NHL captain could be traded as early as this summer.

It would be one of the most shocking trades in recent memory, a trade that would perhaps create an even bigger media frenzy than the deal that saw P.K. Subban traded for Shea Weber, and while the thought of trading New York Islanders captain John Tavares may sound crazy to some, it's not outside the realm of possibility according to one insider.

During a radio interview last week on TSN's 1040 in Vancouver, ESPN insider Pierre LeBrun stated that while he believes Tavares wants to remain an Islander, the current turmoil in the organization has left room for uncertainty.

“Well, he hasn’t decided that yet. I think his heart wants to stay with the Islanders,” said LeBrun as per Fanrag's Chris Nichols. “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."

The most interesting part of the interview wasn't LeBrun's analysis of Tavares' feelings regarding the entire situation however, but rather what he felt the Islanders would do should they fail to come to terms on a new deal with Tavares over the course of the offseason. LeBrun believes that the Islanders have no intention of allowing Tavares to walk into the final year of his deal without an extension in place, and would instead pull the trigger on a trade should a new contract fail to materialize.

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“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.”

You can rest assured that the Islanders, and specifically owners Jon Ledecky and Scott D. Malkin, will be putting on the full court press to sell Tavares on staying in New York.  But the team, which had a very rough start to the season, still has no solid arena deal in place and the fact that there is room for doubt here at all is very interesting to say the least.