NHL Rumors: NY Islanders, Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs
The New York Islanders and John Tavares are talking about a possible contract extension. On Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
On the New York Islanders and John Tavares, Washington Capitals and John Carlson, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews

TSN Insider Trading: Darren Dreger on if pending free agent John Tavares will take full advantage of the free agent interview period.

“Well there is a chance. No question about that. But the reality is, currently John Tavares and his agent, Pat Brisson of CAA Hockey, are focused on negotiations with the New York Islanders.

Now, Lou Lamoriello has been in daily communication with Brisson and in fact he’s talked on many occasions with Tavares, offering up his vision as to how they see they build the New York Islanders into a contending team.”

If the negotiations aren’t going well over the weekend or early next week, Tavares talking to teams during the interview window becomes likely.

Pierre LeBurn on how Oliver Ekman-Larsson‘s extension relates to John Carlson contract talks.

“Now, does it mean that he gets a $8.25 million AAV deal with the Washington Capitals? I think that’s probably a little too rich for a team in Washington that has salary-cap issues. But, does eight times eight make sense?”

Capitals GM Brian MacLellan is expected to meet with Carlson’s camp at the draft. Getting Carlson at a hometown discount may not a likely scenario.

Darren Dreger said the Toronto Maple Leafs could be hoping to get Mitch Marner signed to a bit of hometown discount, but that seems unlikely.

“Now, we know who the big fish in the Toronto pond is and that’s Auston Matthews and it’s been speculated that maybe Matthews comes in at $11.5 million or around that target. Well look, Marner has the productivity, the statistics, to back him up to upwards of Jack Eichelat $10 million flat. I get the sense that although there’s a willingness to negotiate with Auston Matthews, there’s a battle ahead for the Marner camp with the Maple Leafs.”

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