Why Islanders Fans Hate John Tavares

A heartfelt tribute to former Islanders captain John Tavares.
I don't own any of this footage.
Please note at 5:37 where JT says "I didn't want to go to a team and feel like the team had to subtract what they had" that is not in response to the question preceding it (from Stan Fischler). This was an editing mistake in a rush to get this out, I understand it is somewhat misleading and I apologize. However, it was reported (as shown at 5:20) that Tavares did ask GM Garth Snow not to trade him during the season. He shouldn't have done that.
While Tavares could've been more non-committal in his language rather than try to appease the home fans, the team should've believed his actions (not signing an extension starting last summer) rather than his words ("I want to stay, I love it here"). Tavares handled it like an asshole, but the Islanders are the ones who fucked up.

[@yoyoyoy550]

As a toronto fan now i see why islanders were so mad and sad. I feel you islanders. Super sorry

[@tactlessbeast6737]

No worries bud. We got the best of that deal. His best days are behind him.

[@carolmckee8456]

LOL, we really don't miss him. We're mad bc he intentionally waited til after the deadline so his new team 'wouldn't have to give anything up'. This guy is like a cheating husband who cleans out the bank account- we're mad at him for that cunt move but we aren't sad he's gone. Has he been worth his fat salary to the Leafs? Looks like his new wife is paying for her bad decisions.

[@henryhahn9741]

It’s super cool

[@hiphopaDIZZL]

​@@carolmckee8456you should be sad he's gone lol you guys need offense 24th in the league in goals for since he left! yall might have a cup by now if you had tavares

[@carolmckee8456]

@@hiphopaDIZZL Funny, Isles didn't win a cup the entire 9 years Tavares played on the team...and Maple Leafs don't seem to be able to win their way out of round one. Isles went farther in the playoffs, despite all Toronto's 'big name' big contract players. You're right that Isles need more offense, but you can't deny that defense got them deep into the playoffs. If Trotz could see his way clear to keep the codgers on the bench and give some of the young guys a shot, that may happen. Wallstrom isn't going to get better picking splinters out of his ass. The Isle's wasted Ho-Sang too- now that Leafs have him for cheap, maybe he will produce some front-office regret for the Isles.

[@macdaddy351000]

All JT had to do was tell the islander management I wasn’t coming back and they could have traded him. Got a ransom in return. However he chose to lie to management

[@hockey_all_star5895]

Mark McCormack boo hoo lol

[@ThenorinSSBM]

Hockey_All_Star5 win a playoff series before you speak

[@jammullen1]

I'm Dead Inside LMAO

[@judeanjay9837]

Or he changed his mind??? He said it himself he was ready to sign contract but 2 weeks before free agency his agent begged him to atleast here out toronto.

[@christianm5372]

I'm Dead Inside hahahaha they lost a best of 5 PLAY IN now

[@the46show]

The islanders have won 3 playoff series in Toronto before John Tavares has. This is great haha

[@shawn6745]

Both teams still dont have a cup.

[@arxchniide]

@@shawn6745 islanders are better without him -not an islanders fan

[@shawn6745]

@@arxchniide they are because his cap space was too much to allow them to address other issues. They had bad management for a while But they would objectively benefit from him if he had a lower contract. Their biggest problem right now is offensive production

[@arxchniide]

@@shawn6745 i definitely agree. good point

[@Junketsuadidas]

@@arxchniide I think the Leafs would honestly be better without him as well

[@b0nkert0ns7]

Thank god you’re an Isles fan. The quality of these vids are always top notch. I think I watched the Barzal video about 20 times. Keep up the great work.

[@spizzwolf]

appreciate that

[@Josh-mh3kl]

Whenever he talks about the Islanders franchise he looks like he just lost his dog

[@tactlessbeast6737]

That’s just how he looks. 😂

[@jjmarz1001]

I told my wife they should have traded him last year before the deadline. Management was stupid. If he didn't sign a contract last year, he was never going to sign it.

