Confirmed Signing with Link: [TOR] John Tavares signs with the Leafs (7 years, $11M AAV) Part III

[72hockey guy]

This notion that Tavares was being dishonest or unethical by not requesting a trade at the deadline is downright laughable to be honest. He was the captain of the team in the midst of a playoff race, why would he ever request a trade? You don't see Leafs fans displaying the same contempt for Bozak or JVR for not demanding to be sent out the door at the deadline. The fact that JT is a far better player than either of them has no relevance; he served his time in New York, and did everything he could to help the franchise succeed, and then left as a free agent.

You can see why the players would feel slighted watching their captain leave, but at the end of the day it's a business and you have to do what's best for you and your family. Nothing dishonest about it.

no you got it wrong he didn't request a trade.

he went to ownership and requested NOT TO BE TRADED and assured management again and that "I WANT TO BE AN ISLANDER. The were his own unsolicited words. As captain. Management had every right to believe the man who said he believed in Loyalty Leadership and Commitment.

As leaf fans you can keep making excuses for him but it doesn't make him any less of a liar

 

[Gary Nylund]

First off what sweetheart deal. At the time he was still on his ELC and bridge deals were way less than 5.5m so come off it.

Second I have said it was in his right to sign where he wanted several times. My only point is he didn't need to lie to do it.

He asked not to be traded. He said time after time after time I want to be an Islander. each time it was unforced and unsolicited.

He chose to do it.He wasn't just some player.He was the captain.. He spoke as captain of leadership, loyalty and commitment several times year after year. Again unsolicited again of his own coloration no body made him say those things

As a leaf fan you have every reason to make excuses for him. And you have but it doesn't make his actions any less shady. Again, He didn't have to ask not to be traded. again he didn't need to say I want to be an islander. Several times. He was the captain Islander brass had every reason to trust his word

Just like leaf fans have every reason to make excuses for him. I doubt you'd be doing so if he signed with the sharks

Do you have anything to back this up besides one tweet from someone who's credibility seems to highly questionable?

You earlier said his fiancee was "actively pushing" for Tavares to leave, I asked you to provide a source which you have ignored. Do you understand that until you retract that comment or provide a source you have zero credibility yourself?

Attacking the man's fiancee is the lowest of lows. I'm glad to see not all NYI fans are willing to stoop that low but a little disappointed that so many are.

 

[macleod50]

He asked not to be traded. He didn't say he was going to stay.

The Islanders could have traded him if management felt it was the right move for the team, which it would have been. They decided to keep him and roll the dice, without a contract in place.

That's mismanagement.

So again, is Tavares the scum of the earth like Isles fans are making him out to be? Or was this just another example of many of mismanagement by the Islanders?

Where did I say he said he was going to stay....?

People kept asking where he requested not to be traded. I provided a tweet.

 

[Cor]

Oh so you were in the room? Ownership said he asked not to be traded.team mates claim he lied or misled them including Dobson and Wahlstrom. c'mon yourself

He called Dobson and Wahlstrom to congratulate them and welcome them to the Islanders.

I doubt he called them and made the conversation about himself shortly after those two guys had their dream moment of being drafted

 

[The Beyonder]

I'm just going to keep posting this.

Sorry, but it's the isles that did themselves no favors when they decided to mismanage their asset. Whether he did or didn't ask for a trade doesn't change the fact that he was not signed past the trade deadline. They should have had a personal deadline for when they signed him, put pressure on him to make the decision early or trade him. I'm sure star players approach their management and ask to not be traded often, but that doesn't mean management should listen to those requests especially against their best interests. As management their job was to do the best for their team.

But obviously they were aware that they'd possibly lose him for nothing once it went past the traded deadline. They decided to role the dice and they lost. But that shouldn't be the responsibility of JT.

 

[Cor]

Where did I say he said he was going to stay....?

People kept asking where he requested not to be traded. I provided a tweet.

Where did I say that you said that he said he was going to stay?

 

[Gary Nylund]

Where did I say he said he was going to stay....?

People kept asking where he requested not to be traded. I provided a tweet.

Apparently the same guy tweeted other things about Tavares that proved to not be true so how credible is this guy really? Surely if it were true there would be more evidence that one tweet with a guy with little credibility?

 

[macleod50]

Where did I say that you said that he said he was going to stay?

Why quote my post then?

 

[Cor]

FWIW

 

[macleod50]

Apparently the same guy tweeted other things about Tavares that proved to not be true so how credible is this guy really? Surely if it were true there would be more evidence that one tweet with a guy with little credibility?

Take it for what it is. The Islanders beat writer who was probably getting his information from someone on the team/management.

 

[teleman]

delete

 

[Cor]

Why quote my post then?

I was adding on to your post.

If Tavares indeed asked not to be traded, which there are conflicting reports on, that's still not Tavares saying he was going to stay past the season.

Without that, the Islanders should at the very least have put it out there that they would listen to offers for Tavares as a rental

 

[macleod50]

I was adding on to your post.

