Winning best way to keep Tavares
Islanders’ best hope of re-signing star will be a successful season
When it comes to persuading John Tavares to extend his contract, the New York Islanders’ best hope, perhaps their only hope, is to win him over with a memorable season.
The Islanders have looked sharp this season, heading into Wednesday four points behind the Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay Lightning with a 14-7-2 record.
It is presumed Tavares is unsigned because he would like to have more clarity about the Islanders’ arena situation and their future competitiveness. The Islanders, currently playing in Brooklyn, aren’t going to be able to address the arena issue now, but if he seriously is considering leaving, the Islanders’ performance has to be giving him pause.
And it’s not as if the Islanders started playing this way in October. Their improved play dates back to January, when Doug Weight took over as coach. Since then, the Islanders are 38-19-6. That’s a pace for a 106-point season.
With 15 goals and 26 points in 23 games, the 27-year-old Tavares is on pace for the best offensive season of his career. Weight’s style and line combinations — including the emergence of second-line centre Mathew Barzal — have suited their captain.
It’s still uncertain whether that’s enough to keep the Mississauga native playing with the Islanders. But trading Tavares for draft picks and prospects isn’t an appealing option for an ownership group that seems to want to create positive momentum for this franchise. That’s why the Islanders’ best option might to be play it out, as Tampa Bay did with Steven Stamkos last season before re-signing him.
Instead, the Islanders could make trades to show faith in this group. They could strengthen the goaltending; add another scorer or a veteran defenceman before the trade deadline. Then they could hope a longenough playoff run makes it difficult for Tavares to say goodbye. Players don’t like to break up the chemistry of a winning team.
The Stamkos situation isn’t a perfect parallel. Stamkos liked Tampa Bay. He knew his team could be strong for years to come and he had been to the Stanley Cup final with the Lightning.
Tavares is dealing with the uncertainty of where the Islanders will play in the future; plus, his team has been in the playoffs only three times in eight seasons. Tavares has won one playoff round.
Still, when Stamkos entered free agency, it was assumed he would leave. He didn’t. He even gave the Lightning a hometown discount.
Maybe the assumptions about Tavares are also wrong. Like most pro athletes, Tavares wants to win. Money is always an issue, but it is not as if the two sides don’t understand what it will take.
Jack Eichel (22 when his extension starts) recently signed for $10 million (U.S.) per season with the Buffalo Sabres, and Connor McDavid (21 when the contract starts) came in at $12.5 million (U.S.) with the Edmonton Oilers.
The Islanders might not have to give Tavares more money to keep him. They may have to give him more playoff wins.