You are forgetting one critical element. Tavares - has to want to play there. If you looked up his salary history - you will have noticed, that unlike last years prize UFA (Stamkos) comparable stats - Stamkos about a point a game, Tavares just under,
Tavares is not all about the highest bidder - his current expiring contract paid him $5.5 a year while Stamkos was making $7.5. I don't think taxes or how many free visits to Peggy's Ranch are offered will have impact. If he wants to play for the Leafs - he will, and it won't be just about $. I would think if Shanny said to him how would you like to win a few cups here in you hometown - he'd listen at the very least.
- winsix
Tavares got less money because that's what he could negotiate at the time. It's not because he wanted less money. Nobody wants less money at that stage of their career.
There are dozens of factors to where he wants to play and how much money he puts in his pocket is definitely one of them which means the taxes matter.
Just because you think playing in his "hometown" matters, doesn't mean it does to him especially with so many other reasons to not sign in Toronto. Until he says so to prove otherwise, it's not a fact anybody can lean on.