If Tavares indeed asked not to be traded, which there are conflicting reports on, that's still not Tavares saying he was going to stay past the season.

Without that, the Islanders should at the very least have put it out there that they would listen to offers for Tavares as a rental

I agree with you. A bunch of us wanted him shipped out last summer when he didn't sign, and then again at the trade deadline. We got lambasted for it. Part of me enjoys seeing the smugness of Snow and Malkin thrown back in their faces.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Take it for what it is. The Islanders beat writer who was probably getting his information from someone on the team/management.

If the same guy said NYI had Tavares locked up then his word isn't worth much, not much at all.

 

[72hockey guy]

FWIW

Steve whyno is a Toronto hack and you know it

Tavares asked not to be traded

 

[Zybalto]

FWIW

This is what is so strange.

Critics have a point if Tavares did indeed request to be traded but all the evidence seems the other way around.

Following the Athletic article:

Tavares happy Islanders have no plans to trade him

Where is an actual source for the other narrative. It looks like an out of control rumour.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

no you got it wrong he didn't request a trade.

he went to ownership and requested NOT TO BE TRADED and assured management again and that "I WANT TO BE AN ISLANDER. The were his own unsolicited words. As captain. Management had every right to believe the man who said he believed in Loyalty Leadership and Commitment.

As leaf fans you can keep making excuses for him but it doesn't make him any less of a liar

Why do you keep posting your unverified sources as fact? As others have pointed out you’re breaking the sites rules.

Put up or shut up about your sources, your more than welcome to share your opinion of course.

 

[macleod50]

If the same guy said NYI had Tavares locked up then his word isn't worth much, not much at all.

If that's true I would love to see it. I am sure he also would have been called out on here for it when it was posted.

 

[The Beyonder]

FWIW

But whether he asked not to be traded is completely irrelevant to me. Is JT the secretly the manager? Is he the only one that can trade himself? It's ridiculous that fans are clinging on to this, Snow should have told at the beginning of the year that if he didn't sign at the trade deadline he'd trade him regardless of JT's personal feelings. But Snow is not a complete idiot, he knew him going elsewhere was a possibility, but he wanted to gamble on JT staying and went bankrupt. Fans want to blame someone, it's all on Snow.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Steve whyno is a Toronto hack and you know it

Tavares asked not to be traded

Got proof?

 

[Dustin]

Love how Tavares is the shining example of leadership and class for the Islanders for 9 years and never has any issues. Then when he has to make the toughest decision of his career, and he obviously was unsure about it, people throw him under the bus.

Was Tavares known to be a liar before this year? So why can't we take his word when he says he was unsure until the last minute. Or how about when he also stated that Snow toldt him he was not going to trade him.

It's completely fine to be angry at Tavares for picking another team. Every fanbase has that happen to them. I remember when Cujo left for Detroit. It was certainly not great at the time. The real anger should be focused at the Islanders for basically messing up his time there by not creating a competitive team and then risking Tavares on the open market for nothing.

 

[Cor]

Steve whyno is a Toronto hack and you know it

Tavares asked not to be traded

Steve Whyno is based in Washington DC and is the Nation Hockey Writer for the Associated Press, an American business.

He has no association with the city of Toronto, or the Maple Leafs.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Steve Whyno is based in Washington DC and is the Nation Hockey Writer for the Associated Press, an American business.

He has no association with the city of Toronto, or the Maple Leafs.

That's not what unnamed and totally real sources tell me!

 

[teleman]

I'm glad leaf fans love their new star. I don't begrudge you that. It's how every single franchise should act, continually improve their product.

That said beware when a player preaches loyalty leadership and commitment for 9 years and proceeds to lie his way out the door.. He had every right to sign where he wanted. But he didn't have the right to lie about his intentions and lie he did. having asked not to be traded. And expressing his love for what was undoubtedly his team. Ownership had every reason to take him at his word. They even offered his agent a front office position several years ago. That was how much they catered to Tavares. He even went so far as to have tears in his eyes at the announcement of the Belmont arena and Islander ownership has lobbied a prestigious hospital to offer his fiancee a staff position. This further showing how committed they were to their captain.

But every speck of his self proclaimed loyalty and leadership and honesty went out the window when his modern day jezebel, Aryne Fuller entered the picture. Again I do not begrudge leaf fans or their owners. They did what every team should do. But the way the Twin Whores of Toronto went about it, is nothing to be proud of. Heck if he'd simply been honest he might have been a leaf sooner.

Are you 12? Fiancés make a difference to how one approaches future plans. All bets are off when it comes to previous decisions you've made about how you will go forward in life.
Whatever you feel about John Tavares is fair but your comments regarding his fiancé are repugnant

 

[4thline]

When you're in a good spot but considering jumping to something better you don't rock the boat until you're sure, then you give your notice. He had a script he had to follow unless he wanted to burn a bridge that he wanted open.