|
Jay on Leafs… John Tavares Signs Team Friendly Deal |
|
|
|
|
|
John Tavares Signs Team Friendly Deal
After a reportedly contentious negotiation process that saw the Maple Leafs lowballing their former captain, the team and John Tavares have officially come to terms on a new contract ahead of today's NHL draft.
News broke earlier this afternoon that Tavares has agreed to a four-year deal. The contract will carry a cap hit of $4.38 million per season and will likely see the center finish his career with his childhood team. While it was reported that Tavares could have sought as much as $8 million annually in free agency, that wasn't an option he chose to pursue.
Instead, the forward elected to accept deferred money in his contract, lowering the cap hit even further to help the team. This move is a significant shift from the past, where players often sought to take the maximum dollar amount from their teams.
While Tavares is no longer a top-line center, he did score 38 goals last year and provides significant value as a projected third-line center.
Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs deserve real credit for getting this deal done in such a timely manner. This move sets the team up to either properly address the Mitch Marner situation heading into free agency or be creative on the trade market.
Join the Discussion:
»