1. New York Islanders
In two words: Unfinished business.
There are numerous statements out there through the seasons where John Tavares has iterated his desire to remain on Long Island. Tavares always said he wants to remain on Long Island, but it didn’t at all seem feasible as the 2017-18 season wore on.
In fact, the sentiment around the fanbase was that Tavares was practically gone on the day Jon Ledecky gave his ominous press conference stating a full-scale review was underway. Imagine being Tavares and thinking about re-upping for eight years the way things were back in April.
Lou Lamoriello has completely changed the face of the organization and brought accountability and a winning pedigree back to Long Island. The hiring of Barry Trotz iced the deal, and the inevitable roster overhaul that will take place later this July should all help sell the captain on a reunion.
Until now, it feels that all the Islanders were giving Tavares were fantastic and logical excuses to leave. They have responded to a losing season by hiring Lou Lamoriello, who determined in less than two weeks that a ‘culture change‘ was necessary and hired the head coach of the team that just won the Stanley Cup.
The roster is indeed in need of a goaltender and maybe a defenseman or two, but Lamoriello has stated this is a win-now team in the past and intends to keep it that way.
The Islanders have to be in the playoffs next season, just as he did with the head coach, Lamoriello will provide the Islanders with the best possible solution to the Islanders goaltending troubles at the very least.
Besides, how can you turn down free bagels for life?
