Thinking that JT is going to be around $12-$13m per.
- Isleshockeyman

Won't be with the Leafs. Maybe Montreal?

Who knows where JT signs, but next on JT's negotiation schedule:

A. No deal will be completed before the start of the season
B. JT says that he "doesn't want to negotiate during the regular for the sake of being a distraction to the team and himself

Clock ticks...
2017-2018 season ends...
NYI and fans sweat...
JT's leverage increases...
JT's price tag increases...
NYI either ponies up or he becomes UFA and is basically handed a blank cheque...

Negotiation tactics 101.

i truly believe any team can win the cup if you make it into the playoffs. if a team is on a roll going into the playoffs and have a hot goalie thats all they need. and every goalie playing in the nhl can go on a roll at anytime. halak was hot enough ending the season last year to carry the team deep into the playoffs. i think JT stays. people are questioning the D. losing hammer might be a plus. great guy good player but i think other young players will step up and surprise many.
the addition of eberle and a full season of ho-sang will help an already good offensive team. ( work on the PP coach) IF the PP could get to 15th in the league it would give them more wins and enough pts to make it into the playoffs. just my take on it all

Won't be with the Leafs. Maybe Montreal?
- BestRapperAlive

I think Montreal makes more sense than Toronto, but he may just end up being a Rangers anyway. They need a centre and they always get their man.

i truly believe any team can win the cup if you make it into the playoffs. if a team is on a roll going into the playoffs and have a hot goalie thats all they need. and every goalie playing in the nhl can go on a roll at anytime. halak was hot enough ending the season last year to carry the team deep into the playoffs. i think JT stays. people are questioning the D. losing hammer might be a plus. great guy good player but i think other young players will step up and surprise many.
the addition of eberle and a full season of ho-sang will help an already good offensive team. ( work on the PP coach) IF the PP could get to 15th in the league it would give them more wins and enough pts to make it into the playoffs. just my take on it all
- nyislsbossy

if snow didn't dump halak in the minors, you guys probably finish ahead of us.

i'm counting on snow to (frank) it up for you guys again this year.

Why? Everyone knows that you weren't able to get him re-signed when he was with the Isles. Why would anyone think he would sign as a UFA. I get what you're saying, but Snow isn't that smart. Although he thinks he's smarter than everybody else.
- Isleshockeyman

I think a GM may be willing to give you a decent return if they think they can get him signed.

It's incredibly rare that a guy like this becomes available.

Could he get an opt out clause in a new contract. If the team leaves New York , he can leave team. I know they have them in baseball not sure about NHL. If they have them, I would think his agent has brought it up. If that is so then it's not about the arena.

Yep.

Guess it depends on who has $12 million they can throw at a guy like that. I figure if they can make the playoffs this season, they'll have an outside chance of signing him but it'll take a lot of convincing.

Does he like golf? Could go live at Pine Hollow or Wakefield or something...
- BINGO!

I think Carolina could be a prime destination. Young roster full of up and comers. Not an awful place to live. Fans enjoy the game. They already have good wingers for JT. Have a great D squad. Goaltending is still suspect but you can win with avg goaltending.

As if we all haven't endured an incredible amount of pain and suffering as die hard Islander fans, now we have to suffer the day in day out constant speculation regarding our franchise players contract negotiations. If he is going to leave, then leave now so we can get something back to continue on a new path. If he does leave, yes we will hate him, yes we will boo him every chance we get, but in time, we will move on as die hard fans like we have always done. We survived through Millbury, Spano,Millstein, Wang, etc... We survived the most egregious trades in the history of the NHL. We have survived asbestos in the NCVMC. We survived after 1994 when the putrid Rangers won it all. If he does sign elsewhere, it will be the biggest dagger in the heart, it would be like turning the screws over and over and over, it would be the biggest embarrassment and absolutely unequivocally the lowest point in our teams history without question. You all know as well as I do, we will be back because there is no alternative due to our love of the sport. So I will say it again, Mr. Tavares, make up your mind, you owe it to the fans. Islander fans are unique, we have been kicked around and been laughed at for longer than I care to remember. Then you came along and changed that for all of us. So If you are going to send this franchise back to the stone age, please do so gracefully.

I think Carolina could be a prime destination. Young roster full of up and comers. Not an awful place to live. Fans enjoy the game. They already have good wingers for JT. Have a great D squad. Goaltending is still suspect but you can win with avg goaltending.
- poisondhearts37

All Darling has to be is average. Even if he regresses to being an average goaltender that's still WAY better than what we've had for the last 5 years.

All Darling has to be is average. Even if he regresses to being an average goaltender that's still WAY better than what we've had for the last 5 years.
- BINGO!

I agree. I also think that Carolina makes more sense than Mont and NYR. Rangers simply are not a good team. Mont really just has Price going for them. Carolina has a more promising future. Doesn't mean it'll pan out. But that's where I'd take a risk.

A signed Tavares for Victor Rask, Roland McKeown, Martin Necas, 1st round pick.

