John Tavares is proving everyone wrong who said taking a steep cut would hurt his value, as Evgeni Malkin's new deal sheds light on how much of a bargain it was.
Evgeni Malkin just re-signed for $5.5-million with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The catch is it was only for one year.
John Tavares signed for even less and way longer, but still putting up the same level of production.
He's not only proving time wrong, but everyone who said he never should have taken the discount.
Malkin, 39, had 61 points in 56 games this season though dealt with some injuries along the way.
The future Hall of Famer has 1,407 points in 1,269 games with the Penguins and is looking to make one more push with Sidney Crosby for a Stanley Cup before time runs out.
Evgeni Malkin's $5.5-million deal sheds new light on Tavares and Toronto's partnership
Much like Malkin is a staple in the Penguins organization, so too is Tavares in Toronto.
Ever the charitable person, Tavares often dedicates his time to making sure those less fortunate or dealing with issues also get the chance to play sports, find friendship and lead a fulfilling life regardless of circumstance.
There's also a lot of comparable between Malkin and Tavares on the ice as well.
Both are some of the best players in the modern era, incredibly durable and able to stretch out their careers long-term, came with pressures of being a top draft pick, and been staunch leaders for their respective national teams.
But the one thing different is that Tavares is not only cheaper, but he's also younger.
If he follows the same path as Malkin then odds are he has four or five more seasons in him which coupled with elite preparation and production means he could be very good still into his age-40 season.
Tavares, 35, had 71 points in 82 games for the Maple Leafs this past season so if you want to compare price and production.
Tavares clears Malkin in both money and on-ice work (though Malkin did miss time with injury).
The fact that Tavares can do all of that at under $5-million is impressive and considering there were talks that he could receive a huge payday come free agency.
He clearly decided that loyalty and dedication trump everything else.
It was genuinely impressive that Toronto could re-sign Tavares for that little, heck even $7-million would be a steal.
With Malkin getting the bag for one season, we can see that the market is ever growing, and Toronto managed to steer clear for now.
Tavares taking less money proves loyalty may be one of the biggest factors in the NHL
Toronto is certainly benefitting from that loyalty and it seems to have spread through the team as well. We also saw Anthony Stolarz and Matthew Knies take discounts on their new deals and it's proof that Toronto is still a desirable destination.
Leaving a ton of money on the table for the chance to win with his childhood team is nothing short of admirable.
It goes along perfectly with who Tavares is as a person - selfless, humble, and gracious.
But so too should John Chayka for inheriting the gift that is the former captain.
Not only does he have a player who is still producing at a high level, but signed cheap and genuinely one of the best mentors on planet Earth for Gavin McKenna.
He's a former first overall pick, he knows what pressures lie ahead and he can help guide McKenna through the rough patches.
Taking at look at other players who have taken loyalty cuts like Malkin, Crosby, and Aaron Ekblad, it shows that loyalty is not only a deciding factor in re-signing.
But it could be arguably the most important and John Tavares is living proof.
Do you think John Tavares will be able to hit 80 points in 2026-27 for the Maple Leafs?
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