Pierre LeBrun released an interesting report where he stated what type of money John Tavares is going to be looking for from the Leafs in his next deal. On Tuesday, Frank Seravalli of 'Daily Faceoff' got a little stirring action going in Toronto, with a report that the Maple Leafs and John <a href='https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/nhl/news-nhl-rumors-frank-seravalli-claims-maple-leafs-found-common-ground-77-000-000-veteran' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Tavares were getting closer in contract negotiations</a>. According to Frank Seravalli, it sounds like things are leaning toward an in-season extension. Later in the afternoon, however, TSN's Pierre LeBrun suggested that isn't quite the case, and that things aren't as far along as perhaps suggested. I don't think anything is imminent there at this point. I think part of that ongoing dialogue is certainly both sides want to see where the salary cap is headed. We were at the Board of Governors last week and we know there are two possibilities there: $92.5 (million) for next year or a higher cap. Every dime counts when you're the Maple Leafs. - Pierre LeBrun <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/TSNHockey/status/1869164440324817025'> </a></blockquote></div> According to the report, both sides are waiting on updated salary cap projections in advance of reaching a deal. Meanwhile, TSN's Darren <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/insider-darren-dreger-confirms-what-it-will-take-for-the-toronto-maple-leafs-to-re-sign-john-tavares' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Dreger chimed in that the Leafs should be trying</a> to keep <a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/john-tavares-8475166' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>John Tavares</a>' next contract in or below $5 million against the cap. To which Pierre LeBrun responded, suggesting that guys like Claude Giroux and Anze Kopitar, players of his ilk, pull in well more than that. The most comparable benchmark to Tavares' deal may be Steven Stamkos' $8 million average annual value he signed this summer. He probably falls a hair under that, but ultimately not too far from where Claude Giroux and Anze Kopitar will go. Contract comparables that I know that have been talked about in that negotiation; Claude Girioux, 3x$6.5M that he signed in 2022 [and] Anze Kopitar, a 2-year extension, $7M a year. Those are contracts certainly that I think are in the ballpark of what Tavares and the Leafs are talking about. One contract that I don't think that Tavares' camp has brought up is Steven Stamkos' 4 x $8 million a year. I think that Tavares aims to be lower than that if this gets done with Toronto at some point. They want to be fair, they also want to remain a Maple Leaf, so both sides I think would mutually like to get this done at some point before July 1. - Pierre LeBrun <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/Leafslatest/status/1869170118703411456'> </a></blockquote></div> Yes, it'll be the particulars, dollar figure, and finer details that will ultimately decide the shape of Tavares' next deal. But this much is certain, the 34-year-old center is flying out of the gates in this pivotal contract year with the Leafs.