[@BHG771]

Nelson, Lee, and Eberle all re-signed after the deadline.

[@maximilianweidenkopf5580]

That just rubs soooo much salt on the wound.

[@allsystemsgo8678]

I think the thing that irked me the most when people defend him by saying of course he said he would stay, what was he supposed to say? Um, players in every sport will say I'm going to test free agency. Panarin flat out told Columbus he wouldn't resign him.

[@drock13]

I remember this from a Tampa perspective J.T was saying the same things Stamkos was because the rumors he would go play with the Leafs but Stamkos met every word about Tampa and now is a multi time champion and I respect the hell out of him for it. But, J.T legit stabbed every die heart of the Isles in the back because if it had been our 91 I’d have been shell shocked so I totally get it . I dislike J.T for y’all . There’s right ways of doing things and wrong ways and it couldn’t have been worse

[@victorsforza5578]

I was at the Barclays center sever xxx during JTs final season as an islander, he had some second hand knowledge that Tavares was gonna leave not resign with NYI due to his future wifes wishes not wanting to relocate to LI, she has a career in the medical field there.

[@Re207]

re: tavares, that's the only thing i wonder about. he just might've been enough to put them over the top in one of those ECF's vs tampa. the one thing those islanders teams didn't have, was the superstar player

[@bubbachuck9186]

Lying threw his teeth the whole time and all the while knew what his plan was.Dont tell the isles I’m leaving so that they won’t trade me to some other nhl team I don’t want to play for.

[@bobhenry6159]

"Lying THREW his teeth.." lol That's damn funny. It's like you're describing a scene out of Benny Hill or the 3 Stooges. 🤣

[@jpn5525]

JT proved to the world that he is a hockey player with lots of talent and no class. That will be his legacy.

[@danny9405]

This is the best video that I have ever watched.

[@ziggymorris8760]

What a scumbag, Isles could have gotten something in return for him had he been honest.

[@Windyyyyyyyyy]

You know what’s funny? I don’t even feel sad anymore. This guy leaving helped the isles in the long run.

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

It was complitely understandable and acceptable that they hated him. he literally said he isnt going anywhere, and then just signed with the leafs. what he should have done is let the islanders trade him so they dont just lose him for nothing. his contract was expiring either way after that season and he could have signed with the leafs after that.

[@victorsforza5578]

This is largely on former isles owner Charles Wang and former GM Garth Snow, Wang who was still a minority partner in 2017 had told snow, who was still GM, not to trade Tavares under any circumstances. The new incoming owners also thought that Tavares would sign but snow could have traded JT at the 17-18 trade deadline for at least a 1st Rd pick.

[@slyfor2]

As an Islander dan lemme just say why this is so delicious: 1) The Leafs used up a majority of their cap space for ONE line, the Tavares-Marner-Matthews line and have not advanced past the first round since 2003-2004 playoffs when they beat the Sens 4-3 in the Quarters only to fall to the Flyers 4-2 in the Semis. They literally put it all up for one line and have failed to produce anything to show for it. 2) John thought he would leave a 'dying' team in their 2nd decade of rebuild for greener pastures (despite the fact he was just starting high school the last time the TML advanced past the first round; he was born 9/1990 and he would've been 13 yo when the TML last advanced) only to choke in game 7 (again) against the Bruins (again) after choking on home ice in game 6. Then he has to watch as the team he abandoned after promising he was going to stay and then screwing over out of trade deals after the deadline advance to the ECF for the first time since 1993, all without him. For those who dont believe in karma, consider this story of highway fuckery. Also, they lost to a 42-year old zamboni driver who works for them.

[@shawn6745]

You think it matters way more than it does to hockey players getting to the ECF. A loss is a loss, neither team has a cup.

[@triangleman5893]

@@shawn6745 but the fact the leafs haven’t won a playoff series is embarrassing that’s the point

[@angrydalailama6089]

Leafs fan here. I've never liked his contract and have only recently developed an appreciation for him. While I thought it was harsh, I definitely found it funny when he got blasted in his return to Long Island. Now I understand why - and I consider it deserved. He not only lied - but he clearly did so multiple times. What a gutless move.

