NHL.com @NHL
New York Islanders center John Tavares had surgery on his right hand last month but is expected to be ready for next season, according to Newsday.
Tavares, who is the Islanders captain, had surgery a week after the regular season ended to repair an issue that had been lingering during the season. His hand is still in a cast, but that is expected to be removed next week.
Tavares, 26, led the Islanders with 66 points (28 goals, 38 assists) in 77 games. He missed the final five games of the regular season because of a lower-body injury. The Islanders won all five games but failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs; they finished one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference.
The Islanders are hoping to sign Tavares to a contract extension this summer. He is entering the final season of a six-year, $33 million contract, worth an average annual value of $5.5 million, and is eligible to sign an extension on July 1.
