Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares has been linked to trade rumors this summer, with one prominent proposal suggesting he could be moved to the Seattle Kraken in a major trade.
Entering the final year of his seven-year, $77 million contract signed in 2018, Tavares has attracted trade speculation due to Toronto’s playoff struggles. PuckPedia’s new PuckGM tool, which allows users to create trade scenarios, featured a proposal where Tavares would be sent to Seattle in exchange for several players.
In this proposed trade, the Maple Leafs would receive:
– Yanni Gourde
– Jaden Schwartz
– A 2025 second-round pick
And the Kraken would get:
– John Tavares
The trade appears logical on paper, as Seattle would gain a veteran leader for their young team, with the possibility of re-signing him afterward. However, it might be more balanced if the draft pick went to Seattle.
For Toronto, Gourde would be a valuable third-line center, having previously excelled in this role with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Schwartz, though somewhat declining, could provide useful depth as a bottom-six forward.
Despite the rumors, Tavares has expressed his desire to stay with the Maple Leafs. After their early playoff exit against the Boston Bruins, Tavares stated his love for playing in Toronto and his commitment to the team.
“I haven’t put much thought to it, but I mean, I love playing here,” Tavares mentioned during the year-end press conference. “I think it’s a remarkable place to play. And, you know, when I committed here six years ago, I saw a tremendous amount of talent and an amazing hockey market and organization fully committed to winning…”
Tavares had a solid season with 29 goals and 36 assists for 65 points in 80 games, plus 2 points in 7 playoff games.
However, NHL insider Nick Kypreos reported that the Maple Leafs are considering stripping Tavares of his captaincy, possibly handing it over to Auston Matthews. Kypreos mentioned this possibility on July 1, though it is not yet confirmed.
The Maple Leafs are set to start the 2024-25 NHL season on October 9, with a road game against the Montreal Canadiens.