It might be too late for Tavares, suggests controversial NHL writer

Three rival teams ready to make a move...

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
It might be too late for Tavares, suggests controversial NHL writer
KeyStone Press

The timeline for the New York Islanders to make a decision on their new arena and the one to determine captain John Tavares' future with the franchise are two very different ones. And according to New York Post writer Larry Brooks, the timetable is a huge issue for the team's future.

While the Isles ownership may be willing to wait as long as it takes for a decision on a new arena and where it will be located, management - and fans - are facing a much bigger problem in waiting for a Tavares commitment.

"There is no reason to expect that the captain wouldn’t be willing to wait for the state’s decision until the free agent market opens on July 1, if necessary. He obviously wants to stay; the proper authorities would know otherwise by now," writes Brooks. 

"Ownership and management will have to decide whether to, a) ride it out with No. 91 and risk having their franchise player walk out the door with nothing in return if Belmont hasn’t gone their way by July 1; or, b) move him for what presumably would be a plentiful bounty."

General manager Garth Snow might be able to pull off a major trade with a team with which Tavares would be willing to sign an extension. The Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs could move in to land one of the biggest names on the market. 

The clock is ticking - and much faster than anyone thought...