Insider shares update on John Tavares' future with the Maple Leafs

When asked about the final year of his contract and his intentions following another disappointing playoff run, while representing Canada at the World Hockey Championships, Tavares was adamant that he intended to stay in Toronto and play out the final year of his contract.

At a cap hit of $11M, it's a high price to pay for someone that ended up on the team's third line during a fair amount during the regular season. No one expected him to be asked to waive his no-movement clause or to expect him to even be traded, but when President Brendan Shanahan said that "everything was on the table" at his end of season press conference, many speculated that Tavares or Mitch Marner would or could be on the move.

That speculation has only intensified as they are the two members of the "Core 4" with one year remaining on their deals after the Leafs extended Auston Matthews and William Nylander this past season.

TSN and The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun revealed yesterday that while the Leafs have engaged in extension talks with Tyler Bertuzzi, there have been no such talks with Tavares.

Should negotiations begin with Tavares, it is expected he will take a considerable pay-cut if he wants to remain a Leaf. What that looks like, no one knows, but Evolving Hockey has projected an extension of 3 years and an AAV around $7M per season.

Some may think that is a high number, but it is similar to the extension that LA Kings forward Anze Kopitar signed recently and he's two years older than Tavares.

Whether discussions begin or increase as we near the draft and free agency is unknown, but we do know that Tavares will be captaining the Leafs for at least one more season.