John Tavares in position to let Islanders’ anxiety keep growing

With each passing day, the anxiety level rises just a little bit. Come another month, especially after the NHL draft on June 22 in Dallas, if John Tavares remains unsigned with the Islanders, the fans will be in an all-out tizzy.

But it sure seems that is where the signs are pointing for the captain, who will turn 28 during this next training camp and has dutifully played out his first nine seasons with the organization that took him with the No. 1-overall selection in 2009. If he has gone this far without making decision — and the Islanders have continued to allow him the biggest breadth imaginable to consider about other options — then why not at least go through the free-agent courting process from June 25-30 and see just exactly what is available?

Tavares remained steadfast in his statement of loyalty to the Islanders — saying throughout another disappointing season, which resulted in a second straight playoff miss, that he hopes it works out with the Islanders. There is no questioning that sincerity, and there is no questioning how much he enjoys playing for the Islanders and living in New York — specifically, living on Long Island.

Set to be married in August, Tavares also has had a lot on his mind since the season ended April 7. After Tavares reiterated his refrain about the possible pending free agency, co-owner Jon Ledecky had a strange season-ending press conference when he said all aspects of hockey operations were going to be evaluated. General manager Garth Snow and second-year head coach Doug Weight then both proclaimed their confidence in their own job security.

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Snow also refused to answer any questions about Tavares with any thoughtful response beside his hot-air declaration that “we want to be in a situation where [Tavares] has the Stanley Cup over his head wearing an Islanders jersey, and we want him to retire an Islander.” Having made the playoffs four times in 12 years under Snow, and having won a single playoff series during that span, the championship scenario doesn’t seem like it is right around the corner.

With logical speculation that the legendary Lou Lamoriello is going to be brought in either as the new GM or as president in charge of all hockey operations — the latter likely ending Snow’s tumultuous run — the structure of the front office is a question Tavares has to consider. And why would he make a decision before that is set?

One major obstacle the Islanders already have hurdled is their future arena, as their tenure in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center has proven to be an unmitigated disaster. Ledecky and his team have initial approval for a privately financed arena plan for Belmont Park, and though some red tape still needs to be traversed, things are still on schedule for it to be open to start the 2021-22 season.

The plan for now is to play the next two seasons split between Barclays Center and the renovated Coliseum on Long Island — and how those dates are going to be split up is still a mystery to all those involved, including the NHL. The season of 2020-21 has no determined plan for home ice.

That means if Tavares stays, he is going to be playing out his prime while shuffling home rinks, and will be at the beginning of the end by the time they actually get to Belmont. So there is an answer to where the future is, but does the interim seem attractive enough?

The aspect that doesn’t seem to be in question is the actual contract. Per the collective bargaining agreement, the Islanders are the only team that can offer an eight-year deal. If he hit free agency, the most that could be offered would be seven. That is, unless the Islanders can somehow trade him before July 1 — a unlikely proposition because no team would trade for him unless they knew they could sign him, and if a team knows they can sign him on July 1, why trade away any assets?

The deal is likely going to be in the range of $10 million-$12 million per year — which also goes a lot further in a tax-free state like Florida where Tavares’ good buddy Steven Stamkos took what seemed like a discounted deal in the exact same situation last summer just hours before becoming a free agent.

By now, Tavares and his high-powered agent Pat Brisson have a good idea of who the main suitors will be, but there is no reason to make a hasty decision — which raises the anxiety level with each turn of the calendar.