The Toronto Maple Leafs are re-signing former captain John Tavares on a four-year deal.
The Toronto Maple Leafs bring back John Tavares on a team-friendly four-year deal with an annual cap hit at $4.38 million per season.
This opens the door for the Maple Leafs to be competitive once again as they solidify their second line centre spot, a coveted position among teams looking to contend. Toronto is listed with +2400 odds to win the Stanley Cup next season and with Tavares back in the lineup they'll have a shot.
Tavares's contract includes $2M in deferred compensation, which will be rushed in as the mechanism that will be deemed outlawed in the new CBA starting in 2026-27. The deal also includes a no-move clause for two seasons, before converting to a 5-team trade list
The 34-year-old centre is coming off a solid 38-goal season where he put up 74 points through 75 games. Reports indicated Tavares could've gotten closer to $7 million per season on the open market.