After another disappointing Toronto Maple Leafs playoff loss, it's time to break up the core four forwards and that might mean moving on from Mitch Marner, who becomes a free agent at the end of the 2024-25 season. John Tavares is extending his hockey-playing season. TSN's Darren Dreger reported early Friday that the Toronto Maple Leafs captain was on his way to Czechia to join Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Hockey Championship. Tavares joined several NHLers who made themselves available to Canada following elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Leafs were eliminated by the Boston Bruins in the first round, where Tavares had one goal and one assists. The 33-year-old had 29 goals and 65 assists in 80 games this season. He's entering the final year of a seven-year, $77 million contract. Tavares has represented Canada on several occasions and won gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics, in Sochi, Russia. He also won gold and the 2008 and 2009 World Juniors and helped led Canada to win the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Tavares has represented Canada at the World Hockey Championships just once before in 2010 when Canada was knocked out in their first game of the knockout stages. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Report: Other NHL Clubs Already Reaching Out to Maple Leafs About Availability of Mitch Marner [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-other-nhl-clubs-already-reaching-out-to-maple-leafs-about-availability-of-mitch-marner] Following Sheldon Keefe’s Dismissal Who Will be The Next Head Coach of the Maple Leafs? Here are the Top Candidates [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/following-sheldon-keefes-dismissal-who-will-be-the-next-head-coach-of-the-maple-leafs-here-are-the-top-candidates] 'We Determined A New Voice Is Needed' Why Sheldon Keefe Was Fired as Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/we-determined-a-new-voice-is-needed-why-sheldon-keefe-was-fired-as-head-coach-of-the-toronto-maple-leafs] News from THN.com Why is the NHL's Coaching Carousel Spinning Like Never Before? [https://thehockeynews.com/news/why-is-the-nhls-coaching-carousel-spinning-like-never-before] Dancing in the Moonlight: Funniest Reactions to the Bruins and Panthers' Heated Third Period [https://thehockeynews.com/news/dancing-in-the-moonlight-funniest-reactions-to-the-bruins-and-panthers-heated-third-period] NHL Draft Lottery: What Macklin Celebrini Can Bring to the San Jose Sharks? [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-draft-lottery-what-macklin-celebrini-can-bring-to-the-san-jose-sharks]
