Maple Leafs captain Tavares will not lift his no-move clause

article content

Maple Leafs captain John Tavares will not give up his no-move clause

article content

When asked to leave John Tavares, the Maple Leafs captain seems unwilling to back down.

article content

While a lot can still change in the coming months, Tavares made it pretty clear on Monday that he would have no interest in waiving his no-move clause to allow for a swap.

“I love it here,” Tavares said. “I made a seven-year commitment to being a Leaf (by signing a $77 million US contract in 2018) and I want to be here.

article content

“That’s how I feel. I love being captain, I take that responsibility very seriously and I feel really lucky. I still believe there is a tremendous opportunity for our team in the near future and in the long run.”

As for moving more down the wing from the middle, like he’s done in a couple of games with Ryan O’Reilly in the middle, Tavares hasn’t closed that door.

“I’m open to anything,” said Tavares. “I want to evolve my game and adapt, and people who play long, that’s what they can do.

“When I signed here I knew these opportunities were there when I later got my contract. I will continue to be up for this challenge.”

Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. Want a bet? Visit our sports betting section for news and odds.