John Tavares Could Be the Key to a Blockbuster Free Agent Signing for the Leafs
Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
If John Tavares were to re-sign with the Maple Leafs on a modified contract, they could be in line to sign a huge free agent this summer per Elliotte Friedman.
There's a lot of talk about whether or not John Tavares is going to re-sign with the Maple Leafs; either on a hometown discount or otherwise, and his desire to remain with the team has been known since last year.
John Tavares could re-sign on a high-term, low-value deal: Elliotte Friedman
Which is why NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman believes that if Tavares stays with the team, he could end up going the Yanni Gourde route and re-signing long-term for a discounted price:
I'm curious to see if he ends up with a deal structured like the Tanev-Gourde kind of contract. That's what I'm wondering - if that's where it's heading.
More term, less money? Yeah, like instead of it being two years at whatever amount, or three years at whatever, maybe they just go the route they did last year with Tanev, and now Tanev just did it with Gourde.
I can't help but wonder if that's the kind of structure Tavares' next contract will follow. - Elliotte Friedman
More term, less money? Yeah, like instead of it being two years at whatever amount, or three years at whatever, maybe they just go the route they did last year with Tanev, and now Tanev just did it with Gourde.
I can't help but wonder if that's the kind of structure Tavares' next contract will follow. - Elliotte Friedman
While it would certainly feel like a dream to see Tavares sign for a deal similar to Gourde; who signed a six-year, $13.98M extension with the Lightning.
But that's definitely wishful thinking, and asking Tavares to take a $6-7M hit per season is a lot to ask from a player who is still able to contribute at a top level.
John Tavares' next deal could lead way for huge free agent signing
If he doesn't take that discount, it's not the end of the world and he deserves to be paid for his work; though maybe not $11M.
Yet, it would be pretty incredible luck for Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs if he does, because that opens up a considerable amount of cap space to lure a free agent like Sam Bennett or Nikolaj Ehlers over.
If Tavares signs at five-years, $16.5M ($3.3M per season) that would give Toronto roughly $2.5-3M extra to give annually to a player, and that might mean the difference between bringing a player in, or being on the outside looking in.
He does deserve a solid amount of money, given that he put up 74 points in 75 games (38G, 36A) and put up the second-most goals as a Maple Leaf this past season; he's not elite but he's still one of the top players in the league.
But he also understands he is heading downwards as the years pass, and he might be willing to take that steep discount if it means making Toronto better now, and in the future.
It's all part of what makes John Tavares so special. He's a true team player, even if it means he may lose a bit more money in the end.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 4 | 575 ANSWERS John Tavares Could Be the Key to a Blockbuster Free Agent Signing for the Leafs Do you think John Tavares will sign a long-term deal for less money or a short-deal for a bigger deal? | ||
| Long-term, less money | 444 | 77.2 % |
| Short-term, more money | 131 | 22.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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