NHL insider reveals a shocking shift regarding the John Tavares contract situation

It's no secret the Leafs would love to lock up John Tavares long-term, but an NHL insider has just revealed it may not be as quick and simple as initially thought.

While John Tavares, having been stripped of the captaincy, has handled it with grace, he is still bringing his high level of leadership and energy to every game.

At 36, he is still productive at the rate of nine goals, and 16 points, with absolutely no signs of slowing down.

Tavares, however, is scheduled to hit the free-agent market this summer. Both he and the Leafs are eager for a continued marriage, but there's no indication yet that the two sides have a deal.

NHL Insider Mike Johnson weighed in on the Tavares situation with Jay Onrait recently on 'Sportscentre', and looked at whether an early announcement could come from Toronto.

Both sides, Johnson thinks, want to get a deal done, but the Maple Leafs have other financial priorities to sort out before reaching that point.

That said, it's a pretty sound business move for GM Brad Treliving to lock up Tavares for a few more seasons.

A new deal for Tavares would likely come in at a discounted rate from his current $11-million salary, but still be representative of his worth to the club.

A fair guess could be in the range of $20-25 million over four years, which gives Tavares some financial incentive while affording the Leafs some salary relief.

That would be a good arrangement for both parties, where Tavares can contribute as he winds down his career, maybe opening up the possibility of moving on to coaching or into an executive role similar to what Jason Spezza did.

For now, there's no need to rush on a new contract, but Tavares is still a giant in the Leafs dressing room.

Not cheap, that contract won't be, but the decision to re-sign him is more than likely the right call for the future of the club. It just won't come as quickly as many had expected.

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