John Tavares Wants to Stay a Maple Leaf, Hopes for Extension Before Trade Deadline—but Will It Happen?
John Tavares has made his intentions clear—he wants to retire as a Toronto Maple Leaf. The veteran forward also hopes to sign a contract extension before the March 7 trade deadline. However, according to TSN’s Chris Johnston, that timeline seems “doubtful” as the Leafs aren’t rushing into negotiations.
“I certainly would love to get it done,” Tavares told Sportsnet’s Luke Fox. “I mean, obviously the club has a lot going on. It’s not just about me. I know management will do what they have to do at that time of year… If we have the opportunity to get it done, I’d love to do that. If not, when that time comes, we’ll get there.”
With the trade deadline looming and Toronto focused on other roster moves, it remains to be seen whether an extension will come sooner rather than later.
John Tavares has made it clear—he wants to finish his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 34-year-old captain, currently in the final year of his seven-year, $77 million contract, is hoping to sign an extension before the March 7 trade deadline. However, TSN’s Chris Johnston believes that scenario is “doubtful” at best.
Speaking on TSN’s Insider Trading segment Tuesday, Johnston noted that the Leafs are in no rush to finalize a deal despite Tavares’ strong season—49 points in 51 games—making him one of Toronto’s key contributors.
“I certainly would love to get it done,” Tavares told Sportsnet’s Luke Fox. “I mean, obviously the club has a lot going on. It’s not just about me. I know management will do what they have to do at that time of year… If we have the opportunity to get it done, I’d love to do that. If not, when that time comes, we’ll get there.”
With the deadline approaching and Toronto weighing its options, the future of Tavares’ next contract remains uncertain.
John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs have been in ongoing discussions throughout the season regarding a potential contract extension. However, according to TSN’s Chris Johnston, while there’s a mutual understanding of what the next deal could look like for the veteran center, a deal before the March 7 trade deadline remains unlikely.
Johnston explained, “It sounds like there have been discussions throughout the season between Tavares’ camp and the Leafs… I think there’s a good understanding of what that next contract needs to look like for Tavares. But at this point in time, it does not sound like that is close.”
Johnston added that, in his view, the likelihood of an extension being completed by the deadline is “doubtful.”
With Tavares in the final year of his seven-year, $77 million deal, time will tell whether the Leafs prioritize locking him in before the trade deadline or whether they’ll delay talks for the future.
With John Tavares’ contract featuring a full no-move clause and his clear desire to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs, general manager Brad Treliving is shifting his focus elsewhere as the trade deadline approaches.
While Tavares’ future with the team remains a point of discussion, the Maple Leafs are facing more immediate concerns—most notably, Mitch Marner’s impending free agency. Additionally, the team is looking to strengthen its roster before the March 7 deadline, making Tavares’ contract extension a secondary priority for now.
Given these factors, it’s understandable that the organization is not rushing into an agreement with Tavares at this time.