CAA Sports agent Pat Brisson had nothing new to report about a contract extension for John Tavares when joined NHL Network Radio on Wednesday morning.
Brisson, who represents Tavares and a slew of other high profile hockey players, was on NHL Game Day with Steve Kouleas discussing a numbef of different topics when Tavares’ contract came up. The Islanders captain is entering the final year of a team friendly six-year deal that he signed in 2011.
The Islanders are hoping to sign Tavares to an extension before the start of next season and Brisson indicated they will begin discussions within the next month.
READ: Tavares Wants to Remain With Islanders
“It seems like the organization is improving tremendously,” Brisson said during his appearance. “We are going to be talking to Garth Snow probably in June or perhaps the beginning of July. Continue this process and see where things will lead us. I have no timeline at this time to come in with whether John will be signed to an extension or not by July 1. We haven’t had enough discussions… We’ll cross that bridge if and when we do.”
July 1 is the earliest Tavares can sign an extension with the Islanders. However, Tavares has said in the past that he doesn’t want to rush the process.
“I don’t think my situation has to be rushed or be taken care of tomorrow,” Tavares said in April. “It’s going to be a process and that’s kind of the way I hope it goes. I think it’s good to just take our time and decompress a little bit and move on from there.”
The Islanders are likely to offer the team’s biggest star an eight-year contract extension worth $10 per year, according to Newsday’s Arthur Staple.
It was reported on Monday that Tavares had undergone surgery on his right last month to repair a lingering injury. Tavares is expected be healthy in time for the start of the 2017-18 season and the surgery will likely hold no bearing on contract talks.
Tavares, who has played all eight years of his NHL career with the Islanders, has maintained that he wants to remain with team in New York.
“I think for me at the end of the day I want to win a Stanley Cup,” Tavares said. “I think everyone here is absolutely committed to doing that, so hopefully we can work something out and I’m here.”
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