<p>Maple Leafs forward John Tavares wants to finish his career in Toronto.</p>
<p>The 34-year-old veteran is a pending unrestricted free agent, as he&#8217;s playing through the final season of his seven-year, $77-million contract he signed with the Maple Leafs back in 2018. There&#8217;s been <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/frank-seravalli-possible-john-tavares-leafs-get-an-extension-done-during-season">a lot of buzz recently</a> on what exactly a Tavares extension could look like in Toronto, but first off there needs to be mutual interest to get a deal done, and Tavares has made it loud and clear he&#8217;s not interested in going anywhere.</p>
<p>Tavares spoke to <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/john-tavares-i-would-love-to-stay-with-toronto-maple-leafs">NHL.com&#8217;s Mike Zeisberger</a> this week and confirmed his intentions of trying to get another contract done in Toronto.</p>
<p>&#8220;I’ve said it before, I would love to stay and hope it works out,” Tavares said. “I think that&#8217;s, that&#8217;s my goal and my intention.”</p>
<p>Tavares has lived up to every piece of expectation that comes with signing a $77-million deal with his home-town team. His first year he scored 47 goals, he&#8217;s hovered around the point-per-game mark throughout his tenure, and considering all the pressure thrown onto his shoulders before he even stepped out in blue and white, Tavares has no regrets with his decision back in the summer 2018.</p>
<p>&#8220;Aside from not being able to help bring a Stanley Cup here, it’s been everything I could hope for. In fact, it’s been even better than I thought, to be honest.&#8221;</p>
<p>Tavares recently became just the fifth player in NHL history to score 200 goals with two franchises, as the 2009 first-overall pick of the New York Islanders has been consistently finding the back of the net for 16 seasons.</p>
<p>Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has been around some &#8216;pro&#8217;s pros&#8217; throughout his time playing and coaching in the NHL, but it&#8217;s become quite obvious he&#8217;s been impressed from day one of seeing the way Tavares carries himself on and especially off the ice.</p>
<p>&#8220;His preparation is unequalled,” Berube told Zeisberger. “It starts in the summer and never falters. He’s constantly working on his game, both in the offensive and defensive zones.&#8221;</p>
<p>For Tavares, the motivation to be great comes from a foundation of family. He wants to make his family proud, he wants to continue to play in front of his kids, and he doesn&#8217;t want to do that in any other city.</p>
<p>&#8220;So whether it&#8217;s me and my wife, you know, with our parents, our extended family members, our siblings, to now my kids, seeing their grandparents all the time, and the type of bonds that they&#8217;ve created, all stuff like that, obviously goes a long way.</p>
<p>“It’s been really amazing to share playing here with the kids. They&#8217;ve been a big part of it and gotten to experience it with me. So that&#8217;s what life&#8217;s all about, that&#8217;s what&#8217;s most important, and you cherish that.”</p>
<p>Tavares has 15 goals and 31 points through his first 30 games this season. He&#8217;s done a great job to ensure he doesn&#8217;t lose a step with his veteran legs, and he continues to lead by example, even without the &#8216;C&#8217; on his jersey anymore.</p>
<p>Tavares has been everything as advertised since day one in blue and white, and has cherished every moment spent as a Maple Leaf. If he has it his way, he&#8217;ll be hanging up his skates in Toronto, but not anytime soon.</p>
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Maple Leafs forward John Tavares wants to finish his career in Toronto.

The 34-year-old veteran is a pending unrestricted free agent, as he's playing through the final season of his seven-year, $77-million contract he signed with the Maple Leafs back in 2018. There's been <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/frank-seravalli-possible-john-tavares-leafs-get-an-extension-done-during-season">a lot of buzz recently</a> on what exactly a Tavares extension could look like in Toronto, but first off there needs to be mutual interest to get a deal done, and Tavares has made it loud and clear he's not interested in going anywhere.

Tavares spoke to <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/john-tavares-i-would-love-to-stay-with-toronto-maple-leafs">NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger</a> this week and confirmed his intentions of trying to get another contract done in Toronto.

"I’ve said it before, I would love to stay and hope it works out,” Tavares said. “I think that's, that's my goal and my intention.”

Tavares has lived up to every piece of expectation that comes with signing a $77-million deal with his home-town team. His first year he scored 47 goals, he's hovered around the point-per-game mark throughout his tenure, and considering all the pressure thrown onto his shoulders before he even stepped out in blue and white, Tavares has no regrets with his decision back in the summer 2018.

"Aside from not being able to help bring a Stanley Cup here, it’s been everything I could hope for. In fact, it’s been even better than I thought, to be honest."

Tavares recently became just the fifth player in NHL history to score 200 goals with two franchises, as the 2009 first-overall pick of the New York Islanders has been consistently finding the back of the net for 16 seasons.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has been around some 'pro's pros' throughout his time playing and coaching in the NHL, but it's become quite obvious he's been impressed from day one of seeing the way Tavares carries himself on and especially off the ice.

"His preparation is unequalled,” Berube told Zeisberger. “It starts in the summer and never falters. He’s constantly working on his game, both in the offensive and defensive zones."

For Tavares, the motivation to be great comes from a foundation of family. He wants to make his family proud, he wants to continue to play in front of his kids, and he doesn't want to do that in any other city.

"So whether it's me and my wife, you know, with our parents, our extended family members, our siblings, to now my kids, seeing their grandparents all the time, and the type of bonds that they've created, all stuff like that, obviously goes a long way.

“It’s been really amazing to share playing here with the kids. They've been a big part of it and gotten to experience it with me. So that's what life's all about, that's what's most important, and you cherish that.”

Tavares has 15 goals and 31 points through his first 30 games this season. He's done a great job to ensure he doesn't lose a step with his veteran legs, and he continues to lead by example, even without the 'C' on his jersey anymore.

Tavares has been everything as advertised since day one in blue and white, and has cherished every moment spent as a Maple Leaf. If he has it his way, he'll be hanging up his skates in Toronto, but not anytime soon.
<div>
<h2><strong>Join us for the first-ever TLN Nation Vacation!</strong></h2>
</div>
&nbsp;

<a href="https://nationgear.ca/products/nation-vacation-toronto-to-nashville-2025"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-115002" src="https://publish.theleafsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2099/08/TLN_Nashville_article-1.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" /></a>
<div>

Alright, hockey fans, this isn’t just a trip—it’s the <a href="https://nationgear.ca/products/nation-vacation-toronto-to-nashville-2025">Nation Vacation</a>, and we’re heading to the Music City from March 20th to 23rd! Get ready to watch Toronto take on Nashville in their own barn, soak up the honky-tonk vibes, and make unforgettable memories with the Nation crew. Whether you’re all in for a flight package or prefer a non-flight option, we’ve got you covered. Just don’t wait—spots are limited, and this trip is going to be electric. Book your spot NOW at <a href="https://nationgear.ca/products/nation-vacation-toronto-to-nashville-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://nationgear.ca&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734810980719000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0_i7FzyATbvkLHQ3ApMxZH">nationgear.ca</a>. Let’s go, Toronto! Nashville is calling!

</div>

John Tavares on potentially re-signing with Maple Leafs: ‘I would love to stay and hope it works out’

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