Veteran center John Tavares is set to continue his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The club announced Friday that Tavares has signed a four-year contract extension with an average annual value (AAV) of $4.38 million.
The 34-year-old Mississauga, Ontario native had a productive last season, scoring 38 goals (his second-highest total with the Leafs) and adding 36 assists in 75 regular-season games. He also contributed five goals and two assists in 13 playoff appearances.
This extension follows his previous major signing in 2018, when he famously returned to his hometown team, leaving the New York Islanders (who drafted him first overall in 2009) for a seven-year, $77 million contract. His announcement back then included a memorable photo of his Maple Leafs bed sheets.
Tavares served as the Maple Leafs` captain for five of his first six seasons with the team before the captaincy was passed to Auston Matthews.
Over the duration of his previous contract, he accumulated 222 goals and 271 assists across 515 games for Toronto, contributing to the team`s playoff appearances in each season.
Despite scoring the overtime series-winning goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2023 playoffs – one of only two series victories for Toronto during his tenure – the team has largely struggled to find significant post-season success.
Last season, Toronto defeated the Ottawa Senators in a six-game first-round series before being eliminated in seven games by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the second round.
These repeated playoff disappointments, including significant losses at home (6-1 in Games 5 and 7) against the Panthers, prompted general manager Brad Treliving to state in May that the team`s “DNA” needed to be changed.
However, John Tavares will remain a core part of the team and is not included in the planned alterations.
Duncan Priestley