Johnston labels Claude Giroux and Anze Kopitar, two players similar in age, as compatible for Tavares. Ottawa signed Giroux to a three-year contract with an annual average value of $6.5 million in July 2022. The LA Kings extended Kopitar with a two-year, $14 million contract (with a $7 million AAV) this past July.

Despite plenty of talk and speculation of big change last offseason, the Toronto Maple Leafs appear ready to move forward without any noticeable differences. Discussions have already sprouted that superstar forward Mitch Marner is earning a contract extension,

John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly been in ongoing talks about an extension but are not close to putting pen to paper. The Athletic’s Chris Johnston provided an update on where things stand for the two parties through the first two months of the regular season and the factors at play that will lead to this deal getting done.

A lot of talk has been made recently about the Toronto Maple Leafs and the possibility of extending superstar forward Mitch Marner. Through the first quarter of

Mitch Marner has long been one of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ most talented players, but his path to leadership has been more gradual. Early in his career, Marner was often critiqued for what seemed like a “me-first” attitude,