Jul 1, 2018
Report: Tavares informs Isles he won't re-sign
John Tavares will not be returning to the New York Islanders. According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, the star centre informed the team that selected him first overall in 2009 he will not be re-signing with the club.
TSN.ca Staff
John Tavares will not be returning to the New York Islanders.
According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, the star centre has informed the team that selected him first overall in 2009 he will not be re-signing with the club.
Tavares met with the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins this week and one of those teams is now expected to land the superstar.
The 27-year-old has spent his entire career to date with the Islanders, dating back to the team selecting him first overall at the 2009 NHL Draft.
During Tavares’ tenure, the Islanders have made the postseason three times in nine seasons.
He is coming off a season in which he posted 37 goals – one off his career high of 38 in 2014-15 – and 47 assists for 84 points in a full season of action. It marks the third time in the last four seasons where Tavares has posted at least 30 goals. He closed the season on a high note, scoring an overtime winner against the Detroit Red Wings to give the New York Islanders a 4-3 victory. After the game, Tavares said “I don’t know” when asked if it would be his final game with the Islanders.
He is coming off a six-year, $33 million deal he signed prior to the 2012-13 season that carried a cap hit of $5.5 million per season.