Tavares focused on getting Islanders into playoffs, not contract

John Tavares is putting his focus on trying to get the New York Islanders into the Stanley Cup Playoffs and not on where he will play next season.
The center, who can become an unrestricted free agent following the season, and linemate Josh Bailey, will represent the Islanders in the
2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game
in Tampa on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVA Sports).
With 57 points (26 goals, 31 assists) in 50 games, Tavares is on pace for a 93-point season, which would be his best since entering the NHL in 2009 and make him even more enticing if he doesn't re-sign with New York before July 1.

"I just play the game the same way I always have," he said Saturday during All-Star Media Day. "I don't think because it's my contract year my approach or my thought process that the way I love to play the game and the way I play should change because of that. I just go out there on a nightly basis and worry about playing and try and have success and contribute the best I can. None of the other stuff comes into my mind when it comes to playing.
"I try not to approach anything differently because of it being in last year of my contract. I haven't really gone out of my way to talk to guys and find out how they've handled it. I try to be myself and be the best I can, be the best teammate and player I can be for the Islanders."

Tavares said last month after the Islanders' bid to build an arena at Belmont Park was accepted by New York state that he's open to re-signing before the end of the season. He said Saturday he's had good talks on a contract but isn't in a hurry.
"I've always stated that I've really enjoyed being there," the 27-year-old said. "I haven't thought about anything but mostly focusing on this season and taking my time and being patient. When the time is right, I'll make my decision. Anything that we've talked about, I prefer to keep it internally between me and the organization. Talks are always open and they've been great so far. I'm not going to get into specific details.
"The way I look at is anything that affects my daily life, whether it's at the rink or not at the rink, will go into my decision. Obviously you want to play for a team that's doing everything it can to win, and the Islanders are certainly doing that. You can see a lot of the potential and the young talent we have, as well as guys who've been there for a while, like Josh, Anders [Lee], [defensemen] Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk, the veteran guys we have. We've got a solid foundation there."

That wasn't the case when the Islanders selected Tavares No. 1 in the 2009 NHL Draft. He didn't play his first Stanley Cup Playoff game until 2013, and the Islanders haven't gotten further than the second round since 1993. They ended a 23-year playoff series drought in 2016 when Tavares scored in double overtime of Game 6 to lift New York past the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference First Round.
The Islanders came up one point short of a playoff berth last season and will resume play against the Panthers on Tuesday. New York (25-20-5) is one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
But Tavares said he's excited by the Islanders' core of young talent.
"Knowing the last couple of years, and especially seeing them at training camp and seeing how talented they were, guys like [Mathew] Barzal and [Anthony] Beauvillier, and [Joshua] Ho-Sang and [Ryan] Pulock, the young talent we have coming through," Tavares said, "[Defenseman Sebastian] Aho has come up and played a significant role with some of the injuries we have. There's a lot of depth and a lot of potential within the talent in the organization. I think we've seen that over the last number of years with all the drafting we've done, and I think it's been a big focus in the organization."