[@bauerpowerca]

All the NHL tv, NHL Radio, TSN, Sportsnet people NEED to watch this video because they keep asking...Why Islander fans? Why won't you let it go? Why are you so upset? Players leave teams all the time.... Even if they watched this, they still would play dumb and ask the same questions. It would not be until Austin Mathews leaves for Arizona in 5 years and tweets his picture of sleeping in Coyote bedsheets that the Toronto fanbase would lose their minds and cry bitter tears 10 fold over anything the Islander Fans have done.

[@stephencook1004]

you act as though if he said the truth which is "I've wasted 9 years of my life in this dump where you've surrounded me with garbage, made me carry deadweight and don't even have a true home rink! I'm done" islanders fans would have said "oh well ok then, you can go".

[@besiedju]

I love how some of you try to make it about yourself. It’s his choice and you either respect it or not

[@bauerpowerca]

Sure, if he was honest before the Trade Deadline, the Isles could have gotten a First Round Pick and a couple of good prospects. @@stephencook1004

[@bauerpowerca]

I don't think I mentioned myself at all. I was just answering the question that keeps being answered, but the Canadian media ignores....why don't Islander fans let it go? @@besiedju

[@jamesgentry13]

You were owed nothing.

[@kevinscott9242]

As it turns out Tavares leaving for Tor was one of the best moves in Islander history. That is reason Brock moved to 2nd line Center & we had enough Cap space for a well rounded team. Trotz was able to preach "We dont have any stars so the only way we can Win is if you fully buy in to my Neutral Zone Trap system. Then we will shock the Hockey World". If Tavares resigned everyone wouldve looked to John to carry the team.

[@SorokingProd30]

Also it’s John leaving Anders Lee becomes captain but John stayed captain with the leafs

[@theresafoster2761]

This is OUTSTANDING! Thank you for this!!

[@71bxboy]

He was totally lying, but as a die hard Islanders fan. I am glad he left, the Islanders are better without him.

[@adnanac91]

Yeah very very better

[@Aidan_minotii]

Short answer: Tavares said he was gonna stay with the islanders, so the islanders didn’t trade him, but when free agency came, he didn’t want to sign with them anymore, and the islanders could’ve traded him for a good player

[@superjazzzz]

Great compilation. Thank you!

[@mikeybombers2529]

He said he was staying then leaves and we couldn't even trade him for prospects

[@dennissmith9259]

It was even too late to get any free agents as well.

[@dankerman321]

Awesome... 2 years in a row, his Leafs floundered and the Isles are going to the conference finals. He wants his name on the Cup but... not gonna happen.

[@BORRZZ]

like it was ganna happen in NY 😂😂😂

[@Fatblue246]

@@BORRZZlol still further than the laughs have gotten in ages, cope more snowback

[@Freebasetyler]

The guy has zero personality and zero heart

[@jaytsports2604]

Funny how the islanders won a playoff series in Toronto before he did🤣

[@ceoofprosciutto235]

Lmao

[@masteryoda3696]

Four of them

[@bmxtrix113]

Thank you for making this.

[@zerozero113]

All this guy had to say is im going to keep my options open I feel I’ve gone as far as I can go here people would have been upset/pissed but it woulda been what ever

[@dennissmith8031]

"Not everyday you can live out a childhood dream". What dream? Screwing over Islander Nation?

[@SorokingProd30]

How long have we been planning to build ubs arena?

[@victorsforza5578]

Bruno gervais who played with JT on the isles said on a Montreal radio show in Dec of 2017(they had dinner together when the isles were in MTL) that he wasn't sure if Tavares was gonna resign with the Islanders. Because the interview was on a French language station it was largely ignored.

[@stateofsurvival8457]

We knew there was a chance he'd leave.. The straw that broke the camel's back was him forgetting Bazal's name at the first presser...after that..we were like WTF??

