NHL Insider predicts John Tavares' next contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs made the second major leadership change to their franchise of the offseason, awarding the captaincy that had been the responsibility of John Tavares since 2019 to Auston Matthews, now the 26th captain in franchise history. 

This comes on the heels of the Leafs having fired now-former head coach Sheldon Keefe; 2019 Stanley Cup winner Craig Berube is now the bench boss in Toronto.

Tavares, who is entering the final season of the contract given to him by former general manger Kyle Dubas in 2018, can become a free-agent in the summer of 2025. Now that he's no longer the captain of the team, will he want to re-sign? 

According to NHL Insider Mike Johnston, who is a former Leafs forward in his own right, Tavares will sign an extension for far less money than his current deal is paying him - and it could come as soon as this fall. 

"I think he probably signs an extension," he opined. "Sometime, probably in the fall, he'll sign a three-year extension for significantly less money and it will allow him to be what he is. A quiet pro."

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