Stunning development in John Tavares’ future in Toronto ahead of season opener
Today is the start of the season, but what happens in the future, especially when it comes to Tavares and his future with the Leafs?
The Toronto Maple Leafs are kicking off their 2024-25 season later today against the Canadiens in Montreal, and it’s expected that, all campaign long, questions will arise on the future of both Mitch Marner and John Tavares with the organization. When it comes to the latter, Pierre LeBrun provided somewhat of a surprising update on Tuesday when he explained some new developments on Insider Trading on TSN:
“There’s something happening from the point of view that there have been contract talks. There’s been back-and-forth between Tavares’ camp, led by agent Pat Brisson and the Leafs front office just to get the ball rolling. I don’t think anything is imminent, although I do hear that that dialogue is supposed to pick up again in the near future. I don’t know if there’s a huge rush from the team perspective. I mean, listen, there’s a mutual desire between the team and John Tavares to get something done at some point. John Tavares , of course, calls Toronto home, was raising a family in Toronto. But I think from the Leafs perspective, yeah, something they want to get done. I don’t know if they’re in a rush to do it.”
With just a year left on his massive seven-year $77 million deal he signed as a free agent in 2018 in Toronto, Tavares has always expressed the desire to stay put and end his career with the Maple Leafs. Following the team’s elimination from the postseason back in May, Tavares, just like Marner, expressed interest in re-signing with the Maple Leafs once his deal expires.
The update on a new deal also comes with its load of trade rumours, that could see Tavares’ future in Toronto in jeopardy. Some pundits have suggested that the former captain could land on the trade block closer to the deadline and be asked to waive his no-move clause.
For now, we know that Tavares’ agent is keeping the conversation open and alive with the Maple Leafs, hoping that his client and his family can stay in the city. However, the organization also has important files, led by another pending UFA in Marner…
