Take this with a grain of salt but it’s uncanny over the last few days how many NHL team front office people have opined to me that they believe John Tavares is staying put with the Islanders.



I mean, four rival different team execs said that this week to me, even though all four of them insist they really don’t know but that’s their guess at the moment.



“To me, Lou doesn’t take that job unless he thinks Tavares is staying put or feels there’s a real good chance of it,” one Eastern Conference team executive told The Athletic on Thursday afternoon.



Maybe. But I have zero evidence to suggest Tavares has made up his mind one way or another even at this very late juncture, with the UFA speaking period just around the corner, opening June 24.



Yes, I do believe Lamoriello’s arrival at the helm of the Islanders and the steady hand that comes with that no doubt has improved the chances of Tavares staying put.