Breaking: NHL GM has scouted the Islanders 4 times this season

Is a trade brewing for Tavares, or is it someone else?

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
Breaking: NHL GM has scouted the Islanders 4 times this season
KeyStone Press

John Tavares trade rumors are rampant - as they will be for the duration of the season, unless he finally inks an extension with the New York Islanders.

That doesn't seem likely to happen at any point this season, with the team's arena situation so unclear. They're gunning for a new barn at Belmont Park but it will likely take several years for that to come to fruition - which may turn Tavares off from signing an extension in New York.

Cue the trade speculation.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin has been at several Islanders games as of late - this is reportedly his fourth appearance already. The game is in Los Angeles, and Montreal is set to hit California beginning Tuesday in San Jose, but Bergevin decided to head there a few days early to scout a team he's seen three times already.

That's no coincidence.

Now, it's hard to believe that he needs to see Tavares live to know what he'd be getting with him - but it is possible, given what it would cost, that he wants to be absolutely sure it would be worth selling the farm for him. 

Alternatively, Montreal has a serious issue on the back end, and New York has a wealth of talented mobile defensemen. Nick Leddy would obviously be the best target, but he's unlikely to ever go anywhere.

Montreal, after shedding Mark Streit's contract, has $8.35 million in cap space - a huge commodity for Marc Bergevin. It's very possible that a deal is imminent.

Stay tuned.

Source: Twitter