r/Toronto_Ontario

From the story:

>As contract negotiations were heating up between the Maple Leafs and John Tavares in 2018, the rising star called Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas directly.
Without agents involved, Tavares made a final play: “If you really want me, why can’t we agree on $11 million?” the then 27-year-old asked.
Would an $11 million annual average salary over a seven-year deal make him a Maple Leaf? Dubas replied.
Simply, Tavares said: “Yes.”
If Tavares, now an alternate captain, ever expected he’d be detailing those behind-the-scenes negotiations in a 7th-floor courtroom in Federal Tax Court, the typically even-keeled star didn’t let it show on Tuesday.

There's more detail in Jennifer Pagliaro's story from federal tax court today. Read it here, via this gift link, and bypass the Star's paywall.