Just read the Tavares piece. Well written!

By making them think he was going to resign so the lost him for nothing? Didn't think that would be hard to figure out.
- Mino42

Probably hasn’t occurred to you that maybe Tavares himself didn’t know until the off-season or when teams began their pitches? On maybe Lou completely botched the NYI pitch?

People sometimes change their mind. Opportunities sometimes present themselves out of nowhere. Didn’t think that would be hard to figure out.

There is dissent over this. My understanding that this was said after Malkin told him no. I believe GM was going to move him without commitment. Larry Brooks also cited this. But nobody else has and fans assume blame based on their disappointment and personal narratives in lieu of a clearcut piece from TSN or that kind of outlet.

With a franchise player, it is an owners call to not trade or to trade, not the GM
- B.D. Gallof

That seems fair.

Probably hasn’t occurred to you that maybe Tavares himself didn’t know until the off-season or when teams began their pitches? On maybe Lou completely botched the NYI pitch?

People sometimes change their mind. Opportunities sometimes present themselves out of nowhere. Didn’t think that would be hard to figure out.
- As_I_See_It

There seems to be two contradicting assumptions.
1) It was obvious JT would not resign and therefore Islanders should have sold him at the deadline.
2) JT did not make up his mind until the off season.

Should the Islanders have traded him if he truly did not decide before juli 1st?

I don't really view this in the best way personally. Loyalty says a lot about a person's character and I think the way he left the Isles with nothing... Not cool on his part.

Karlsson is kind of in the middle of the same thing and I've lost a lot of respect for him.

I always thought there was something special about a player staying with one team their entire career.
- Maverick1818

Difference being that Karlsson IS letting mgmnt know that he wont re-sign. Sens WILL get an awesome return for him- the next team who trades for his last year before FA is on the hook for a letdown. I understand any fan not wanting to see their stud player leave but what Tavares did is in another galaxy of “sh!tty ways to leave your lover”

It’s been reported in the press that he went to Garth and specifically said, “I dont want to be traded.” No one is making that up. It’s not a rumor. BAD BAD BAD on the Isles for allowing him to stay w/o signing an extension. Other clubs will no doubt be wary of getting TAVARESED by other players heading to free agency.

And while we are laying blame on both sides, BD Galoff and the rest of the media are also a bit to blame for their collective lack of effort/cojones in questioning Team Garth. The few who were close to the Isles(Staple, Fischler, Grossman) never asked the tough questions and the consensus hardly raised an eyebrow as the trade deadline passed and all seemed sure JT would return. Am sure Newsday has an unspoken argreement of treating the Isles with kid gloves. As for the rest, honestly, the Isles werent important enough(only them to blame for that) to cover & be concerned about but when you think about how bad the Mets & Knicks are in this town, you have to wonder just a bit.

Just read the Tavares piece. Well written!
- 21peter

He can afford the greatest speech writer(s) in the world.

Probably hasn’t occurred to you that maybe Tavares himself didn’t know until the off-season or when teams began their pitches? On maybe Lou completely botched the NYI pitch?

People sometimes change their mind. Opportunities sometimes present themselves out of nowhere. Didn’t think that would be hard to figure out.
- As_I_See_It

All of that bolded......


BLOW IT OUT YER ARSE!!!!!!👍👍👍

Not a fan of either team. That being said, i’ll Say it again, scumbag move! If I was an islander, the first time he had his head down, BOOM!

I read it, I understand it. I appreciate what he was to the Isles and wish him good luck. End of story for me.

You are just making poop up left and right. Show me the proof that he said he would sign for Doughty money. Show me the proof that the Sens offered him Doughty money.
- Njuice

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...lssons-contract-comments/

I'm not making up anything, him and Doughty literally talked about it. They share the same agents and both know each other. Both of them said "we'll get paid what we're worth and no less"

Then on July first it was reported multiple times that it was thought the Sens offer was $10M x 8 years and then the next few days after it was reported that it was actually $11M x 8 years and some reported even saying it was as high as $11.5M-$12M x 8 years

He can afford the greatest speech writer(s) in the world.
- jmo16

still felt like he got the personal stuff through in a somewhat respectful way...

I don't really view this in the best way personally. Loyalty says a lot about a person's character and I think the way he left the Isles with nothing... Not cool on his part.

Karlsson is kind of in the middle of the same thing and I've lost a lot of respect for him.

I always thought there was something special about a player staying with one team their entire career.
- Maverick1818

Karlsson recognizes what is going on and accordingly wants out.

Oust the owner and things would change.

Nothing Tavares did is wrong. 90% of the people Tavares throws love on in his article as the closest people are no longer with the team. He has been playing at a 10 million dollar level for years while making 5.5 million and now he has a chance to MOVE HOME, where his family lives and play for the team he grew up idolizing.

Obviously reading the article, Him and Snow and Weight were close. I suspect firing them probably may have tipped the scales in his decision

BD Gallof: John Tavares Finally Addresses Isles Fans Properly
- B.D. Gallof

pretty sure he addressed isle fans on twitter the day he signed with toronto.

By making them think he was going to resign so the lost him for nothing? Didn't think that would be hard to figure out.
- Mino42

garth snow was still employed at the trade deadline, not so much when tavares was heading toward free agency.

he asked not to be traded...and stated numerous times he wanted to stay. open the door to your bubble.

So now Tavares not only never gets to see his favorite team win a Stanley Cup, he gets to play for them and never win one either!

So now Tavares not only never gets to see his favorite team win a Stanley Cup, he gets to play for them and never win one either!
- maximumcarnage

If the leafs make the playoffs i hope and pray each time its the islanders that knock them out for the next 7 years.

pretty sure he addressed isle fans on twitter the day he signed with toronto.
- The Deal Man

Whatever helps you leaf fans sleep at night.

After reading this and watching his interviews for the past 9 years, I don't buy that he wrote it at all.

I get it, the NYI fans and organization are pissed and rightfully so. I’d be livid too if Matthews walked as a UFA, but seriously, name ONE thing the Islanders did during Tavares’ time there that would make him want to stay there? Name one and make a case for it.

This isn’t meant to be a slap in the face of NYI fans, it’s simply a brutally honest question.

I truly can care less if Tavares left. Doesn't bother me at all. What is bothering me is that he left to go on a pathetic leaf club that has done absolutely nothing. they are not even worth noting. team has not won a cup in my lifetime. i have seen my team win the cup multiple times. Team has not won a round since 04. real impressive. team is pure trash. 67 67 67 67 forever. Joke

14 years since they won a round That is real impressive.

I truly can care less if Tavares left. Doesn't bother me at all. What is bothering me is that he left to go on a pathetic leaf club that has done absolutely nothing. they are not even worth noting. team has not won a cup in my lifetime. i have seen my team win the cup multiple times. Team has not won a round since 04. real impressive. team is pure trash. 67 67 67 67 forever. Joke
- Hockeyislife

Meow Meow

Naaah, you don’t sound bothered at all!

John Tavares and his 9 years with this organization are dead to us. We will move on from that wolf in sheeps clothing very quickly. New Arena. Real coach. Real GM (we hope). We are prepared to delete him from this franchise and move on. We don’t need a letter from you trying to make us believe you didn’t bend us over like you did. We know the truth and no Islander fan will ever believe a word out of your lying mouth. Our letter to you reads this:

🖕. Blow your knee out

Thanks

If he went on a Stanley cup team i would Understand and agree with it. but to go on a team that has not won a round in fourteen years and has not won a cup in 50 years is a joke. it was all about going home because he will never win with this joke team