Insider Frank Seravalli makes massive prediction about John Tavares' future in Toronto

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Tom Banks
October 1, 2024 (3:29 PM)

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John Tavares has been a key member of the Maple Leafs for his entire tenure, but now, if he wants to remain, one insider believes he'll need to make some sacrifices.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have the weight of the world on their shoulders in 2024/25, with the team once again expected to go deep in the chase for their first Stanley Cup since 1967. Whether they achieve that goal or not, the front office has some big calls to make next summer, with John Tavares and Mitch Marner both hitting free agency, while young forward Matthew Knies will be a restricted free agent.

While the team have interest in bringing back all three, it's not going to be easy to make it happen, and now, Frank Seravalli has zeroed in on Tavares, revealing that he will need to take a massive pay cut and a cut in playing time/role to make it work in his hometown.

«He's just gonna take a huge haircut in pay and play»

Tavares is currently in the final year of a seven-year contract that pays him $11 million per season, and while the salary cap continues to go up, there's just no way that they can make it happen at that number as they look to put a team around their core. On top of that, William Nylander is now playing down the middle, and if he continues in that role, he will permanently force Tavares to the 3C role if he wants to return to the Maple Leafs as a free agent.

At 34-years of age, Tavares can still get it done at a high level, but is no longer the top-six player on a contender that he used to be, so if the two sides want to come together again in free agency this summer, expect it to be a much lower number than his last deal.