NHL insider Darren Dreger drops bold take on $17.5M Maple Leafs star’s loyalty

NHL insider Darren Dreger recently shared his thoughts on John Tavares’ loyalty to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He praised the veteran forward for staying committed to his team while performing at a high level.

Tavares continues to play an important role for the Maple Leafs, recording five goals and seven assists in nine games this season. His consistent play has helped Toronto stay competitive despite an average start to the year. Dreger highlighted that Tavares deserves more credit, not only for his strong play but also for taking a major pay cut to stay.

“I mean, you know, you go back to the previous contract at $11 million flat, and there was a lot of bemoaning over how Tavares was strapping the Toronto Maple Leafs as an organization,” Dreger said on Monday (1:19), via "First Up." “Well, maybe when you looked at the construct of their salary cap, but the reality is, he also always performed, right? You could build a case for John Tavares being the most consistent producer for the Toronto Maple Leafs.”

Dreger added that Tavares could have explored free agency for a bigger deal but chose not to.

“If it had been even remotely about money, he wouldn’t be in Toronto,” Dreger said. “He wouldn’t be, and he’d be doing the same thing, probably somewhere else. But, you know, this guy wants to win a Stanley Cup in Toronto. He’s raising a family in Toronto, and he loves the game, plain and simple. That’s what it’s about for him.”

Tavares’ new four-year $17.5 million deal shows that his focus is on staying with the Leafs and helping them win.

“I take a lot of pride in how I try to get better, how I approach the game and my craft and my passion and love for it," Tavares said in June, via NHL.com. "I have a tremendous amount of belief in who I am and what I can do and just continue to play at an elite level.”

Jake McCabe praises John Tavares’ leadership after Maple Leafs’ overtime win against Sabres

Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe also praised John Tavares for his leadership after the captain scored the overtime winner against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. It was his 499th in the NHL.

McCabe mentioned that being around Tavares has made him a better professional.

“He's certainly made me a lot better professional just being around him, watching how he goes through his process,” McCabe said on Sunday, via Maple Leafs Daily.

He added that Tavares’ consistent approach is important for the team.

“I know we always talk about it, but he's Mr. Steady every single year," McCabe said. "To have that in your room as a leader is super crucial for our team.”

The Maple Leafs will be back in action on Tuesday when they face the Calgary Flames at 6 p.m. ET.

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Edited by Victor Ramon Galvez