John Tavares: Will He Stay or Will He Go? Islanders Fans Are Hoping for the Best but Fearing the Worst
As the Islanders continue to find ways to lose during their dismal eight game losing streak, the worry has truly begun to set in. No, I'm not speaking of the worry of missing the playoffs for a second straight season. That reality was reached already. I'm looking at the larger, more important picture than the current season, which has gone incredibly sour after false hopes were built upon a fairly sweet start. The big picture that could become very worry some, which I speak of is built around one man: John Tavares.
Islanders fans are well aware that Tavares is set to become a free agent at the end of this season. The fan base has been looking at the beginning of the 2018 free agency period as a potential D-Day since the season began without Tavares penning an extension. The trade deadline has come and gone with the team remaining committed to it's decision to let its floundering season play out rather than attempt to move Tavares for a potential boatload of assets. This normally would indicate that there's a good chance the impending free agent will resign, but with Garth Snow in charge what seems to be true might not actually be what it appears.
As we've moved into March and the number of games to be played dwindles and the losses pile up, Islanders fans are beginning to brace themselves for the potential D-Day on July 1, 2018. As hurtful as it would've been to see Tavares dealt at the deadline, it will be even more hurtful to see him walk in July with the team getting nothing in return. It's a move that could set the franchise back years which is something Islanders fan hardly bear the thought of. Memories of the team being the laughingstock of the league for almost 20 years are far too fresh. Only the arrival of Tavares in 2009 helped the team drop that title. If Tavares decides to walk at the end of the season then there's a high probability that the franchise could again sink to those levels.
Tavares is highly skilled and one of the best players of his generation. Year after year he makes those around him better (see case studies Matt Moulson, PA Parentau, and Kyle Okposo). He's also the team's captain and leads by example with his demeanor and work ethic. He's a player that any team in the league would love to have and many will throw boatloads of cash at him to try and lure him away from Long Island. He'll be set for life no matter where he signs. But do the Islanders have what it takes to convince him to make it Long Island/Brooklyn?
If you asked this question two seasons ago, I don't think there would've been many who would've doubted that the answer would've been a resounding, "YES! YES! YES!" The Islanders had advanced to the second round of the playoffs since the early 90's while playing in their new (albeit not hockey friendly) arena. The future looked bright. However, little by little over the last two seasons the doubt surrounding Tavares has slowly begun to grow.
To begin with the Islanders overall play has regressed. Last season, the team missed the playoffs by one point when their last gasp, late push came up just short. Meanwhile, from the looks of things, that margin will be inevitably greater this season. The Islanders look to be in decline. On top of that they are slowly being evicted from Barclays Center where the team doesn't draw well. So why would Tavares, a world class talent in the prime of career at 27 years old, even consider staying?
There are some reasons that may convince Tavares to stay and resist the allure of signing where the grass may seem greener. For one, the Islanders have a young talented group of forwards on their top lines. Despite their struggles in recent games the top line of Tavares, Josh Bailey, and Anders Lee have put up big numbers this season. The combination works well with Tavares' all-around game, Lee's net presence scoring, and Bailey's slick passing. With Bailey signing an extension signing an extension, the line can remain highly productive and intact if Tavares wants it to.
In addition, the second line of rookie revelation Mat Barzal, youngster Anthony Beauvillier, and Jordan Eberle (a good friend of Tavares) has been as, if not more productive than the Tavares line this season. Barzal looks to be the real deal who could play Robin to Tavares' Batman for years to come. The Islanders can score, there's no question about that, which one would think is of vital importance to one of the NHL's best centers. However, Snow (if he's still the GM) will have to convince his captain that he can address the problems in goal and on defense to build a complete team around the scoring punch at the top.
The issues at Barclays may actually be a blessing in disguise as a short and long term selling point to keep Tavares around. Barclays despite being a new arena hasn't worked out from the start; the sight lines are terrible for hockey, the ice is poor, it's far from the team's core fan base in the suburbs of Long Island, and it destroyed the tailgating culture that existed at the Coliseum. In the long term the team will be able to sell Tavares on a brand new hockey specific arena at Belmont, while in the short term the team will have games at the remodeled Coliseum. This should bring the team's core fans back into the fold and create a more desirable atmosphere for hockey.
Head coach Dough Weight could also be a factor in Tavares' decision that could favor the Islanders. Tavares has a good relationship with Weight which goes all the way back to his rookie season when Tavares lived in Weight's house. The team will hope that this relationship will help sway Tavares.
Lastly, the team and it's fans will hope that Tavares likes the life he has created in New York over the last nine seasons to want to remain. I'm sure all of this and much, much more, including his chances to win a Stanley Cup, will all work their way through Tavares' head as he approaches free agency. The Islanders organization and its fans will hope that in the end Tavares remains. If D-Day can't be averted then they'll have to face their greatest fear: Tavares in another team's sweater.
