keep Mitch Marner if they want to go that route, or if Toronto decides to hoard cap money, go after Mikko Rantanen or Sam Bennett.
Tavares is getting older and Toronto isn't getting results, regardless of how iconic he's become; the fans want wins.
Letting Tavares go would hurt both Toronto and their former captain but it also offers Tavares a chance to have a go at helping the next crop of NHL-ready talent have more guidance or head to a surefire contender for one last chance at glory.
Toronto already had issues committing so much money to only a select group of people, and potentially keeping a player until they're 38, as opposed to securing a prime elite player for a bit more money is a bit egregious.
FAQ: Three Options For John Tavares and Maple Leafs
Q1: What are the three potential contract options for John Tavares?
A1: John Tavares' three potential contract options see him signing either a 1-year, $6M deal which is a bit over half of what he makes now; 4-year, $16M which is a long-term deal that keeps Tavares in Toronto while their competitive window is open, or they could let him walk and no have to worry about a contract.
Q2: Will Toronto re-sign John Tavares?
A2: There's no certainty whether Toronto will re-sign John Tavares or not. Both parties have mutual interest so it might be a high possibility in the future.
In closing, John Tavares will be talking quite a bit with the Maple Leafs about his future with them and while both parties would love to keep things together, Toronto has to wonder if they can win with an aging Tavares potentially holding them back.
| POLL | ||
Which option would pick for John Tavares' next contract? | ||
