Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
TSN’s Mike Johnson provided an update on contract negotiations with John Tavares and the Maple Leafs following the former captain’s overtime winner against Capitals.
In a summer full of change that included handing over the captaincy to Auston Matthews, John Tavares assured Leafs fans that despite no longer being captain, he wanted to remain a Maple Leaf.
Tavares’ season got off to a bit of a rough start, with the veteran missing most of training camp battling an injury, but he has been outstanding since the regular season started with 9 goals and 16 points through 17 games.
Unfortunately for fans, Johnson doesn’t believe it will be done before the New Year. He did, however, ensure that it would be done at some point with JT taking a significant pay-cut.
“I don’t think it’s coming sooner rather than later, Jay, because there’s no need. I think the Leafs know that John Tavares wants to stay in Toronto. They’re certainly not going to trade him this year, so you have until the end of the year.
He will look to return to Toronto first and foremost, because he’s so set in here, so I don’t think there’s a rush to get it done. I don’t think the dollar value is going to fluctuate very much with a good or bad performance down the stretch so I think they can wait to the deadline, post deadline to next summer. But when the deal gets done I think he’s going to get around probably three years between $5M and $6M.”
As the Leafs continue to struggle finding a third-line center, Johnson noted that if they are able to find even a younger second-line center, having Tavares as a 3C at $5M or $6M per season would be a huge benefit to the team, given his production.
The 34-year-old former first-overall pick looks like he turned back the clock this season, with many believing it is due to him playing more freely without the ‘C’ on his jersey, which is hard to argue given his start.
Through 1,126 career games, Tavares has tallied 465 goals, 591 assists and 1,056 points.
News
Connor Bedard gets severely emotional to the media and we now know what’s affecting his NHL season
Connor Bedard opens up about his parents selling childhood home in Northern British Columbia in Canada. Bedard, a 19-year old NHL phenom has a strong connection to his childhood home like most, but in his case- it’s where he grew up…
Ed Sheeran takes step further into the food world with trademark of Teddy Bear logo
The logo would be used for meals, snacks and sauces – and even clothing Ed Sheeran has applied to trademark his Teddy Bear logo (Image: Getty Images) Suffolk superstar Ed Sheeran is known across the globe for his music, but now…
Adele bursts into tears after spotting Celine Dion, shares emotional hug with her at Las Vegas residency show
The Grammy winners cried as they embraced in the audience at the Colosseum, which was originally built for Dion’s 2003 Vegas debut. Adele just celebrated a full-circle moment with the Queen of Power Ballads. The “Easy on Me” singer — who…
Four-Chair Turn Tanner Frick Abruptly Leaves The Voice After Being Stolen by Michael Bublé
Frick earned a four-chair turn during his blind audition of Morgan Wallen’s “Thought You Should Know” Tanner Frick. Photo: Casey Durkin/NBC via Getty Tanner Frick will no longer compete on The Voice. On a Monday, Nov. 11 episode of the NBC singing competition series,…
Ipswich’s pink kit divides fans as some blast ‘Ed Sheeran disasterclass’ after pop star helped design third shirt
Scroll down to see what the inspiration for the kit was IPSWICH fans have been left divided as the club debuted its Ed Sheeran collaboration third kit – but it certainly brought them luck anyway. Before the season began, Town…
Swedish ice hockey star Jennifer Carlsson looked amazing in her hockey gear and swimwear off the ice. She looks amazing
Swedish hockey star Jennifer Carlsson goes viral for her stunning looks both on and off the ice! She is absolutely stunning in hockey gear and in a bathing suit. She looks amazing : see for yourself in the link below….
End of content
No more pages to load
