John Tavares may be willing to take a significant pay cut to remain in Toronto Photo credit: Sportsnet

During a podcast appearance this week, Sportsnet’s Luke Fox touched on the likelihood of a contract extension for John Tavares with the Maple Leafs and what his new role with the club may entail.

With the NHL season just a month away, several uncertainties still surround the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Mitch Marner situation appears to have been established, with the winger set to start the season with the team without a contract in place.

Another storyline that hasn’t received as much attention is how John Tavares’ willingness to relinquish the ‘C’ to Auston Matthews will impact his future with the Maple Leafs.

Sportsnet Hockey Insider Luke Fox shared his insights on Tavares’s future with the team on the ‘Behind The Play’ podcast this week.

”I think it’s much more likely that he re-signs at this stage than Marner does, “Fox began. “I do think it’s possible, and I do think his willingness to take one for the team and be okay with the captaincy — I mean, it wasn’t his idea, let’s be clear — but he came around the idea and publicly was fully on board.”

John Tavares is unlikely to be traded. How can the Maple Leafs optimize his remaining productive years?
Tavares’ desire to stay in Toronto and his drive to win could lead him to remain with the team if he agrees to a reasonable pay cut. Fox noted:

”Like, he wants to win. He’s fine financially, so I think he’ll be willing to take a haircut. I’m not saying he’s taking 800,000, but he’ll take a haircut if it means staying on.”

While Tavares’s contract is likely to differ from Stamkos’s $8 million per season, the adjustments Tavares may need to make with the Maple Leafs could mirror the changes Stamkos experienced in Tampa Bay when he shifted to the wing a few years back.

Fox doesn’t necessarily believe Tavares will need to shift over to the wing, though, as there is still a fit for him at center, given the Leafs’ clear shortage of pivots.

”If you look at the team center depth, I think there is a role for Tavares beyond this season, just because he’s so valuable, because he can play center. And maybe he grows into a third line center role. There’s room on the left wing. Maybe he phases into life as a winger and a power play specialist, Alas, Steven Stamkos.”

Tavares remains a key player for the Maple Leafs. Despite his high cap hit, he has been highly productive, with 419 points in 440 games in his tenure as a Leaf. A team-friendly contract could further enhance his impact on the Maple Leafs in the future, as well as helping the team even more with the increased cap-relief.