New York Islanders Fans Positive News in John Tavares Free Agency

After years of disappointment and failure, it’s hard for New York Islanders fans to feel positive. But Lou Lamoriello is having daily chats with free agent John Tavares. There’s reason to have hope.

We’re conditioned to be pessimistic. Decade after decade of disappointment and failure have made us this way. As New York Islanders fans, we rarely have something to be happy about. But over the last few weeks, that frown is starting to turn upside down.

(That was lame, I know. Just know that I entertain a two and three-year-old most of the time. My material is very much catered to my audience.)

It’s not all coming up Isles, we did finish 17 points out of a playoff spot, and our star player is a month away from free agency. But recently there’s been a stretch of positivity that we as fans just aren’t used to.

First Lou, And Then…Positivity

First, the owners hired Lou Lamoriello to become the teams President of Hockey Operations and lead the franchise. Sure, Lou hasn’t won a cup since 2003, but his resume immediately brings an air of respectability and stability to this previously disrespected and unstable franchise.

Then we find out that Lou did what Lou does on day less than one with the Islanders. Lou spoke to team captain and free agent John Tavares, on behalf of the Islanders, before even being officially appointed to his Presidential role.

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And now it seems that Lou is having near daily discussion since taking over with John Tavares’ agent Pat Brisson, according to TSN’s Frank Seravalli.

Poll 100 hockey fans in April and you’ll undoubtedly find that the Islanders went from a longshot to resign Tavares, to a relative favorite to resign their captain. If the NHL had a healthy offseason prop-bet market their odds of resigning Tavares over the field would have gone from a +200 in April to EVEN today.

In April we weren’t even sure if Tavares and Garth had spoken. The channels were open, but it seemed like the owners were doing the talking with Tavares’ camp not the GM.

We aren’t used to things turning in the Islanders favor. Remember July 1st, 2016? The Islanders were heading towards the free agency window with Kyle Okposo and Matt Martin headed out the door, and Frans Nielsen teetering on the edge. And Frans ultimately decided to play with the Red Wings over staying with the Islanders.

Things weren’t going the Islanders way just two years ago. How quickly things change when you appoint a legendary figure at the top of the organization to oversee everything – I say in a sarcastic tone to show how obvious of a statement that sounds like.

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Next: 10 Step Plan To Fix The Islanders

There’s still no guarantee that Tavares actually signs with the New York Islanders before July 1st 2018. But things are trending in a positive direction. And when’s the last time that could be said for the New York Islanders?