You included me with that motley crew??? That's the last time I buy you a beer.
- JohnScammo

He only includes the ones he loves. Or loathes. Or doesn't give 2 sh!ts about. Or argues with. Or....

Let's go get that beer
- nyisles7

I'm on my way.

I'm on my way.
- Isleshockeyman

The two things that stood out in that JT interview.....

1. He confirmed what we all assumed; i.e., that he wants to see what develops from the Belmont situation before signing a contract extension; and,
2. He thinks the Isles are Cup contenders.
- JohnScammo

That's just a standard interview answer. What has me more concerned is the JT won't sign because of the arena narrative. That means if JT decides not to sign then Snow will escape blame once again.

That's just a standard interview answer. What has me more concerned is the JT won't sign because of the arena narrative. That means if JT decides not to sign then Snow will escape blame once again.
- JimmyP

What really bothers me is this has the potential to be another shat season more importantly. We don't exactly have a great roster. Couple that with this arena bullshat and that's a lot of potential negativity for signing your franchise player. Trade him. Sorry I know nobody wants to hear that but it's a borderline clear cut no brainer at this point to me with the information we have.

That's just a standard interview answer. What has me more concerned is the JT won't sign because of the arena narrative. That means if JT decides not to sign then Snow will escape blame once again.
- JimmyP

100% agree on JTs answer on being contenders.

I do think he wants to see how the team starts next season before he makes a decision as well. He wants to win and if he can't do it here then he's not staying.

What really bothers me is this has the potential to be another shat season more importantly. We don't exactly have a great roster. Couple that with this arena bullshat and that's a lot of potential negativity for signing your franchise player. Trade him. Sorry I know nobody wants to hear that but it's a borderline clear cut no brainer at this point to me with the information we have.
- Cptmjl

I think they will be the 7th or 8th seed and probably lose in the first round.

JT is holding all the cards. The only way they trade him is if he tells them he's not resigning. Bottom line if he doesn't resign the franchise suffers a major setback. It's all up to JT now.

100% agree on JTs answer on being contenders.

I do think he wants to see how the team starts next season before he makes a decision as well. He wants to win and if he can't do it here then he's not staying.
- nyisles7

Maybe, but no one is mistaking the current roster for a cup contender. If that's his reason he should tell them right now he's walking at the end of the year.

That's just a standard interview answer. What has me more concerned is the JT won't sign because of the arena narrative. That means if JT decides not to sign then Snow will escape blame once again.
- JimmyP

That's a fair point. No one is going to say, "We're a pretty mediocre team, so no, we have no chance at the Cup this year."

What really bothers me is this has the potential to be another shat season more importantly. We don't exactly have a great roster. Couple that with this arena bullshat and that's a lot of potential negativity for signing your franchise player. Trade him. Sorry I know nobody wants to hear that but it's a borderline clear cut no brainer at this point to me with the information we have.
- Cptmjl

Not sure I agree that it's a no brainer, but I do think Garth may need to start fielding offers if he's not signed soon. I don't think this is a Stamkos situation where he is likely to sign after the season. As others have pointed out, the Islanders are not Tampa in terms of being contenders. Also, Tampa (Florida) offers some tax advantages that a New York team cannot match.

Maybe, but no one is mistaking the current roster for a cup contender. If that's his reason he should tell them right now he's walking at the end of the year.
- JimmyP

I think he wants to see how the team does this year. Do Ebs and him still have that chemistry they had in the world Jrs? Are the young guys going to come in a make a difference? Also is Weight and his new staff and their structure going to improve the team defensively? There are a lot of questions and I think he wants to see how it goes and give it a chance because I think he truely likes it here and wants to stay.

That said I think if he at any point in the seaon feels he is not going to sign he will give the Team the curtesy and let Snow know. Snow isn't trading him until then imho.

He only includes the ones he loves. Or loathes. Or doesn't give 2 sh!ts about. Or argues with. Or....
- Isleshockeyman

Doesn't matter to me I'm included

What really bothers me is this has the potential to be another shat season more importantly. We don't exactly have a great roster. Couple that with this arena bullshat and that's a lot of potential negativity for signing your franchise player. Trade him. Sorry I know nobody wants to hear that but it's a borderline clear cut no brainer at this point to me with the information we have.
- Cptmjl

From the post on the same topic -

http://nypost.com/2017/08...tient-islanders-decision/

I think this is very telling

“I’m fortunate to have played as long as I have now, and really coming into a great time in my career, and that window is very small, so you want to take advantage of that.”

From the post on the same topic -

http://nypost.com/2017/08...tient-islanders-decision/

I think this is very telling
- David_Volek

Agreed. That can be twisted any which way of course BUT that's not the usual "I want to stay with the islanders" bs.

