Tavares open to discussing extension with Islanders

John Tavares might simply be repeating cliches, but he hasn't ruled out the idea of staying with the New York Islanders for the long haul.

The captain told reporters gathered at the All-Star festivities in L.A. on Saturday that he's open to discussing a contract extension with the Islanders this summer, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Tavares is under contract for one more season at a cap hit of $5.5 million. He'd become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2018 if no extension is consummated beforehand and would surely command a hefty price tag on the open market, but he says he's encouraged about the Islanders' future.

"I’m excited about where the Islanders are headed and hopefully we can work something out," he added Saturday, according to Newsday's Mark Herrmann, who made it clear that this isn't the first time the star forward has implied he'll consider re-upping with the Islanders.

Islanders general manager Garth Snow said last July that he plans to reach out to Tavares' camp to discuss an extension this summer, and the club's co-owner, John Ledecky, insisted shortly thereafter that Tavares would not be a free agent in 2018.

New York languished in or near the basement of the Eastern Conference for much of this season's first half before firing head coach Jack Capuano earlier this month, but the Islanders have gone 4-0-1 since Doug Weight took over as interim bench boss.

That turnaround has them five points out of a playoff spot with three games in hand on the Philadelphia Flyers, who occupy the second wild-card spot in the parity-riddled East.

Tavares has eight goals and 13 points in his last eight games, leading the Islanders with 19 and 40 in those categories this season, respectively.