Detroit Red Wings could capitalize on Maple Leafs' recent mistake with John Tavares
Photo credit: Detroit Free Press
The Maple Leafs won only 2 postseason series with pending UFA forward John Tavares, and could take advantage of his contract expiring this summer on July 1.
The Toronto Maple Leafs picked up the biggest UFA forward on the market in the summer of 2018, signing Ontario native John Tavares to a 7-year deal worth $77 million.
The thought at the time was that the Leafs finally had all of the pieces to put them over the top and finally contend for the Stanley Cup.
But Tavares' tenure in Toronto resulted in only 2 postseason series wins, which included his overtime GWG in 2023 against the divisional foe Tampa Bay Lightning for Toronto's 1st series win since 2004.
He's up for free agency again this summer, and while he said he wants to be back with the Maple Leafs, they may decide to move on.
Could the Red Wings take advantage of what top NHL analyst Pierre LeBrun is calling a big mistake on the part of the Leafs?
LeBrun recently said that the Leafs missed out on a chance to extend Tavares last fall for well below market value.
At the start of the year, last September at camp, I think Tavares' camp told the Leafs that he'd be ready to extend then and there and they probably would have signed for around 5 million a year. Then he went out and had a huge season, so I don't know if the number can stay there.
The Red Wings have also been linked to pending Maple Leafs UFA forward Mitch Marner, who could command an AAV (average annual value) of $13-14 million in his next contract.
| POLL | ||
MAI 26 | 111 ANSWERS Detroit Red Wings could capitalize on Maple Leafs' recent mistake with John Tavares Should the Red Wings try and sign John Tavares in free agency? | ||
| Yes | 50 | 45 % |
| No | 61 | 55 % |
| List of polls | ||
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