Legitimate talk that John Tavares could be traded from one of hockey's top insiders.

ESPN insider Pierre LeBrun made some stunning comments today regarding the future of New York Islanders captain John Tavares.

LeBrun began by stating that while he believes that Tavares wants to remain as a member of the New York Islanders, he hasn't made a decision in that regard just yet due to the uncertainty within the organization.

“Well, he hasn’t decided that yet. I think his heart wants to stay with the Islanders,”said LeBrun as per Chris Nichols of Fanrag Sports. “I think the odds are he will sign a long-term deal with the Islanders. But I think the reason why he can’t come out and say that 100 percent is that I do think it is important to play out the year and see what new ownership has to tell him after the year in terms of their vision and their plan. The expectation is ownership is going to bring in a sort of new president of hockey operations, someone sort of above Garth Snow."

LeBrun believes selling Tavares on the team's plan moving forward will be a major key in getting an extension done, but his most shocking statement came when he revealed what he feels the next move from the Islanders would be should they fail to sign Tavares this summer.

“I just think he needs to be sold on a plan and then he’ll stay, is my opinion. But certainly the decision is coming. He either signs an extension this summer or they trade him. They’re not going to want him to enter his walk year.”

LeBrun states openly that he believes the Islanders will not allow Tavares to enter the 2017-2018 season without a new deal in place, and would instead look to trade their star player and captain. It has to be mentioned that Tavares would at least in part control his own destiny here, as the final two years of his current deal allow him to submit an 8-team no-trade list.

You can bet that should this come to pass, every team not on that 8-team no-trade list would at the very least be talking to the Islanders about a possible move.