John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs have started discussions on what could be a unique and rare contract extension for the veteran forward and former team captain.
According to Chris Johnston of The Athletic, negotiations have been ongoing this fall, with both sides open to the possibility of including deferred payments to work within Toronto’s tight salary cap. “The Leafs naturally want to keep the contract value lower,” Johnston wrote. “Every bit of cap space is important in Toronto.”
Given the circumstances, it wouldn’t be surprising if the two parties agree on a deal that includes deferring some of the money beyond the term of the next contract.
At 33, Tavares is in the final year of his seven-year, $77 million deal. Despite his age, the former captain is having a strong season with no signs of decline, posting nine goals and 11 assists in 21 games. He’s on track for 35 goals and 77 points. Similar deals in the NHL, such as those of Claude Giroux ($6.5 million AAV) and Anze Kopitar ($7 million AAV), could serve as benchmarks for Tavares’ new contract.
However, the Leafs may push for a lower figure, with Johnston suggesting they could aim for a deal similar to Patrice Bergeron’s $5 million final-year deal with Boston. Both Tavares and his agent, Pat Brisson, seem open to flexible terms to help the Leafs manage their cap space. A deferred-payment structure, like the one in Jake McCabe’s recent extension, could lower Tavares’ cap hit while still compensating him for his contributions.
