On John Tavares …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman on if he thinks the New York Islanders are going to trade John Tavares.
“I don’t think they will,” indicated Elliotte Friedman during a Friday morning radio hit on Toronto’s Sportsnet 590. “I think that they will hold onto him until he gives them an indication he’s not going to sign. And if that doesn’t come before trade deadline, they’re going to hold him. I really believe that. I think that is their decision and that’s what they’re going to live with. I think the only thing that might save them from the worst-case scenario is because you can give a player an extra year – if they have to trade him later, they’ll try to trade him to someone and see if that will help get them the extra year.”
“But I know this is what everybody thinks. I’ve heard a lot of people say it. But I just don’t believe they’re going to trade him before the deadline, unless John Tavares tells them before February 26 that, ‘I’m not coming back.’
“And I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think he’s going to wait.”
On the High Asking Prices …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 said that it’s a buyers market right now. Among the many scorers that are available are Mike Hoffman, Max Pacioretty, Evander Kane, Tomas Tatar and Gustav Nyquist.
“Because of what Colorado got for Duchene, there’s a real feeling of ‘We’ve got to do really well to justify this,’ and I think the buyers are looking at them and saying, ‘Some of you guys are nuts.’”
One GM said the buyers are going to wait until the high asking prices come down.
“I think there’s a lot of talking. There’s quite a few guys out there, especially scorers, and I think the buyers are saying, ‘The prices are insane and we’re going to try to wait as long as we can.’ “