[@joelsewlal9480]

As a kid I used to think, imagine only local players could play for thier respective NHL teams? Ontario would have an extra 15 teams to add to the league. Keeping the league full decade after decade, gotta love it! Not saying other players aren't as desirable but fuck I am proud and impressed by how many high-skilled Ontarian born players we produce! Too bad I turned out to be a POS though lol

[@mattzyoutube8280]

holy shit man this video is amazing

[@belledorris1973]

With the salary hes taking he is better not in an islander uniform...the leafs wont win with him...its especially true now that they have him marner and Mathews taking half the cap.space...lol

[@pilotamurorei]

because he betrayed the fanbase? Glad he got that absolute destruction by the fans.

[@daveypike]

I don’t think he deserved that I feel as if they went a little to far...

[@Bentami]

@@daveypike Can you imagine if Matthews left the leafs? Leaf fans would shit in their matthews jerseys and sling it to whatever city he would be playing in out of pure passion and hatred.

[@daveypike]

@@Bentami that’s CAP lmao l, leafs fans would thank him look at kadri he played like an idiot in the playoffs but when he returned to Toronto we cheered for him and thanked him.

[@Bentami]

@@daveypike Im taking about if he left like Tavares left Islanders. Zero communication and snake like. Only delusional leaf fanatics would believe otherwise.

[@sopowerabboy]

@@daveypike the thing is Kadri was traded. IF Auston Matthews pulls off a John Tavares sign with Arizona the moment he reaches FA, there's a HIGH possibility there's another Chris Bosh type of scenario. Toronto Raptors fans were shitting on Chris Bosh when he left for Miami.

[@carolmckee8456]

He didn't want to cost his NEW team any assets?? I don't expect JT to turn down $11 mil (even though he waited to jump after the deadline at the expense of the team) *as long as he doesn't expect Islanders fans to think he isn't a piece of shit*. Isles may win a cup before the MapleLeafs get out of the dressing room. Can you say schadenfreude? PSssst- Maple Leafs- if your star player is willing to fuck over his last team, he'll be willing to do the same to you.

[@SorokingProd30]

0:39 and 0:46 is kinda why I started to understand how good he was, I wish he never left the team. Of course he loves to people and says he hopes to be back and hopes to stay, yet he leaves to his hometown maple leafs

[@samssportsshop]

The first overall pick shouldn't leave

[@davidseanmacdonald1470]

"I didn't want to come to a team that had to SUBTRACT" great answer you traitor

[@dannythomas417]

At least they love Leo Komarov.

[@nowitstimetosee18]

if this was uploaded by literally any islanders fan other than spizzwolf i would give it a like.

[@spizzwolf]

damn u ice cold

[@ryanmcnally8669]

He knew that if he went to the leafs they would give up a lot and they wouldn’t have that many star players.

[@bauerpowerca]

They could have traded him to someone else. The Blue Jackets gave up an A Prospect, a B Prospect, and a First Round pick for Duchene, they could have gotten that last year from the BJs. Then JT could have gotten his wish and gone to TOR which would have cost the Leafs nothing

[@johnlevalley521]

@@bauerpowerca That's a good point. However, most teams would have been very reluctant to give up substantial assets for him if he wasn't going to sign long term.

[@kpowers8489]

Boston gave up a first rounder that trade deadline for Rick nash, he definitely could of gotten us a first rounder and a good young prospect

[@szahmad2416]

In hindsight, I think the leafs knew he wanted to be with them, saw that he would be a free agent very shortly, and decided to wait rather than giving up assets.

[@HoGuEE_]

lmao my captain.. welcome home Captain Toronto

[@icebreaker1264]

Islanders for the cup 2022

[@orbakun]

24-25 is our year.

[@floridaswampman7648]

Toronto would likely give him back. You got his best years out of him. At 11 M a year the Islanders were spared. And you got Lou.

[@vlun1215]

If he isn't signing, Islanders should have traded him. Same with Matthews, they had to sign him to something or else he's got to be traded.

