John Tavares is set to become a free agent after the 2017-18 NHL season, and the New York Rangers are set to have plenty of cap flexibility. Rick Nash’s contract will be off the books, freeing up $7.8M alone.
Considering the Rangers recently shipped their top center, Derek Stepan, to the Arizona Coyotes, New York also has a vacancy in the position Tavares plays.
The timing and context may seem too good to be true, and that’s because it is. John Tavares will not be joining the New York Rangers.
Tavares is likely to stick with the Islanders
While the New York Islanders do not currently boast a roster that should entice a free agent to join (or stay with) their team, nor do they even know where they are playing next season, odds are Tavares will stay with the Islanders.