With each passing day, the anxiety level rises just a little bit. Come another month, especially after the NHL draft on June 22 in Dallas, if John Tavares remains unsigned with the Islanders, the fans will be in an all-out tizzy.
But it sure seems that is where the signs are pointing for the captain, who will turn 28 during this next training camp and has dutifully played out his first nine seasons with the organization that took him with the No. 1-overall selection in 2009. If he has gone this far without making decision — and the Islanders have continued to allow him the biggest breadth imaginable to consider about other options — then why not at least go through the free-agent courting process from June 25-30 and see just exactly what is available?