Insider Reveals Full Details of John Tavares' New Deal with the Maple Leafs

Just following the lunch hour, John Tavares gave Leafs Nation something to celebrate heading into Canada Day weekend when he took to social media to announce that he had agreed to a four-year extension.

Many had expected his extension to carry a cap hit that began with a five, but to the surprise and appreciation of Leafs Nation, Tavares signed for less than what Matt Duchene agreed to on his 4-year deal with the Dallas Stars.

Tavares' cap hit comes in at $4.38M per season, but TSN's Pierre LeBrun revealed the intricate details of the deal, which includes both a partial no-movement clause, a modified no-trade clause, as well as signing bonuses and deferred salary.

The 34-year-old will see $10.5 of his $17.5M deal paid to him over the first two seasons, with $8.5M in signing bonuses. That, along with the modified no-trade clause the final two years of his deal will make it easier for the Leafs to move him, should they deem it necessary in the later stages of his career.

While some may not see this as a 'changing of the DNA' that GM Brad Treliving discussed at his season-ending media availability, behind the scenes, it just may. The Leafs used their leverage and shrewdly negotiated while Tavares proved that it is about winning and the crest on the front of the jersey, and not about the money for him.

The 2009 first-overall pick certainly left money on the table as his career winds down. He solidified his legacy with the Maple Leafs and Leafs Nation by taking the discount that he did, and he deserves credit for that.

Not only did he leave the Leafs with financial flexibility to add significant pieces over the next couple of years, but he avoided putting any additional pressure on himself to live up to an overpriced contract as he ages -- one that will be perfectly reasonable if he were to slide down the Leafs' roster to the 3C position or even to the wing.