[@name8182]

oh i see it now lol

[@munaclassic4020]

Everyone forgets that his mood changed after the islanders signed Lou lamoriello. I believe the signing of Lou was the thing that changed his mind about where he was signing.

[@Dratchev241]

I think Lou pissed him off honestly.

[@szahmad2416]

Oh yeah. Plus, I wonder if leafs management kind of knew he wanted to be here and decided that instead of trading assets, they would just wait till the free agency?

[@myhybrid09]

I remember when he left on day 1 of FA all of toronto said stanley cup that yesr next year.....hmmm been 5 yrs and no Cup. It's been a while for the Isles but I'm an optimist not a fortune teller :)

[@thatislandersfan]

no no no no no watch the game where he comes back to long island! think about this video

[@Freebasetyler]

How are the leafs doing anyways

[@dovidrotenberg4690]

Look islanders fans have a right to be upset. No need for coarse language! Btw the islanders management should have seen the writing on the wall. Without an absolute legal oral commitment they should have traded him.

[@XcSNIPERcX]

It's an interview, ofc he has to say generic stuff like that, would you have rathered him say "i can't wait to get out of this shithole fuck you guys!" you don't think saying hes wanting to leave would make him more hated and have a bigger uproar?

[@Katie-hb8iq]

This is going to be Matthews pretty soon.

[@SixerIverson04]

Auston Matthews signed a four year extension to remain a Maple Leaf this past off-season

[@Uscavalcanti2188]

Despite being such a long time ago and all the success we’ve had as Islanders fans this guy still annoys me I don’t care for this guy anymore and the I don’t blame Toronto for any of this btw so their fan base need to understand that

[@HiAnthonyA]

Islanders got better without him honestly. They built a just as effective offense without him (a more balanced offense) and the goaltending and D got night and day better. It would’ve been nice to get picks out of him tho. He just walked to so he can sign where he wanted to

[@pastelwingsdontdislikemybr6707]

Hope

[@zzcossackzz1890]

Worst move ever for the Leafs and Dubas .... can't get rid of him now. Leafs stuck with him 3 more long sad years.

[@sexitaliana629]

Haha 2nd straight trip to the semi finals. 3rd straight year going past the second the first round. ummm maple leafs haven't made it out of the first round....coincidence??!! NOPE!!! I wonder what he's thinking now 😂😂😂😂

[@leodeluca7696]

Ok, yes, not a great move on tavern's part. But he said "i hope it works out here". obviously smith happened that made it not workout

[@BHG771]

Family came first, fine. Say that then. Say I'm going to test FA. They'd boo for only 1 day at only 1/10th of the fraction of 2/28/19. Nobody booed Hamonic with his desire to play with his family.

[@connormcbride3110]

islanders fans are so salty lmaooooooo

[@johnnythechamp1928]

listen he was born in Toronto he knew he forever wanted to play for the leafs he got drafted to the islanders his wife was having a baby he wanted his baby to be a Toronto born person.

[@brenislanders]

Now he's on a bad toronto team so cry about it

[@johnnythechamp1928]

DONT YOU DARE CALL TORONTO BAD!!!!!!!!!!

[@brenislanders]

@@johnnythechamp1928 it is

[@johndavid679]

@@brenislanders how can a playoff team be bad ???

[@brenislanders]

@@johndavid679 the team hasn't made it past the first round since 2003, and the be current roster will always choke in the playoffs

[@cowetascore8476]

If he goes into the Hall of Fame, I hope it's as a Leaf ... cause as an Isles fan, I could care less about his contributions now. At least Patty LaFontaine was honest when he wanted out.

[@irishhockey2181]

Y’all embarrassed yourselves by chanting “Asshole! Asshole! Asshole!” at him.

[@sully0628]

@@irishhockey2181 some of the chants were nasty as hell, but some chants were funny as shit and he definitely deserved some of it.

[@sully0628]

@@irishhockey2181 Where’s your jammies? And it’s your bedtime were good you gotta admit

[@irishhockey2181]

@@sully0628 you’re a month late so......