Islanders fans are well aware that Tavares is set to become a free agent at the end of this season. The fan base has been looking at the beginning of the 2018 free agency period as a potential D-Day since the season began without Tavares penning an extension. The trade deadline has come and gone with the team remaining committed to it's decision to let its floundering season play out rather than attempt to move Tavares for a potential boatload of assets. This normally would indicate that there's a good chance the impending free agent will resign, but with Garth Snow in charge what seems to be true might not actually be what it appears.
As we've moved into March and the number of games to be played dwindles and the losses pile up, Islanders fans are beginning to brace themselves for the potential D-Day on July 1, 2018. As hurtful as it would've been to see Tavares dealt at the deadline, it will be even more hurtful to see him walk in July with the team getting nothing in return. It's a move that could set the franchise back years which is something Islanders fan hardly bear the thought of. Memories of the team being the laughingstock of the league for almost 20 years are far too fresh. Only the arrival of Tavares in 2009 helped the team drop that title. If Tavares decides to walk at the end of the season then there's a high probability that the franchise could again sink to those levels.
Tavares is highly skilled and one of the best players of his generation. Year after year he makes those around him better (see case studies Matt Moulson, PA Parentau, and Kyle Okposo). He's also the team's captain and leads by example with his demeanor and work ethic. He's a player that any team in the league would love to have and many will throw boatloads of cash at him to try and lure him away from Long Island. He'll be set for life no matter where he signs. But do the Islanders have what it takes to convince him to make it Long Island/Brooklyn?
Here's a fairly recent Sportsnet interview with Tavares,
If you asked this question two seasons ago, I don't think there would've been many who would've doubted that the answer would've been a resounding, "YES! YES! YES!" The Islanders had advanced to the second round of the playoffs since the early 90's while playing in their new (albeit not hockey friendly) arena. The future looked bright. However, little by little over the last two seasons the doubt surrounding Tavares has slowly begun to grow.
To begin with the Islanders overall play has regressed. Last season, the team missed the playoffs by one point when their last gasp, late push came up just short. Meanwhile, from the looks of things, that margin will be inevitably greater this season. The Islanders look to be in decline. On top of that they are slowly being evicted from Barclays Center where the team doesn't draw well. So why would Tavares, a world class talent in the prime of career at 27 years old, even consider staying?
NHL Network spoke on the topic prior to the deadline.
There are some reasons that may convince Tavares to stay and resist the allure of signing where the grass may seem greener. For one, the Islanders have a young talented group of forwards on their top lines. Despite their struggles in recent games the top line of Tavares, Josh Bailey, and Anders Lee have put up big numbers this season. The combination works well with Tavares' all-around game, Lee's net presence scoring, and Bailey's slick passing. With Bailey signing an extension signing an extension, the line can remain highly productive and intact if Tavares wants it to.
In addition, the second line of rookie revelation Mat Barzal, youngster Anthony Beauvillier, and Jordan Eberle (a good friend of Tavares) has been as, if not more productive than the Tavares line this season. Barzal looks to be the real deal who could play Robin to Tavares' Batman for years to come. The Islanders can score, there's no question about that, which one would think is of vital importance to one of the NHL's best centers. However, Snow (if he's still the GM) will have to convince his captain that he can address the problems in goal and on defense to build a complete team around the scoring punch at the top.
The issues at Barclays may actually be a blessing in disguise as a short and long term selling point to keep Tavares around. Barclays despite being a new arena hasn't worked out from the start; the sight lines are terrible for hockey, the ice is poor, it's far from the team's core fan base in the suburbs of Long Island, and it destroyed the tailgating culture that existed at the Coliseum. In the long term the team will be able to sell Tavares on a brand new hockey specific arena at Belmont, while in the short term the team will have games at the remodeled Coliseum. This should bring the team's core fans back into the fold and create a more desirable atmosphere for hockey.
Head coach Dough Weight could also be a factor in Tavares' decision that could favor the Islanders. Tavares has a good relationship with Weight which goes all the way back to his rookie season when Tavares lived in Weight's house. The team will hope that this relationship will help sway Tavares.
Lastly, the team and it's fans will hope that Tavares likes the life he has created in New York over the last nine seasons to want to remain. I'm sure all of this and much, much more, including his chances to win a Stanley Cup, will all work their way through Tavares' head as he approaches free agency. The Islanders organization and its fans will hope that in the end Tavares remains. If D-Day can't be averted then they'll have to face their greatest fear: Tavares in another team's sweater.
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