Should Tavares re-sign with the Islanders?
New York Islanders captain John Tavares said Saturday he's willing to discuss an extension with the club as soon as he's allowed to: July 1.
Now, this is hardly news.
Tavares, scheduled for unrestricted free agency following the 2017-18 season, has said repeatedly he intends on staying in Long Island - er, Brooklyn - for the long haul, and a player discussing his contract situation, is, well, what players with expiring contracts do.
If Tavares makes it to the Summer of 2018 without signing an extension, he'll easily be the biggest free agent of the season. So, that begs the question: should he stay or should he go?
The pros and cons are weighed below:
It's his team
From the moment he was drafted first overall in 2009, Tavares has been the face of the franchise.
He's led the club in scoring all but one season of his career, when a knee injury suffered at the Olympics in 2014 limited him to 59 games.
Tavares has put the club on his back time after time, reaching the playoffs on three separate occasions, in which he's scored 22 points in 24 games. His defining moment coming a year ago on his double-overtime winner to eliminate the Panthers and give New York its first series win in 23 years.
The 26-year-old has displayed unrelenting loyalty time and time again to the only NHL club he's ever known, even after an arduous move to Brooklyn, a new ownership team, and numerous questionable management decisions.
Tavares' commitment to his organization is beyond admirable, and he's done nothing to show he wants to leave, but should he?
Is the feeling mutual?
Despite Tavares' will to bring glory back to a once storied franchise, from the outside looking in, it doesn't seem like the Islanders have done much to insist their captain stays put.
General manager Garth Snow has frequently let offensive talent walk away from the club, including Tavares' former linemates Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, and Matt Moulson.
Beyond personnel decisions, the Barclay's Center - which the Islanders hope to leave the same year the captain's contract expires - averages the third-fewest fans in the league, and has been scrutinized for faulty ice conditions.
Show me the money
There's no question Tavares is due a raise from his current bargain of $5.5 million annually. Since 2012-13 only seven skaters have more points than Tavares' 309.
A la Steven Stamkos last offseason, Tavares will assuredly be linked to his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, but it will be far from a two team race if it comes to that. Talents like Tavares don't hit the market very often.
Snow has work to do to fit Tavares into the Islanders' books, and when the time comes, moves such as awarding role players Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizakas a combined $6.85M through 2021 might handcuff the 10-year GM in rewarding his best player, who's new salary will be well north of $8 million.
Good luck, Johnny
It's an alienating debate that claims athlete after athlete, year after year across all sports: loyalty to the organization or money and a fresh start? Even if Tavares and the Islanders begin negotiations right away, speculation of what the future holds will grow with each passing day.
This season's stretch run, and the future of the head coaching position are currently at the forefront of the Islanders' focus, but come July 1, all eyes will shift to No. 91.