I think he wants to see how the team does this year. Do Ebs and him still have that chemistry they had in the world Jrs? Are the young guys going to come in a make a difference? Also is Weight and his new staff and their structure going to improve the team defensively? There are a lot of questions and I think he wants to see how it goes and give it a chance because I think he truely likes it here and wants to stay.

That said I think if he at any point in the seaon feels he is not going to sign he will give the Team the curtesy and let Snow know. Snow isn't trading him until then imho.
- nyisles7

Snow trades him even mid season we're getting a helluva lot less for him. That's a fact.

I think they will be the 7th or 8th seed and probably lose in the first round.

JT is holding all the cards. The only way they trade him is if he tells them he's not resigning. Bottom line if he doesn't resign the franchise suffers a major setback. It's all up to JT now.
- JimmyP

Not sure I see this team as even a clear cut playoff team? Way too many question marks. If those question marks all come through then yes but history will tell us that doesn't happen with this team.
That never works . Now I'll be the first to say I have no inside information on this to warrant this opinion but why do i have the feeling that Snow is handling this in an almost casual fashion like he has so many other situations like this in the past? He has to explore trading him and to not be proactive in doing so is ridiculously stupid. Sticking your head in the sand and making pretend this isn't happening is unacceptable. Tavares not being signed by the start of camp is a a huge red flag and dismissing it as him needing to think about things is putting blinders on.

Why would attending a PR event at their practice arena and former-arena have any bearing on the viability of a Belmont arena?
- eichiefs9

um, shows the support isles have here on LI versus in Brooklyn, if you remember if isles had the support they should, they would of still been in Nassau.

Lets talk after and when NYpost and Newsday shows that only few fans came out to support. Just like they use to love to publish our attendance at Nassau of sub 10K with no sell outs in a stadium with 16K seats at the time.

From the post on the same topic -

http://nypost.com/2017/08...tient-islanders-decision/

I think this is very telling
- David_Volek

“Yea, I am,” Tavares said. “I think if I’m signing just to stop the conversation, I don’t think it’s really the right way of going about things. All I can do is control what I can control, be the best player I can be, work as hard as I can and try to be the best captain I can be.”

Translation: I'm not signing on for 8 more years of this crap if nothing is going to improve. Obviously there are a bunch of teams interested in my services so I want to find the best fit for me. See which team may win the cup first.

Agreed. That can be twisted any which way of course BUT that's not the usual "I want to stay with the islanders" bs.
- Cptmjl

No it isn't. Ultimately, I think he wants to stay. He wants to be loyal to the organization. For whatever reason. But I think he's looking at whether Snow is going to improve the team to his liking. Giving him a chance at winning the cup here. Of course the arena is a big issue. Who's going to sign not having any idea where the team will play in a year and a half.

Not sure I see this team as even a clear cut playoff team? Way too many question marks. If those question marks all come through then yes but history will tell us that doesn't happen with this team.
That never works . Now I'll be the first to say I have no inside information on this to warrant this opinion but why do i have the feeling that Snow is handling this in an almost casual fashion like he has so many other situations like this in the past? He has to explore trading him and to not be proactive in doing so is ridiculously stupid. Sticking your head in the sand and making pretend this isn't happening is unacceptable. Tavares not being signed by the start of camp is a a huge red flag and dismissing it as him needing to think about things is putting blinders on.
- Cptmjl

It's how this team always makes/misses the playoffs. Hoping the last week of the season that they can pull off a couple wins and a couple teams lose so they can squeak in.
It's also how Snow manages. He thinks he's the smartest one in the room. I'd bet that he doesn't have a doubt in his mind that JT is signing. So why look at alternatives? Look at the Stamkos thing. He "knew" he was getting Stamkos to sign. Never bothered to offer Frans, or anyone else, an extension. And didn't have a plan B. It's how he operates. Which is why he's a moron.

um, shows the support isles have here on LI versus in Brooklyn, if you remember if isles had the support they should, they would of still been in Nassau.

Lets talk after and when NYpost and Newsday shows that only few fans came out to support. Just like they use to love to publish our attendance at Nassau of sub 10K with no sell outs in a stadium with 16K seats at the time.
- Spartiarti

The amount of people that show up for that event would have no bearing on whether or not a new arena is built. If Belmont is a viable option, and seems the most prudent, then they'll pursue it. If 20 people show up to it, they're not going to sit there and think "Hmm. Maybe Belmont isn't a good idea. Let's look elsewhere". They already know the team has support. It may not show by the attendance at BC (for reasons we won't get into), but with a new building, they'll show up.

Snow trades him even mid season we're getting a helluva lot less for him. That's a fact.
- Cptmjl

If we trade him we will never get equal value, now Mid season or at the deadline or draft. That's the bottom line. I think thats why they are willing to wait for his decision.

If we trade him we will never get equal value, now Mid season or at the deadline or draft. That's the bottom line. I think thats why they are willing to wait for his decision.
- nyisles7

Equal value to no return is a pretty long fall. You good with that..?