Patrick Kane's new contract is worth $8-million AAV for the next two years, which puts John Tavares' $4.389-million AAV deal into a brand new perspective.
The Chicago Blackhawks added Patrick Kane back to the lineup after signing the three-time Cup winner to a two-year, $16-million contract ($8M AAV) and with Connor Bedard currently out with an injury, he's going to be yet again one of the focal points of the Blackhawks offence much like he was in the 2010's.
He put up a solid 57 points in 67 games for the Red Wings last season (16 goals, 41 assists) and was only earning $3-million last season, so got over double his previous salary and likely due to Chicago needing to make sure they have some insurance for Bedard and persuade Kane to come back.
That pay raise though is only going to look good if the Blackhawks are able to see him replicate the same type of production he put up with Detroit over the past three seasons (163 points in 189 games) and it could look like an overpayment if he can't.
John Tavares produced better offence than Patrick Kane
But one team that is looking pretty smart in the wake of the Kane signing is the Toronto Maple Leafs and more specifically, with John Tavares.
Tavares, 35, put up 71 points in 82 games last season with Toronto and signed long-term but for only $4.389-million AAV, putting his desire to end his career with the Maple Leafs ahead of a big pay day in free agency.
Over the same three seasons as Kane, he's put up better numbers (210 points in 237 games) and is still elite in the face-off dot at 58.4% over that span. He also plays a premium position which makes this deal even better for Toronto given what Tavares offers overall.
He signed his bargain extension last summer with it running until 2029 when he'll be 38. Even if Toronto gets two more years of the same level of production before a drop-off, it's still extremely valuable.
Veterans are getting a lot more money with the rising cap and teams' desire to add playoff performers, winners, and mentors. Tavares had every right to cash in on his talents but chose a different path instead.
Toronto must turn Tavares' contract into a competitive advantage
Toronto can't afford to waste the next few years of Tavares especially if he is going to be giving them this level of production at his age.
There isn't much time left and it's likely this is one of the last deals he signs, so make it count.
He already gave you a massive discount financially, so the best way to reward him is to win as he goes out. As much as winning with Auston Matthews is important, so too is it with Tavares - the former captain and someone who has been a die-hard Maple Leaf since childhood.
Tavares is a huge part of the greater Toronto community too, and for all he's done for the city the least the team can do is field a competitive team for him. Plus, if he's going to be replicating the offensive side of things and outperforming Kane at nearly half the price, then it's an absolute bargain.
Maximizing his potential while still getting him at way under market value is the best chance Toronto has of both succeeding and making the deal look great.
Tavares has already proven that he lives and breathes the blue and white, so it's time to repay him for all he's done before it's over.
Do you think John Tavares is Toronto's best contract?
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