I do think this is a deal that can get done during the year and I think they had some pretty fruitful initial discussions going back to training camp, maybe even a little bit before that.  I think it really comes down to structure and how much of a haircut is John Tavares willing to accept to remain a Toronto Maple Leaf so long as the Leafs are interested.

This is going to be one that no one’s going to be able to bluff their way out of in the sense that we know he’s not going anywhere else. He’s not going to hit the market and tease the idea of free agency. He’s been there, he’s done that. He’s made an absolute pile of money in his career and he wants to be part of the solution to win in Toronto and do it.

But will his needs and his costs line up with exactly what the Toronto Maple Leafs are seeing? I think there’s common ground that’s sort of been found to this point. I think they’re relatively within the same ballpark is my understanding and that this certainly has the path and possibility to to get done during the season.