Trade pitch sees Maple Leafs deal $77 million forward to Seattle in blockbuster

Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares has been the subject of trade rumors this summer, with one trade pitch suggesting he be sent to the Seattle Kraken in a blockbuster deal.

Tavares is entering the final year of his seven-year, $77 million contract, which he signed as a free agent in 2018 to play for his hometown team. With Toronto struggling in the playoffs, Tavares has become a focal point of trade discussions.

Website PuckPedia has introduced a new tool called PuckGM that lets users create their own trades, and one user proposed a deal sending Tavares to Seattle in a multi-player exchange.

Maple Leafs get:

- Yanni Gourde
- Jaden Schwartz
- 2025 second-round pick

Kraken get:

- John Tavares

On paper, the trade pitch makes sense, as Seattle would gain a veteran leader to support their young core for one season, potentially re-signing him afterward. However, it might make more sense for the draft pick to go to Seattle rather than Toronto to balance the deal.

For the Maple Leafs, acquiring Gourde would bolster their third line, given his effective performance as a third-line center for the Tampa Bay Lightning during their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins. Schwartz, despite being on a decline, would add valuable depth to Toronto's bottom-six forward group.

Following the Maple Leafs' first-round elimination in the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Boston Bruins, Tavares expressed his desire to stay in Toronto.

"I haven't put much thought to it, but I mean, I love playing here," Tavares said at the year-end press conference. "I think it's a remarkable place to play. And, you know, when I committed here six years ago, you know, obviously I saw a tremendous amount of talent and an amazing hockey market and organization that's fully committed to winning

"I haven't accomplished what we've been working to accomplish, but it's been an amazing six years for myself. Being a Maple Leaf, obviously becoming the captain, something very special I don't take for granted," Tavares added.

Tavares recorded 29 goals and 36 assists for 65 points in 80 games, adding 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points in 7 playoff games.

Tavares was named the captain of the Maple Leafs on October 2, 2019, before the season opener. As he enters the final year of his deal, NHL insider Nick Kypreos revealed that the Maple Leafs are contemplating taking the captaincy away from him.

«From what I'm hearing, the Leafs are contemplating taking the captaincy away from him and giving it to Auston (Matthews). They will talk about it. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but it's real,» Kypreos said on July 1 on Real Kyper & Bourne.

If the Maple Leafs do remove Tavares' captaincy, Auston Matthews will likely become the new captain for Toronto.

The Maple Leafs will open their 2024-25 NHL season on the road against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 9.