Pierre Lebrun Delivers Bold Statement on John Tavares' Value After Stunning Season
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs may have overplayed their hand in extension talks for John Tavares, according to insider Pierre Lebrun.
Toronto been dealt with tough luck in trying to lock up former captain John Tavares to a new contract, with the 34-year-old amid a dominant year at a PPG pace with 65 points in 64 games played.
It's a far cry from last season in which Tavares began to show signs of regression, dropping to a modest 65 points in 80 games played, losing the captaincy to Auston Matthews in the process. It seemed a certainty that the Leafs were not gonna pay a high price for Tavares.
Having paid $11M initially to woo Tavares from the New York Islanders, the team that drafted him first overall back in 2009, Toronto's decision to wait on extension talks for Tavares has now surely allowed for the price to shoot back up for his next deal.
Report: Price For John Tavares Goes Back Up After Comeback Season
Having matched his point total from last season in 16 fewer games, the once-potential value cost of re-signing John Tavares appears to be back up at a premium.
According to Pierre LeBrun, the price for re-signing Tavares has gone up, but thankfully for Toronto, the belief is that they should still get some sort of discount from their hometown star.
He's had another great year. And the idea that you're getting this guy on a very, very cheap deal? Of course, he's going to take a pay cut-he's making $11M right now, and he's not that player anymore.
There were a couple of conversations this year about his next contract, but not really any meaningful negotiations. I think the Leafs want to wait on this until the end of the season.
But I will say this, whatever the price was to sign John Tavares back in September, when I believe he would have been absolutely open to an extension, that price has probably gone up. - Pierre LeBrun
There were a couple of conversations this year about his next contract, but not really any meaningful negotiations. I think the Leafs want to wait on this until the end of the season.
But I will say this, whatever the price was to sign John Tavares back in September, when I believe he would have been absolutely open to an extension, that price has probably gone up. - Pierre LeBrun
Where it seemed John Tavares would be an easy and cost-effective signing for the Toronto Maple Leafs now becomes having to balance paying Tavares at a high value, while also needing to re-sign Mitch Marner & Matthew Knies.
Tavares will likely still take a discount to stay in Toronto, but his performance this season may make Brad Treliving wish he had locked up Tavares sooner rather than later.
| POLL | ||
MARS 27 | 534 ANSWERS Pierre Lebrun Delivers Bold Statement on John Tavares' Value After Stunning Season Should the Toronto Maple Leafs re-sign John Tavares? | ||
| Yes | 497 | 93.1 % |
| No | 37 | 6.9 % |
| List of polls | ||