Report: NHL insider provides update on strained Tavares negotiations

The New York Islanders look more and more committed to building a new arena at Belmont Park for the team, and right now, fans still don't know if captain John Tavares will be part of it. 

The 27-year-old star forward is in the final season of his contract and no extension has been agreed upon for Tavares, who could hit the free market this summer. NHL insider Bob McKenzie spent most of his second episode of season two of The TSN Hockey Bobcast, breaking down the strained negotiations between the Isles and one of the best players in the NHL. 

"If it was a foregone conclusion that John Tavares was going to sign an eight-year deal with the New York Islanders, it would have been signed by now. And do not confuse that with me saying he’s going to free agency because that’s not what I’m saying. But what I am saying is he could have signed this past summer and he didn’t. And in fact, not only did he not sign this past summer, but to my understanding there has not been what I would call one substantive negotiation involving actual dollar figures between the New York Islanders and John Tavares," McKenzie explains. 

Though most players have to deal with performance, salary and term, Tavares will have the new arena in Belmont in mind as another factor to consider in his decision. 

"But the New York Islanders are an interesting situation. There are more variables with this New York Islanders team than you usually have in similar type situations," McKenzie said. 

“In the case of John Tavares, all I think he doing right now – and the reason why there haven’t been any specific discussions about an extension – is simply because he wants more information. Where are the New York Islanders going to play. If John Tavares signs an eight-year contract, how many years into it – where are they going to be. Are they going to be in Belmont. If they’re going to be in Belmont, how long before the rink is built and they’re playing in a new facility. What are they doing in the meantime. Is this Islanders team going north this year, or is it going south."

As McKenzie explained it brilliantly in his podcast, we will have to wait and see. Some fans strongly believe the captain will not leave his team, but others fear that Tavares will leave and tries his luck at free agency.