[@zkid001]

Zero shot

[@tactlessbeast6737]

Karmas a bitch. That’s why he got that freak knee to the head. Hockey gods spoke that night.

[@vlogs_w_us]

u should really make a vid about Tavares screwd the islanders

[@simonmarshall19]

John Tavares + The Hated Toronto Maple Leafs= A Sellout $$$$$ 3 years in a row he hasn’t seen round 2 as a Leafs

[@zkid001]

Make it 4

[@simonmarshall19]

@@zkid001 yes ty

[@legalizeweed3830]

He did plan on staying, he made up his mind about leaving at the last minute. Was he supposed to say he couldn't wait, during that interview when he was asked about playing in Toronto in two years? Picture this; You grow up cheering for the Islanders, as a die hard fan. You get drafted by Carolina. You play there your first 9 years and love it there. You get used to the place, and it grows on you. You can't picture ever leaving at this point. Then you become a UFA, and you're looking at a chance to come home and suit up for the Islanders. Can you honestly say you wouldn't jump at that chance?

[@Cooneyman27]

Pull a Panarin and say I will test free agency. Or pull a Hamonic and flat out tell management I want to go home.

[@ronreinhold2100]

You expect someone to believe that bs.

[@johnnyroberts3761]

LeGaLiZe WeEd Tavares himself said he didn’t want to be drafted by the Islanders

[@WristFreeze97]

1. You left out the part where he straight up lied to the team, management and fans 2. "Can you honestly say you wouldn't do it" doesn't mean it isn't a shitty thing to do and that the fans can't boo him for it. The hate from the Islanders-fans is the price he paid for doing what he did. It seems like he can deal with it, so could the retarded Leafs-fans stop crying about it?

[@langdonalger9219]

Duppe ironic that you’re calling the Leaf fans whiners when Isles fans are still crying about Tavares. For the record, I hate the Leafs, but Jesus, you Isles fans are like a bitter ex that can’t move on. I don’t blame you guys for being mad, but good lord, move the fuck on already.

[@jimmysox2260]

I still don't understand all the hate, I don't think it's warranted I mean he gave a good 9 years to the team where he was a super star, almost won the hart several times, almost won the Art Ross, and all this when his wings were like Matt Moulson and Kyle Okposo. It's Islanders execs fault they couldn't build a good enough team to surround him in NINE YEARS.

[@jasonfiorino3122]

That’s not the point. Ur ignoring the whole point of the video. The point is that Tavares lied to us because we could have easily traded him and got stuff out of him. But he said he didn’t want to leave and he planned on staying with NY the rest of his career. The teams success had nothing to do with this decision or this video so I have no idea why you brought this up. What Tavares should have done was ask for a trade if he really didn’t want to stay with us. But he didn’t therefor he wanted to stay in NY but he lied to us and left

[@jimmysox2260]

@@jasonfiorino3122 well if the guy says he wants to be traded then the chances are he'll be traded to some shit ass team

[@jasonfiorino3122]

@@jimmysox2260 if he gets traded to a shit team then he simply wouldn’t sign with that team.🤨

[@Islanders83]

@@jimmysox2260 it would’ve been a late season trade to a contender.

[@prsenthusiast262]

Same reason Celtics fans despise Kyrie Irving

[@spizzwolf]

Yep. Although if I remember correctly, Kyrie took it a step further. I think just before the start of his last year in Boston, there was some season ticket holders event and Kyrie kinda showed up by surprise and told these fans directly, straight up, he's gonna be staying in Boston. Completely unsolicited lol.

[@princechickenwings2746]

And the Cavs fans the 1st time Lebron left

[@ScediSquad]

If we had Tavares we would be the best team and that’s why we hate him

[@alboy1233]

I feel like the team would get worse tbh

[@sacredsiren]

@@alboy1233 Totally agree... I don't think the same atmosphere would thrive with him there and I was honestly happy to see him go

[@onemashedlife4313]

If it makes you feel any better, the Leafs will lose Auston Matthews to the Coyotes one day.

