Islanders' GM: 'I’m not trading John Tavares'

With his franchise player set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow doesn't appear to be entertaining the thought of making a preemptive move.

"I'm not trading John Tavares," Snow said Thursday to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

The Islanders are in a precarious position, sitting a single point out of a playoff spot but with three teams to leap in order to secure one.

Related: 5 potential trade targets who could salvage Islanders' playoff hopes

Their chances would be greatly diminished if Snow concluded they can't risk allowing Tavares to leave as a free agent without gaining assets in return, but he's prepared to wait it out in the hopes that the captain will re-sign prior to July 1, or even after weighing his options on the open market.

The Islanders are set to build a new arena in Belmont and will split games between Barclays Center and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in the meantime, with Tavares remaining in their plans as the main attraction.

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