Mitch Marner is ready to leave the Toronto Maple Leafs and test the market as an unrestricted free agent eligible to sign with any NHL team. Auston Matthews once again stands as the franchise’s main star, but the question now is whether John Tavares will still be alongside him next season.
Tavares is entering the final year of his contract with the Maple Leafs, a seven-year, $77 million deal signed in July 2018. His future remains uncertain, while Matthews is set to lead the franchise through a rebuilding phase aimed at competing for the Stanley Cup.
Toronto is open to negotiating with the veteran center, who finished the 2024-25 season with 38 goals. However, the salary cap looms as a limiting factor in discussions. The Leafs are hoping to avoid another situation like Marner’s, where an extension becomes financially unmanageable.
The latest update on the Tavares negotiations
According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, the Leafs and Tavares’ camp are in contact and share mutual interest in reaching a deal for the veteran forward to stay in Toronto. Although they’re close, a fair agreement has not yet been finalized.
John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs are reportedly aiming for an annual salary of $5 million in a new deal for Tavares. However, the player’s side is pushing for a higher number to seal the extension. “Given the season he just had, the contract is part of the equation,” wrote LeBrun.
see also
NHL News: Auston Matthews’ Maple Leafs set to lose Mitch Marner as new suitor emerges with cap space
What are the Maple Leafs planning?
Despite the 35-year-old center’s financial expectations, the Maple Leafs’ strategy appears to be offering a mid-length contract (possibly 4–5 years) with an average annual value between $5 and $7 million, including performance-based incentives throughout the season.
