Tavares happy to be an Islander
New York Islanders center John Tavares fields questions from media during a news conference at Nassau Coliseum announcing a six-year contract extension he signed that will go into effect after the 2011-12 season and last through 2017-18. (Sept. 15, 2011) Credit: James Escher
Perhaps there was a statement to be made Thursday to those around the NHL who wonder why anyone would want to play for the Islanders a minute longer than he had to.
John Tavares wasn't too interested in making that statement. His only goal in signing a six-year, $33-million extension with the team that drafted him first overall in 2009 is to continue to build on his first two seasons toward the playoffs and possibly a Stanley Cup.
"A Stanley Cup is what we want, it's what drives us as players," he said during a news conference with general manager Garth Snow to announce the deal. "It's time for us as a team to take that next step."
Snow has had a good summer, despite the setback of the arena referendum vote six weeks ago. He has seven key players under 28 years old locked up for next season, many beyond that, and seems to be building a team that free agents would want to join, regardless of the arena situation.
"That's not for me to comment on," Snow said. "But whether it's a player or a staff member, the people that come here end up falling in love with it here."
And Tavares, who will turn 21 next week, isn't worried about where the team will be beyond 2015.
"Getting to know Charles [Wang], I know he's wanted to keep the team here, and I believe we'll be here," Tavares said. "That's not something for me to speculate on. I never really worried about whether the team would be here. They've made a big commitment to me and [the arena] is something that's not in my control."
What he feels he can control is becoming more of a force in his third season, without any more questions from around the hockey world about whether he'll be bolting after this year.
"I believe in this organization, and this hockey club," Tavares said. "This is where I want to live, to play and, ultimately, to lead the team to the Stanley Cup."
Notes & quotes: Alexei Yashin, who has been skating with Islanders players at their training facility in Syosset, said he will not accept an invite to the Islanders' training camp, which begins today . . . Josh Bailey's contract negotiations were going down to the wire Thursday night, with his agent, Pat Morris, reportedly meeting with Snow on Long Island. Bailey needs to have a contract by 7 a.m. Friday or he won't play for the Islanders this season . . . The Isles were awaiting a response from free-agent D Paul Mara, a former Ranger, and D Steve Staios on training-camp tryout invitations.
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