The New York Islanders have been on the brink of winning the Stanley Cup for two consecutive years. Their shortcomings could be blamed on a few issues: bad puck luck, poor power-play execution or not enough production from big-time players. Nonetheless, the Islanders are still a championship contending team. However, saying all of this, I believe the team is missing something that would put them over the top. That something is the scoring that former captain John Tavares provided to the Islanders.

Tavares was the Islanders’ first overall pick back in 2009. He made an immediate impact on the club, scoring in his first career game. Later in his career, he carried them to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in over 20 years. 

I believe that if Tavares had stayed, the Islanders would have made the Stanley Cup one of these past two years. He provides scoring ability that is unmatched on the current roster. When Tavares was on the Islanders, he was arguably a top-10 player in the entire NHL. Coming with that honor, however, was a huge price tag. He earned an $11 million per year contract from the Toronto Maple Leafs on a seven-year deal. According to various reports, the Islanders offered Tavares more money than that over a span of eight years. 

This contract would’ve taken up a lot of space that is now fulfilling other needs. I am going to examine a few possibilities if the Islanders were to keep Tavares on that term.

• First, it is extremely possible the Islanders would not have been able to re-sign Anders Lee. That would be a huge loss for the Islanders because he is a fan favorite, an amazing leader and a productive goal scorer. Lee signed a $7 million per year contract the summer following Tavares’ departure, so it is unknown if Lou Lamoriello would have found the space to keep both Lee and Tavares.
• Next, the Islanders would most likely not have traded for Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Pageau has been a force to wrecken with ever since putting on an Islanders uniform. He has turned into a fan favorite and has become very important to the franchise. If Tavares was still on the Islanders, there would be no open center spots – thus no room for Pageau on the roster. 
• Lastly, the Islanders would not have been able to re-sign all the restricted free agents they have. This list contains Mathew Barzal, Brock Nelson, Anthony Beauvillier, Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech. These are some of the best players on the Islanders and very respectable individuals around the league. All of them inked bridge-deals from Lamoriello, and some of them have signed long-term extensions for big bucks. If Tavares’ $11+ million was on the books, one or two of these guys would be wearing a different sweater. 

It is an unarguable statement that John Tavares is an elite hockey player. He always made everyone around him better and clutched up in big moments. Therefore, if he was on the Islanders’ roster today, I believe they would’ve made a Stanley Cup Final. 

John Smark