Islanders fans "welcome" John Tavares back to the Island

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by SaskUke

Well, it could be worse. The Flyer faithful once booed a group of 9/11 widows.

Yeah, you're going to have to provide a source for that.

[Resolute 14]

As for last night, you knew it was coming with how hard the media, players and Trotz were working to try and convince fans to be polite to Tavares. Everyone knew it was going to be nasty, but perhaps not quite that bad. And Tavares deserves it for how he jerked them around at the trade deadline.

[Weitz]

Didn't it also come out that people close to him said he was always going to go to Toronto as long as a contract could get done?

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Trading a players rights after the season and just before UFA gets you very little.

Players can talk to multiple teams for about a week prior to UFA, so it’s not like previous times when July 1 was the first time anyone could talk to UFA’s.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

the point wasn't necessarily to provide a time frame for the team, but rather suggest that you can negotiate in good faith up to a point in time before cutting bait.

if that's a week, a couple of weeks, a month. Ultimately, the team will determine a time frame that gives them the best opportunity for a return

[wired]

He spent 9 years there. Finally was a UFA, then decided where he wanted to play.
Its a decision he will have to live with forever, and is probably good with it.
Islanders fans should just get over it now, they are doing better without him.

[SmoggyFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by btimbit

It's not just that he left, it's that he said he'd stay and then left

What else was he supposed to say? Every player says that for the sake of the media. Every player is going to say cliches like "I want to win a cup with this team." Look at how poorly it was viewed when Johnny mentioned that "playing for his hometown flyers would be awesome." I bet he got chewed out for that.

There is no way Tavares as the captain of the islanders is going to come out and say: " it is my dream to play for the Maple leafs" while he is still under contract with New York.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SmoggyFlamesFan

What else was he supposed to say? Every player says that for the sake of the media. Every player is going to say cliches like "I want to win a cup with this team." Look at how poorly it was viewed when Johnny mentioned that "playing for his hometown flyers would be awesome." I bet he got chewed out for that.

There is no way Tavares as the captain of the islanders is going to come out and say: " it is my dream to play for the Maple leafs" while he is still under contract with New York.

Public statements are one thing. He should have and could have told NYI that he wasn't going to re-sign, and then they can send him out as a rental.

[Flamenspiel]

Basically, if the player does not sign, you have to trade him regardless of his intentions. People are laughing at Ottawa, but the previous regime in New York was even worse because the Senators did get a bunch of assets for all these players.

That being said the fans are also entitled to their fun, a great display by classic New York fans in a day and time of commercialized and sanitized fandom in North America. I spent some time in New York back in the day when Yankee Stadium was called the Bronx Zoo, it was all a blast. The antics and passions displayed at such sports events are why it's still better to go to the game instead of watching it on TV.

[troutman]

Rangers fans still chant "Potvin Sucks" in 2019.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I now kind of want this to be the ECF...

[Firebot]

Islanders got exactly zero from Tavares, after his insistance all the way to July 1 that he wants to sign with the Islanders. The problem was in his mind, he know well in advance he would only sign with the Leafs, but did not want to jeopardize what the Leafs would give up in return. It almost feels like it was an act of vengeance on ownership for screwing him over and wasting his years. The way he left was a total slap in the face to Islanders fans, he gave them nothing. He deserves every boo he got.

Compare to Steven Stamkos, where there were tons of doubt he would resign and all talks were of him being the highest paid UFA ever, eventually he does resign on June 29 at a bargain. You would know that if the Lightning were told by Steve's agent that he intends to test the agencies, his rights would have been traded, and likely for a 1st due to his prestige.

Best Flames related example would be Jay Bouwmeester who the Flames traded Leopold and a 3rd round pick for UFA rights. Bouwmeester could have simply baited the Panthers and signed with the Flames anyways.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

As for last night, you knew it was coming with how hard the media, players and Trotz were working to try and convince fans to be polite to Tavares. Everyone knew it was going to be nasty, but perhaps not quite that bad. And Tavares deserves it for how he jerked them around at the trade deadline.

