Insider believes Habs should target John Tavares this summer.

Despite the fact that John Tavares has never made any comments to suggest that he intends to leave the New York Islanders, rumors have hounded the Islanders captain due to instability within the organization.

The big date that everyone is watching now is July 1st 2017, when the Islanders will be eligible to sign their superstar captain to a contract extension. Should the Islanders fail to get an extension done, Sportsnet's Eric Engels believes Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin "must pounce."

From Engels:

If it means trading the ninth-overall pick in 2016 — an uber-talented defenceman in Mikhail Sergachev — and a couple of key roster pieces, Bergevin has to do it. If it means trading off multiple first-round picks and the third-overall selection in 2012 in Alex Galchenyuk — a player Bergevin said on Monday is best suited to help his team as a winger — he has to do it. 

Of course any desire from Marc Bergevin to acquire Tavares will be for not unless general manager Garth Snow resigns himself to trading Tavares rather then letting him walk in free agency. 

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Montreal's desperation to acquire a true number one center has been apparent for some time, and Bergevin has shown a willingness to make huge trades. There were even rumors during the season that Montreal also had interest in Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene, although nothing came of those and Duchene was connected to a number of other teams as well.

Whatever Bergevin does do, Engels believes that he can ill afford to enter next season without upgrading his team up the middle.