NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 26: John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders takes the second period shot against the Calgary Flames at the Barclays Center on October 26, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

John Tavares of the New York Islanders was a Hart Trophy finalist last season. It’s not a stretch to say that as he goes, so go the New York Islanders.

So when coach Jack Capuano says that Tavares “isn’t doing well” in battling whatever ails him, and that it’ll be “a little bit” of time before he’s back on the ice … well, that’s not good.

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From Brett Cyrgalis of the NY Post:

“He’s not doing well, not feeling well,” coach Jack Capuano said after practice. “Obviously, there is concern, right? He’s going to get checked out again today, maybe get some more tests. You know as much as I know. I just know the report that I got from our doctors and trainers this morning that he’s still not feeling well at all. So I don’t expect him with us here for a little bit.”

It seems the team is still unsure exactly what is ailing Tavares. He practiced fully Friday, and didn’t seem overly sick. But Capuano said he had seen a difference in his No. 1 center over the previous few days, and when Tavares showed up in Newark for Saturday afternoon’s game against the Devils, he was checked out by the doctors and sent home.

Tavares has 11 points in 10 games this season. Frans Nielsen moved up with his linemates Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo in a loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. In practice on Monday, he had blown up that line, with Okposo and Nielsen skating with Anders Lee.

Well that’s odd. It’s not like the NHL ever faces an epidemic of star players being felled by mysterious illnesses this early in the …

… oh please tell us we’re not about to light’em mumps mumps mumps again…

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