2018/19 - The Year of the Jerks

[Scroopy Noopers]

I don’t recall Tavares saying he would stay for certain. I remember the narrative that he wanted to win, wanted a starting goalie, and wanted to know what was happening with the new arena.

Then they fired GM Garth Snow in June, who by most acccounts was well respected by his players.... this definitely isn’t ALL on Tavares.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by devo22

I fully understand the Isles fans, good on them. They aren't booing him for leaving, but for stringing them along ... if he had told them earlier so that they could have traded him at the TDL, it would be different. Just look at Hamonic, they still love him.

great result too, happy for the Isles. And poor Tavares won't be scarred by one night of booing, it's just one out of 82.

I hope they meet in the playoffs.

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

I don’t recall Tavares saying he would stay for certain. I remember the narrative that he wanted to win, wanted a starting goalie, and wanted to know what was happening with the new arena.

Then they fired GM Garth Snow in June, who by most acccounts was well respected by his players.... this definitely isn’t ALL on Tavares.

From April 2018:

"This is obviously where I hope to be. I've always stated that," said Tavares, the No. 1 pick by the Islanders in the 2009 NHL Draft. "But obviously, I have some time to think about my situation and go from there.

Let's also not forget the Islanders offered 8 year 88 million deal on June 24, and he ended up not signing and signed for less to be with the Leafs on July 1.

I would think Garth Snow being fired would have little impact, they had just signed Barry Trotz who had just won a cup in June. The Islanders were ready to be serious contenders, and are just that sitting in the top 5 without anything to show for Tavares.

And who can forget this tweet within hours of free agency?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1013468844034179072

It didn't matter what the Islanders did, Tavares likely had his mind set years ago that he wanted to go to the Leafs and pretended like he hoped to stay in New York, all the way to the end. He should have allowed them to trade his right or state his intent. He chose not to.

He was selfish, and sure he has a right to, but he burned his bridges and danced on the other side while doing it.

[TheIronMaiden]

Tavares owes the Islanders fans nothing. That said, the fans don't owe him either. I'll take passion over apathy any day. Good on the fans to make a statement.


I for one look forwarding to making a similar statement but in a positive light Saturday.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by devo22

I fully understand the Isles fans, good on them. They aren't booing him for leaving, but for stringing them along ... if he had told them earlier so that they could have traded him at the TDL, it would be different. Just look at Hamonic, they still love him.

great result too, happy for the Isles. And poor Tavares won't be scarred by one night of booing, it's just one out of 82.

Two nights. He has to go back there on 1 April.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Tavares exercised his right as a UFA to go to his childhood team. No problem, other than potentially stringing the Isles along. Not so sure that was the case, as they really did have organizational problems at the time. Trotz and good goaltending seems to have fixed a bunch.

Fans exercising their right to boo. No problem with that either. I mean, are we supposed to feel bad for Tavares? Boo hoo.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Firebot

Let's also not forget the Islanders offered 8 year 88 million deal on June 24, and he ended up not signing and signed for less to be with the Leafs on July 1.

I would think Garth Snow being fired would have little impact, they had just signed Barry Trotz who had just won a cup in June....

It didn't matter what the Islanders did, Tavares likely had his mind set years ago that he wanted to go to the Leafs...

Looks like you’re countering my guess work with more guess work.

Trotz winning a cup clearly didn’t matter, as he was fired (“let go”) immediately from that job.

The Islanders has a lot of questions up in the air, the Leafs had a plan in place with established pieces. I’d argue they strung Tavares along as much as he did to them (No starting goalie plan, trading Matt Moulson years prior when he was a piece that worked). I would have bailed too.

That said, the atmosphere was more than enjoyable to watch last night. Created a rivalry out of thin air, and those are always good.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Looks like you’re countering my guess work with more guess work.

Trotz winning a cup clearly didn’t matter, as he was fired immediately from that job.

The Islanders has a lot of questions up in the air, the Leafs had a plan in place with established pieces. I would have bailed too.

That said, the atmosphere was more than enjoyable to watch last night. Created a rivalry out of thin air, and those are always good.

Barry Trotz was NOT fired. He resigned after he and the Capitals were unable to come to terms on a new deal, and was unsurprisingly snatched up quickly by another team.