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Just In: Maple Leafs’ 2025 Plan B After Shedding Tavares’ Bulky Contract

As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for the 2025 summer, the looming expiration of John Tavares’ $11 million cap charge creates both obstacles and opportunity. Despite still a productive player (29 goals and 65 points last season), Tavares’ declining play-driving abilities has sparked concerns about his worth at such a hefty price. With his contract expiring, the Leafs are at a crossroads as they consider their alternatives for improving the roster.

Maple Leafs' 2025 Plan B After Shedding Tavares' Bloated Contract - The  Hockey Writers - Toronto Maple Leafs - NHL News, Analysis & More

What is Plan A for the Maple Leafs in 2025?
If Tavares looks for market value next summer, the Maple Leafs will likely have to seek elsewhere. They cannot afford to pay him as much as another team would, nor should they want to. However, the forthcoming free-agent market for centers in 2025 appears to be less than ideal.

As Harman Dayal of The Athletic points out, the possibilities are limited until a big name like Leon Draisaitl or Sidney Crosby becomes available suddenly (which is extremely improbable). Brock Nelson, Sam Bennett, and Matt Duchene could be on Toronto’s radar, but they may not be a huge upgrade. In other circumstances, such as Nelson’s, he will be highly compensated, thus he may not be an option either

Toronto now faces the difficult task of replacing Tavares’ offensive productivity while remaining competitive.

Given these limits, the Maple Leafs may be forced to look to the trade market for a potential center boost. However, such shifts have their own set of obstacles. Acquiring a top-tier center often takes big assets, and the Leafs must carefully examine what they are willing to give up. Given their already great team, Toronto would likely have to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of trading young players or draft picks to obtain a new cornerstone for their lineup.

Plan B might be to re-sign Tavares.
Perhaps moving on from Tavares is not the best move. Dayal wrote:

While ultimately splitting up the Core Four has its advantages, one possible solution is to re-sign Tavares to a significantly reduced contract. While it may appear contradictory, retaining Tavares might give the Leafs with more stability and experience if they can negotiate a deal that better matches with his on-ice impact. With a more realistic salary, he may continue to be a valuable contributor, particularly during critical moments. This option would allow the Leafs to keep depth at center while freeing up cap room for other roster requirements.

This isn’t always about dumping Tavares.
The removal of Tavares’ cap hit will surely bring some financial relief, but moving him out is not the only alternative. John Tavares returns ready to turn the page - TSN.cactually, it might be the worst one.

 

The Maple Leafs would need to properly replace his contributions, and there isn’t much available that would perform as well as Tavares — even if he is paid too much. By dramatically lowering Tavares’ budget charge, the Leafs can assemble a solid supporting cast around top players like as Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, which will be critical to Toronto’s success in the coming seasons. Meanwhile, Tavares can freely relinquish the captaincy and accept that he is no longer a central figure, but rather a supporting one.

On the surface, Plan A appears to be moving the player out with his money. The concept of ‘simply go out and find someone else’ appears appealing. In fact, Plan B makes This makes more sense. Keep him on the roster, pay him what he delivers in terms of on-ice worth (perhaps less), and let him to play a smaller role on the squad. The on-ice changeover will be smoother and the behind-the-scenes narrative less problematic.

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