I agree. I also think that Carolina makes more sense than Mont and NYR. Rangers simply are not a good team. Mont really just has Price going for them. Carolina has a more promising future. Doesn't mean it'll pan out. But that's where I'd take a risk.
- poisondhearts37

It's why they're rumoured to be in on Duchene, but the ask for Duchene is complete insanity.

A signed Tavares for Victor Rask, Roland McKeown, Martin Necas, 1st round pick.
- BINGO!

Or Faulk, Necas and a 1st.

Or Faulk, Necas and a 1st.
- BINGO!

...Or JT arrives home to a hero's welcome and signs a very reasonable deal as a UFA.

Given the future of the Leafs, at some point a couple hometown boys are going to want to return to be a part of it. For the first time in DECADES Toronto is becoming a desirable location and the timing on JT is near perfect for him to become a Leaf.

Whether you hate the Leafs or want to believe it what I'm saying is true.

...Or JT arrives home to a hero's welcome and signs a very reasonable deal as a UFA.

Given the future of the Leafs, at some point a couple hometown boys are going to want to return to be a part of it. For the first time in DECADES Toronto is becoming a desirable location and the timing on JT is near perfect for him to become a Leaf.

Whether you hate the Leafs or want to believe it what I'm saying is true.
- As_I_See_It

Sure, I do think that may be ideal for JT, I dunno that the Leafs will want to commit that kind of money to him with Nylander, Marner and Matthews all coming up for extensions in the next two years.

What? You don't think locking up Cizikas, Clutterbuck and Ladd long term is the way to go?

For (frank)'s sake they only have 10 Current NHLers under contract for next season, and it's costing them just shy of $40 million.

Eberle
Ladd
Lee
Clutterbuck
Cizikas
Beauvillier
Boychuk
Leddy
Pelech
Greiss

That group is costing you over half of your cap space next season, even if the cap goes up to $78 million.

Even if I'm generous, that's about 140-145 goals from those guys.
- BINGO!

That is a very sub-par core group of players. The furthest thing from a contender

Sure, I do think that may be ideal for JT, I dunno that the Leafs will want to commit that kind of money to him with Nylander, Marner and Matthews all coming up for extensions in the next two years.
- BINGO!

I hear ya, just dreaming about it like every other fan.

I think Montreal makes more sense than Toronto, but he may just end up being a Rangers anyway. They need a centre and they always get their man.
- deadpoulet

Getting Kerfoot, (frank) JT.

It's why they're rumoured to be in on Duchene, but the ask for Duchene is complete insanity.
- BINGO!

Atleast you know trading for Dechene is more possible than signing JT as a FA or trading for him. Canes would be really good trade partners for the Avs. Id imagine the Avs would want your younger D instead of Faulk. Fluery or a Bean plus.

Getting Kerfoot, (frank) JT.
- mdw7413

You know the Rangers will be all over JT if he hits the market.

You know the Rangers will be all over JT if he hits the market.
- deadpoulet

I know, and I would love to have him, but I doubt the Rangers would have the money for him.

I highly doubt JT even sees the UFA market. He either re-signs with the Isles or gets traded for a haul to a team that will sign him. Worst thing would be to lose him for zip and I really don't think Snow is that dumb.

i truly believe any team can win the cup if you make it into the playoffs. if a team is on a roll going into the playoffs and have a hot goalie thats all they need. and every goalie playing in the nhl can go on a roll at anytime. halak was hot enough ending the season last year to carry the team deep into the playoffs. i think JT stays. people are questioning the D. losing hammer might be a plus. great guy good player but i think other young players will step up and surprise many.
the addition of eberle and a full season of ho-sang will help an already good offensive team. ( work on the PP coach) IF the PP could get to 15th in the league it would give them more wins and enough pts to make it into the playoffs. just my take on it all
- nyislsbossy

if snow didn't dump halak in the minors, you guys probably finish ahead of us.

i'm counting on snow to (frank) it up for you guys again this year.
- Tumbleweed

That is a good bet. Most of his good moves are either by accident or he's forced to make a smart move due to injuries.

As if we all haven't endured an incredible amount of pain and suffering as die hard Islander fans, now we have to suffer the day in day out constant speculation regarding our franchise players contract negotiations. If he is going to leave, then leave now so we can get something back to continue on a new path. If he does leave, yes we will hate him, yes we will boo him every chance we get, but in time, we will move on as die hard fans like we have always done. We survived through Millbury, Spano,Millstein, Wang, etc... We survived the most egregious trades in the history of the NHL. We have survived asbestos in the NCVMC. We survived after 1994 when the putrid Rangers won it all. If he does sign elsewhere, it will be the biggest dagger in the heart, it would be like turning the screws over and over and over, it would be the biggest embarrassment and absolutely unequivocally the lowest point in our teams history without question. You all know as well as I do, we will be back because there is no alternative due to our love of the sport. So I will say it again, Mr. Tavares, make up your mind, you owe it to the fans. Islander fans are unique, we have been kicked around and been laughed at for longer than I care to remember. Then you came along and changed that for all of us. So If you are going to send this franchise back to the stone age, please do so gracefully.
- manz3882

I'm sure all the TB fans feel super sorry for you guys RE all the "where will he sign" chatter...