John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the midst of negotiations for a contract extension, with both sides expressing a desire to continue their partnership. However, reports indicate that the hope for Tavares to take a significant hometown discount may not be feasible. After a strong season scoring 74 points in 75 games, he is poised to enter unrestricted free agency on July 1 if a deal isn't reached. At 34, Tavares is expected to transition to a third-line center role, yet his performance suggests he could command a salary around $7.9 million per year for a three-year deal. The Maple Leafs have ample cap space of $25.7 million, but they also face the challenge of balancing their roster with stars like Mitch Marner and restricted free agent Matthew Knies.