ISLES FACE CHALLENGE IN KEEPING CAPTAIN TAVARES
Direction of franchise will be determined by whether they can re-sign superstar centre
After Thursday’s morning skate, John Tavares was asked for his impression of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Looking at the team across the hall, it’s hard not to be impressed. The Leafs have a franchise centre in Auston Matthews, a goalie worthy of a Vezina Trophy in Frederik Andersen, and a roster full of core and complementary players under the age of 25. Heading into Monday’s trade deadline, the Leafs are entrenched in a playoff spot and in a position to make noise as an emerging championship contender. And, according to Tavares, they seem to know it.
“Certainly, you can see their confidence continues to build and when you have success that’s what happens,” he said of the Leafs, who edged the Isles 4-3 in a shootout Thursday. “Obviously, Andersen is playing really good hockey and we saw that when we were here three weeks ago.”
It’s a much different image than what Steven Stamkos saw in Toronto when he was approaching unrestricted free agency.
Back then, the Leafs were on their way to finishing with the worst record in the NHL. William Nylander was still playing in the minors, Mitch Marner was still playing in junior and Auston Matthews was yet to be drafted by the Leafs first overall.
Given the choice between signing as a free agent on a rebuilding team or returning to a team one year removed from reaching the Stanley Cup final, it wasn’t all that surprising Stamkos stayed put in Tampa.
For the Islanders, the challenge is greater.
General manager Garth Snow, who has until July 1 before Tavares becomes a free agent, has to convince the 27-year-old the grass is greener in Brooklyn, Long Island or wherever the Islanders happen to be playing these days. To do that, the team has to show improvement by qualifying for the playoffs.
It might not be hyperbole when Tavares said the team is “fighting for our lives in the standings.” After missing the playoffs in five of the eight years since he was selected first overall in the 2009 draft, there is a growing sense of frustration from a player with a puck-sized hole in his post-season resume that will take more than a longterm contract to fix.
“We understand there’s a lot at stake just with each and every game that goes by,” Tavares said. “There’s less room for error, especially with the position we’re in and how tight the teams are that are in that with us.”
Heading into Thursday’s game against the Leafs, the Islanders were tied for ninth in the Eastern Conference standings, one point back of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final wild card spot.
It’s been an up-and-down year for the team, which went 15-7-2 after the first two months, only to falter due to poor goaltending and inconsistent efforts. Still, there’s a lot to like with the Islanders this season.
Aside from Tavares — who entered play Thursday tied for fifth in the league with 30 goals and among the top 15 in scoring with 64 points in 61 games — Josh Bailey is having a career year with 62 points in 57 games and Jordan Eberle has bounced back with 20 goals and 43 points in 61 games.
Then there are the youngsters. While Mathew Barzal is the favourite to win the Calder Trophy with 62 points in 61 games, 20-year-old Anthony Beauvillier (14 goals) and rookie defencemen Sebastian Aho and Ryan Pulock give further hope for the future.
“I still think we have high hopes for this season, no question,” Tavares said. “I think if you look at the impact those guys are making at a young age, no question the future is very bright with those guys. We’ve done some really good drafting and have some pretty great talent coming, even with Pulock and his emergence this year and some guys that we have in our system that you get to see in training camp. Yeah, definitely a really bright future.”
That is, as long as the team can re-sign Tavares. With Bailey also set to become a UFA this summer and Eberle’s and Anders Lee’s contracts expiring the following year, the status of Tavares could become the first domino in a chain reaction that determines what the Islanders will look like.
“A lot of it starts with me in setting a good example for the group,” said the team’s longtime captain, talking about his onice play, not his contract situation. “We know that we can be a lot more consistent, starting with myself. I’m just trying to put the focus and attention there. We know we have a good hockey team.”
Now they have to show it.