Sportsnet 590 The FAN: Matt Marchese and Elliotte Freidman on Toronto Maple Leafs ahead John Tavares and is there a future for him in Toronto. It can come all the way down to, ‘what’s the quantity?’
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Marchese: “John Tavares will get to level number one,100. 68th participant to take action in NHL historical past. And the funniest half about John Tavares and his, and his profession is that when he signed the, the unique contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, that everyone stated this contract just isn’t going to age nicely, we already perceive that.
And now, and I’m not saying that he’s an $11 million participant, as a result of he’s not, however this contract just isn’t almost …
Friedman: “It aged nicely.”
Marchese: “Yeah, it’s not aged almost as poorly as anybody had recommended. And dare I say that John Tavares, even, even at 35 years outdated, nearly 35 years outdated, continues to be a key cog on this offensive wheel that the Leafs are. And he’s nonetheless a giant participant to the purpose the place you’re, you as a as a corporation must make an actual laborious resolution on what you’re going to do right here with him within the low season.
As a result of, frankly, I don’t suppose it’s a tough resolution. He wants to come back again. Regardless of the quantity is, is a distinct story, however he’s a key piece of what they’re doing.
NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Geese, and the Carolina Hurricanes
Friedman: “Look, I feel this, I feel you’re proper on every thing you say. I feel he’s, the opposite factor too is, is that, you realize he works. You recognize he’s a 65 level participant final 12 months. He has 60 factors final evening. So he might beat, might beat that this 12 months.
And the factor is, like he nonetheless does all of the issues it’s important to do to be efficient. You recognize, he’s by no means been the quickest man. And in a league that’s quicker than ever, he nonetheless trains and takes care of his physique. And as somebody who is aware of that, he’s received to be on the slicing fringe of all these things to nonetheless be a participant. And that’s, that’s vital.
Now, I feel with Tavares, there’s a deal to be made there, and it comes all the way down to what’s the quantity. I feel Toronto would really like, you realize, not like, a low AAV, like we’re not speaking weak minimal right here. However I don’t suppose they essentially wish to pay him $7 million a 12 months both. So like, to me, it comes all the way down to what’s the quantity.
Like, clearly, he needs to remain. I feel in an ideal world, they need him to remain. His household is right here. They’re in right here. So the place can we get to that candy spot? However I undoubtedly suppose there’s a will to maintain him.
I’ve been instructed all 12 months that there’s a deal there, so long as everyone, so long as perhaps the Leafs, perhaps not, perhaps not go as little as they wish to, and Tavares perhaps doesn’t come as excessive as he’d prefer to.”
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