Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares has been the focus of trade rumors this summer, with one proposed trade suggesting a blockbuster deal that would send him to the Seattle Kraken.
Tavares is entering the final year of his seven-year, $77 million contract, which he signed in 2018 to play for his hometown team. As he approaches free agency, trade speculation has intensified, especially given Toronto’s struggles in the playoffs.
A user on PuckPedia’s new PuckGM tool proposed a trade where Tavares would be dealt to Seattle in exchange for Yanni Gourde, Jaden Schwartz, and a 2025 second-round pick. On paper, the trade could benefit both teams. Seattle would gain a veteran leader in Tavares to support their young core for at least one season, with the possibility of re-signing him. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs would receive Gourde, a reliable third-line center who was instrumental in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cup wins. Schwartz, while on a slight decline, could still add depth as a bottom-six forward for Toronto.
However, it might make more sense for the draft pick to go to Seattle instead of Toronto to balance the trade.
Tavares Wants to Stay with the Maple Leafs
After the Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Tavares expressed his desire to stay in Toronto. During the year-end press conference, he stated, “I love playing here. I think it’s a remarkable place to play… When I committed here six years ago, I saw a tremendous amount of talent and an amazing hockey market and organization that’s fully committed to winning.” Tavares also highlighted his pride in being the team’s captain, noting that it’s something he doesn’t take for granted.
Tavares had a solid 2023-24 season, recording 29 goals and 36 assists for 65 points in 80 games. However, his playoff performance was underwhelming, with just 1 goal and 1 assist in seven games.
Rumors of Tavares Losing Captaincy
As Tavares enters the final year of his contract, NHL insider Nick Kypreos revealed that the Maple Leafs are considering stripping him of the captaincy and potentially giving it to Auston Matthews. Kypreos emphasized that while the decision isn’t final, the discussion is real.
If the Maple Leafs decide to make the change, Matthews would likely become the new captain. The Leafs will kick off their 2024-25 NHL season on October 9th against the Montreal Canadiens.
