Are the red-hot Islanders providing Tavares more incentive to stay?
Regardless of the final result, the New York Islanders' 2017-18 season is only going to be defined by John Tavares' next move.
The perennial Hart-worthy superstar and organizational linchpin will be an unrestricted free agent in July if he and the Isles, who selected Tavares first overall in 2009, can't reach an extension before the end of the season.
Tavares has affirmed his interest in staying with the club numerous times, but any potential information on offers and negotiations from the team's standpoint has largely been kept under wraps, which is a reasonable approach considering the magnitude of the situation.
The journey down the winding road to the end of his current contract has seen Tavares endure changing arenas, new owners, a coaching change, and only one playoff series win - a double-OT triumph in Game 6 of the 2016 first round, the clincher courtesy of No. 91.
That said, the situation between Tavares and the Islanders might be as good as it's ever been, right now. But is it enough to keep him around?
Individually, Tavares has been outstanding this season, netting 26 points through 23 games. But somewhat quietly, the Islanders have been playing quite well as a whole. Since Doug Weight took over as head coach in January, he's led his club to 38-19-6 record - the third-most wins in the NHL over that span, behind only the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals.
Weight managed to salvage what seemed like a lost season in 2016-17 and fell one point shy of the final playoff spot in the East. Right now, the Islanders sit third in the new-look Metropolitan Division, just two points out of first with one game in hand on both the Devils and Blue Jackets.
The Islanders' success through this point in the season is mainly credited to the NHL's third-most potent attack - but at last, Tavares isn't the only contributor. Josh Bailey, his right winger, actually leads the club in scoring thanks to 23 helpers. Elsewhere, Nick Leddy is tied for second among defesemen in points with 20, and rookie dynamo Mathew Barzal is blazing his way to the Calder Trophy, averaging a point per game.
The Islanders seemingly have enough complimentary weapons throughout the lineup to compete this season, and if a chance at the Stanley Cup is Tavares' main focus before signing what would likely be the final long-term contract of his career, general manager Garth Snow might want to prove winning is a possibility in Brooklyn.
The team's weakness is between the pipes, as Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss each have .903 save percentages through 12 games played. Elite netminders don't exactly grow on trees, and acquiring talent in goal via trade is next to impossible.
Defensively, the Islanders average 32.3 shots against per game, which ranks ninth in the NHL, and they sit 12th at 2.28 expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five (Corsica). Still, adding a significant piece to the blue line to solidify the roster and potentially help mask any problems created by Halak or Greiss might be the best avenue for New York to achieve anything going forward.
Asset wise, the Islanders obtained three high-end picks in the Travis Hamonic deal, and have a few promising prospects who haven't quite scratched the NHL surface yet and could become expendable. It might be a steep cost, but if it helps keep Tavares in town, it's definitely worth exploring.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)