John Tavares isn’t leaving town this time.
The Maple Leafs inked their veteran center to a four-year contract extension worth an annual average value of $4.38 million.
“I’m thrilled to announce that I’m committed to four more years!” Tavares wrote on Instagram. “My family and I are excited to continue our journey here in Toronto. The best is yet to come!”
The 34-year-old from Mississauga, Ontario, famously headed home on a seven-year, $77 million deal as a free agent in 2018 after spending nine seasons with the Islanders, who drafted him with the No. 1 pick in 2009.
He’s scored at least 24 goals in every full season he’s played, reaching 47 tallies in his first season with the Leafs.
“Obviously left some money out there,” Tavares said on a media conference call Friday. “But I’ve done pretty well. I’m still doing pretty well. And I get to play for an amazing club in a great city, the place where I’m from, and for a team that’s got a real opportunity to win. It’s a real strong hockey team and there’s a tremendous amount of belief.”
Since his arrival in The Six, Toronto has been among one of the best and most high-powered teams in the NHL, but the franchise’s 57-year Stanley Cup drought has endured.
“It only gets harder,” Tavares said of the Leafs’ playoff dilemma. “I think because my runway gets shorter and shorter. My belief in my ability is stronger than ever, but I’m clearly not on the front nine [of my career], but the back nine, and I am aware and realistic of that. The opportunities get fewer and fewer for a player that’s in my situation. It only gets more difficult as every opportunity passes and you’re not the last one standing.”
Tavares’ deal keeps a massive piece of the Maple Leafs’ core in town, with questions looming about a fellow homegrown talent in Mitch Marner, who is expected to score a massive contract this offseason in his first foray into free agency.
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