Follow me on Twitter @thefirstnoel19
If Islanders fans were as calm, cool, and collected as John Tavares they might enjoy their Summer.
The captain held a conference call with the media Wednesday about his contract status. The Islanders were allowed to begin negotiations with Tavares on a contract extension July 1st.
For me, there’s really no rush,” Tavares told Newsday “I’m trying to determine things, let the process run its course, keep the lines of communication open, keep it all internal and it’s been good so far . . . In terms of signing a new contract, there’s a lot that goes into it. To really dive into all the details, get into all the conversations I’ve had with Garth [Snow], the team and Doug [Weight], I don’t think it’s productive to the situation and the negotiating. I prefer to keep it all internal, that’s the best way to keep it all open, honest and healthy.”
The 2009 first overall pick did say that the uncertainty with the arena situation is playing a part.
“The possibility with Belmont and that RFP coming out, there’s great potential there,” Tavares said. “We’ll see where it goes. A lot of those things are out of my hands. Some things I don’t try to worry about them too, too much. I’m just a hockey player. I try to be as best prepared as I can be. It’s a big decision obviously because it’s eight years of my career, really entering into my prime years and a great opportunity for myself to achieve what I set out to achieve when I was a kid, making it to the NHL, wanting to win a Stanley Cup and wanting to do that with the Islanders.”
The deadline to submit a proposal for the Belmont land is September 28. Tavares will get his term and money wherever he plays. Knowing where he will play for the next eight years is certainly important. If he signs with the Islanders today and three-to-four years from now they're heading to Kansas City he will regret his decision.
The captain does feel that the team is a contender. “We missed the playoffs by a point after a poor start. We were about as resilient as we could’ve been — there’s not much reward for that, but I think just knowing the group we have, even after losing some good players and strong personalities that were there a long time, that we have a lot of talent and a lot of character. We’re right there. We’ve just got to find a way to get over the hump, figure out what it takes on a daily basis. For sure, I believe we’re a contender."
Tavares did commit to something long term this Summer as he proposed to his long-time girlfriend Aryne this month.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»