John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs have begun negotiations on what could be a unique and rare contract extension for the veteran forward and former team captain.
According to Chris Johnston of The Athletic, the discussions have been ongoing this fall, with both sides open to incorporating deferred payments to navigate Toronto’s tight salary cap in a rare contract structure.
“On the Leafs’ side of this negotiation, they naturally want to keep the contract number down,” Johnston wrote. “Every bit of cap space counts in Toronto.
“Given the dynamics at play, it wouldn’t be surprising if the sides landed on a compromise that sees some of the money deferred beyond the life of the next contract.”
Tavares, 33, is in the final season of his seven-year, $77 million deal. Despite his age, the former Leafs captain is enjoying a productive season without experiencing any regression, with nine goals and 11 assists in 21 games. He’s on pace for 35 goals and 77 points.
Comparable deals across the NHL, as mentioned by Johnston, include those of players like Claude Giroux ($6.5 million average annual value) and Anze Kopitar ($7 million AAV).
Although those figures are likely to guide the negotiation, Toronto may push for a lower contract, with Johnston suggesting the Leafs might target a deal closer to Patrice Bergeron’s $5 million final-year deal with Boston.
Both Tavares and his agent, Pat Brisson, appear willing to explore flexible terms to help the Leafs allocate resources elsewhere. The deferred-payment structure, similar to Jake McCabe’s recent extension, could reduce Tavares’ cap hit while ensuring he’s rewarded for his contributions.