John Tavares, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs since the 2019-20 season, recently handed over his captaincy to Auston Matthews. This move led many to speculate that Tavares, who is in the final year of his $77 million contract, might not be extended by the Maple Leafs. However, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, a contract extension for Tavares is still very much a possibility.
On the August 15 episode of his *32 Thoughts* podcast, Friedman noted that while an extension hasn’t been finalized, the idea has been discussed and is still on the table. He emphasized that even if an extension were imminent, it likely wouldn’t be announced to avoid overshadowing the recent leadership transition.
Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving echoed positive sentiments about Tavares’ future, stating that he believes Tavares has “a lot of good hockey” left in him, though he declined to comment on any ongoing contract discussions.
Tavares, who is approaching his 34th birthday and has played over 1,000 NHL games, has expressed his desire to remain in Toronto long-term. He felt the time was right to pass the captaincy to Matthews, indicating his continued commitment to the team’s success and pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
The Maple Leafs are set to kick off their 2024-25 season on October 9 against the Montreal Canadiens.
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