Nick Kypreos Shares Major Update on Potential Contract Extensions for Two Key Leafs Forwards
Per NHL analyst Nick Kypreos, the Maple Leafs are prepared to wait until the summer to make contract offers to pending UFA's John Tavares and Steven Lorentz.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a pair of the most recognizable pending unrestricted free agents in the National Hockey League currently on their roster.
Both John Tavares and
Mitch Marner have the chance to join new clubs in the summer if they so choose; but in addition to them, forward Steven Lorentz also has the opportunity to go to market.
Based on the latest report from NHL analyst Nick Kypreos, it sounds as though the top priority of the Maple Leafs is to secure a new long-term deal for Marner and that both Tavares and Lorentz will have to wait until the summer for offers from Toronto management.
Sounds like pending unrestricted free agents John Tavares and Steven Lorentz will have to wait until the off-season for new contract offers from the Leafs if they are to stay.
Toronto's top priority remains to leave enough space to either pay Mitch Marner or lure one or two players to adequately replace him.
Tavares has enjoyed a renaissance year for the Maple Leafs, scoring at a point-per-game pace with 65 points (32G, 33A) in 64 games and demonstrating that he can still be an extremely effective player even at 34 years old.
He inked a 7 year, $77 million deal in the summer of 2018 with an AAV (average annual value) of $11 million.
Meanwhile, Lorentz is playing in his 1st year with the Maple Leafs since coming over from the divisional foe and defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
He agreed to a professional tryout in Toronto and was soon signed to a 1-year deal worth $775,000.
He's played in 69 games and has 16 points (6G, 10A) and is just 3 points away from tying his previous career-best of 19 points while with the San Jose Sharks in 2022-23.
Previously on HockeyPatrol
| POLL |
MARS 27 | 798 ANSWERS Nick Kypreos Shares Major Update on Potential Contract Extensions for Two Key Leafs Forwards Which player is more likely to re-sign with the Leafs during the summer? |
| John Tavares | 256 | 32.1 % |
| Mitch Marner | 91 | 11.4 % |
| They'll both be back | 388 | 48.6 % |
| Neither will be back | 63 | 7.9 % |
| List of polls |