Did the Toronto Maple Leafs try to get John Tavares to ask for a trade?

The Toronto Maple Leafs tried to set up John Tavares so he would demand a trade out of Toronto, Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos claims.

During the October 2nd edition of the Real Kyper and Bourne podcast, the two analysts discussed the leadership change in Toronto. Specifically, Kypreos floated the idea that the Toronto Maple Leafs tried to set John Tavares up by stripping him of the captaincy in favour of Auston Matthews. Doing so would have triggered Tavares’ ego, causing him to demand a trade out of Toronto.

In other words, the forcible leadership change could have allowed the Leafs to get Tavares to waive his no-movement clause and facilitate a trade.

Who knows if this is true or not, but the Leafs did have a publically expressed appetite for change this summer but where unable to do much because Tavares and Marner both have full no-trade clauses.

Did the Toronto Maple Leafs try to get John Tavares to ask for a trade?

Kypreos went on to state that Tavares saw through the ploy. Instead of taking the bait, he went along with the plan. Tavares graciously and gentlemanly ceded the captaincy. He didn’t demand a trade nor did he make a fuss about it.

If anything, Tavares seemed genuinely supportive of Matthews at the official press conference. Honestly, I have to commend Tavares. I wouldn’t have done that. I would have graciously forked over the captaincy and then demanded a trade.

But that’s just me.

At the time, I wrote that the Leafs had no choice but to trade Tavares. After how the leadership change went down, there was no conceivable way Tavares could save face if not for a trade. Instead, Tavares swallowed his pride.

John Tavares has been a marine. He sucked up his removal from command and has soldiered on. That attitude seems to underscore what Kypreos pondered; that Tavares really wanted to stay in Toronto and was willing to take the gut punch.

Personally, I have to respectfully disagree with Kypreos. First of all, he’s floating an idea that doesn’t seem to have any real substantiation. Second, Tavares is playing for his last contract. So, it wouldn’t make any sense for Tavares to hold out during such an important year.

Instead, Tavares has done the right thing. He’s playing hard, looking to prove he’s worth another multi-year deal. Through the first batch of games this season, he’s looked energized, playing a solid second-line role. Far from looking bitter and unhappy, Tavares actually looks like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders.

Ultimately, it’s highly unlikely Tavares stays in Toronto beyond this season. Sure, he’s a local guy. But unless the Leafs win the Stanley Cup, there is no way they are going to want to keep going with 100% of the Core-Four players.

Where Tavares goes largely depends on whether the Leafs make an offer or not. I think the Leafs will make a courtesy lowball offer and leave it at that.