Is it almost time for John Tavares to leave the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Auston Matthews was formally chosen the 26th captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. He will take over for John Tavares as captain beginning with the 2024–25 NHL season. In reality, Tavares had occupied the role ever after he was named the winner for the 2019–20 campaign.

Many had long anticipated this from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ultimately, Matthews had inadvertently taken on the role of the franchise’s face. In addition to breaking records left and right, his teammates were drawn to his unwavering commitment and hard work on a nightly basis. As such, it was just a matter of time until it was realized.

By doing this, it raises the issue of whether Tavares’ time with the Maple Leafs is almost over.

Since it is generally noted that the NHL captaincy is transferred when the incumbent retires, is traded, or leaves via free agency. Having it happen while they are still on the team is more unusual because it calls into doubt their capacity to lead and execute as a team.

Is John Tavares time with the Toronto Maple Leafs almost up?

In such case, are the Leafs trying to prepare ahead of time in event of Tavares’ departure via a potential trade for this upcoming season? Nobody really knows, but what we do know is the fact that Tavares has done his best to play his heart out while wearing a Leafs uniform for the past six seasons.

Since joining Toronto during the 2018 offseason with the infamous ‘coming home’ free agency signing, Tavares has compiled 184 goals, 235 assists for 419 points in 440 games played for the Blue and White, trailing only that of Matthews and Mitch Marner for the team lead over that stretch. More importantly, Tavares has been one of the main forces on the Maple Leafs potent power play, notching 60 goals and 137 points, along with recording 32 game-winning goals, ranking second only to Matthews.

Also, if it wasn’t for Tavares and his OT winner against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Leafs would still not have made it out of the first round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for over two decades and counting. So the overall impact he has had on the team had no doubt been enormous.

However, at aged 34 by the time training camp rolls around this year, Tavares isn’t getting any younger and has shown some noticeable slowing down in foot speed and production. Just last season, his 0.8 points per game rate was actually his lowest output since his rookie season back in 2009-10 with the New York Islanders. (All stats from NHL.com)

Tavares’ contract is scheduled to expire after the 2024–25 season, hence there is currently no extension in place for him. Tavares’ time in Toronto may be extended by the Leafs if he is seeking a team-friendly contract and is willing to accept a future bottom-six role as he gets older.
However, if Tavares is hoping to sign a final, large, multi-year contract before retiring, something more akin to what fellow NHL players Steven Stamkos and Evgeni Malkin received, then what we are probably witnessing at this time is the Leafs beginning the process of preparing for life after Tavares.