On the New York Islanders and John Tavares …
Arthur Staple of Newsday: Pending NHL free agent John Tavares stated again that he hopes to remain with the Islanders.
“I hope to stay in Long Island,” Tavares told reporters questioning him on his plans. “There’s a lot of positive things going forward with the organization and the team here. I haven’t thought about being anywhere else but with the Islanders.”
There haven’t been any contract talks between the Islanders and Tavares’ camp. When Tavares and agent Pat Brisson are ready to talk numbers, the Islanders will be ready to listen.
“I feel good about it,” Doug Weight said Monday. “We know the situation we’re in with John. I trust John to his word. I believe he wants to be here. He’s earned the right, whether it’s free agency or waiting to sign a contract, he’s earned the right to check off all the boxes. It’s his right as a professional and what he’s done for us as an organization, a captain. So we can’t be focused on it.”
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Bob McKenzie on TSN 690 said there is not much to report with regards to the Islanders and a John Tavares contract extension. As long as he doesn’t have an extension, there will be speculation.
“Now, there’s a big part of me that thinks I’m going to put the brakes on talking about John Tavares destinations/trade scenarios between now and the deadline,or free agent scenarios when he gets to July 1 because I don’t know that he’ll get to July 1. I don’t know that he won’t either. I mean, it’s one of these ones where he’s played his cards really close to the vest.
“His representatives, as I understand it – to my knowledge, there’s not been any negotiation in the sense of a hard proposal. So, ‘Hey J.T., here’s eight years and here’s $12 million. Is that going to do it for ya?’ They haven’t even got to the point where I think that the Tavares camp is entertaining a financial offer.”
doesn’t think there has been an offer for Tavares because they haven’t asked for one. McKenzie thinks that it’s possible that they wait until after the season.
doesn’t see the Islanders looking to trade Tavares before the trade deadline.