Maple Leafs' John Tavares Predicted to Sign With Surprising West Team
Maple Leafs' John Tavares Predicted to Sign With Surprising West Team originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to see major changes occur this offseason. With the team having multiple key players entering free agency, Toronto's roster could look very different come next season.
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Star forward Mitch Marner is expected to leave the team, and Toronto would then need to fill his production. But star John Tavares is also a free agent this summer.
Many are expecting Tavares to return to the Maple Leafs, but anytime a player hits free agency, anything can happen. Despite having a down season, there will surely be other teams looking to bring Tavares into the picture.
One of those could be the Minnesota Wild, who need a boost after another early playoff exit. NHL insider Joe Smith of The Athletic linked the Wild with the Maple Leafs star, writing that Tavares could be a good target for Minnesota to consider.
"The Wild's main need is up the middle, and now they're on Plan B after target Nelson re-signed with the Avalanche. Tavares' priority has been to stay in Toronto, but if he gets to market, he'd give Minnesota the experienced, two-way center who could take some pressure off Joel Eriksson Ek. The Wild need to get Tavares, Duchene or Jonathan Toews to address the position, especially after missing out on Nelson," Smith wrote.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) skates with the puck against the Montreal Canadiens in the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Tavares isn't the same player that he once was, but he could still be productive for the Wild. Last season, he scored 38 goals and 36 assists for the Maple Leafs.
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But in the playoffs, it became apparent that Tavares couldn't keep up with other speedy players. Minnesota could be an interesting landing spot for the All-Star, and he could provide some quality experience to the team.
Related: NHL Insider Drops Massive Update on Sabres' JJ Peterka Future
Related: Oilers Reveal Major Stuart Skinner Decision on Saturday
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
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