Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving sounded rather optimistic about the prospect of having John Tavares return next season. The 34-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 but has expressed a desire to return. That feeling is mutual, despite reports that suggested some distance between the two sides during negotiations.
Treliving spoke about where things stand with the team and Tavares.
“We've had lots of communication. I would say you're always a little bit hesitant to frame it. I'm trying to give as much information as I can. But it's been positive,” Treliving said. “You've got a player who both expressed a shared outcome. John wants to say and we want to keep John. And like any contract, there are usually just two little stumbling blocks: term and money. Once you get by those, usually things flow pretty quick. So we're moving, hopefully in the direction of bring it to closure. My hope is, until proven otherwise, that we'll have a good outcome there.”
Tavares is coming off a seven-year contract that paid him an average annual value of $11 million per year. Despite scoring 38 goals last season, his compensation is expected to be significantly lower in a new deal. Reports have suggested different contract comparables, reflecting the perspectives of both the team and the player. Brock Nelson’s three-year contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche worth $7.5 million per season is seen as a number Tavares could fetch if he hits the open market. However, the other side sees something like the team-friendly $4.5 million per season that Matt Duchene signed with the Dallas Stars.
Another strategy for lowering the annual salary is to offer a longer contract term. For example, the Leafs reportedly lowered defenseman Chris Tanev’s annual cap hit to $4.5 million by signing him to a six-year deal. With both sides aiming for a resolution, a new contract for the captain could be announced in the coming days.
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