[@lesliechow6866]

should have drafted Hedman!

[@legalizeweed3830]

He gave them 9 years of his career. He didn't owe them anything, he had every right to leave as a UFA. It came down to the wire. He had a hard time picking between the only NHL team he's ever known, and his childhood team. It's not like he just decided to screw the Islanders. Any one of you so called fans would've made the same choice if you had the opportunity to play for your hometown team, the team you grew up cheering for. Sundin rejected a trade from the Leafs and left for Vancouver the next season. We didn't hate him. We didn't boo him, burn his jersey, etc. We gave him a standing ovation for the years he gave us. Islander fans just don't get it. It has to be all about them. No class!!

[@ronreinhold2100]

This is more of the same bs you had in your other message.

[@WristFreeze97]

Tavares didn't owe them anything, but the fans don't owe him anything either. It's not like anyone was asking for him to be suspended or fined, so why are you even bringing that point up? He was completely free to leave, but the fans are also completely free to hate him for it. Sundin situation was completely different, he had no trade value and didn't lie to the team and management. Also Leafs-fans send death threats to Reimer, constantly make death threats to opponent players, made fun of 9/11, made fun of the Boston marathon bombing and constantly do other stupid bs. Leafs-fans are easily not only the most classless, but also the dumbest in the league.

[@caseym22]

This is coming from a Red Wings fan so tell me what Im missing. Spent 9 seasons with the team, took a team-friendly contract to stay with the team giving cap space to go out and improve the team (decided not to). So because he said how he enjoyed playing for them and was interested in staying with the team (you're supposed to say those things anyways). He grew up a Leafs fan, sees them with ambition to win championships and also he gets his money. The Islanders had plenty of time to negotiate and have knowledge of how far apart they were and could have traded him away and yet didn't. You're blaming the wrong person, looks to me it's the organization that put you in this position.

[@caseym22]

I do believe he planned on staying, until the leafs showed the interest. Just my opinion.

[@WristFreeze97]

John Tavares specifically told management not to trade him and that he was going to stay. It's so clearly his fault, and he deserves every single bit of hate coming his way.

[@cowetascore8476]

Imagine if Stevie walked out on you after he said he loved Detroit. So stop.

[@kadendavis7202]

Tavares is a jackass lol probably said along the lines of "I want ro win and this is where ill do it" leaves than no later than 2 years his former team are making conference final runs in back to back seasons.... If john stays NY very well may of ended up with a cup

[@ogreman-lll-957]

He’s garbo

[@dannythomas417]

Komarov is better than him. At least New York can win with him.

[@adnanac91]

John said « hopefully we can work something out and I can stay » and they didn’t bc dubas gave him the better contract so he left meaning NYI didn’t « work something out » with John

[@nyiballs]

The Islanders offered him 8 years / $88M or $91M (depending on which source you read). $14M more than what he signed for. Not sure why that wouldn't have "worked out"

[@adnanac91]

@@nyiballs he wanted to go to his hometown but he’s doesn’t want to just say it out loud to everyone: IM GOING TO TORONTO. He was staying professional

[@thekevinwu]

Can you blame the guy for wanting to leave considering how trash the organization was during his entire time there..

[@ma-tn7lz]

Done more than the leafs so this makes no sense

[@sacredsiren]

You can't blame him for wanting to leave, you can blame him for lying about it, asking not to be traded and then screwing the team in free agency... it was a douchy way to handle it, but I'm glad he's gone because they have played better without him hahaha

[@13leafs]

Bunch a whiny New York fans as usual. He fulfilled his contract and it didn’t work out. Get over it and focus on more important things like who’s on your team now.

[@AGGIOSOUND]

Don’t blame him they should have traded him. Then they could have signed him in the off season. Management clearly messed up. We love having you JT.

[@tgags123HD]

They could have traded him... except Tavares specifically asked not to be traded. That's why he's a dickhead.

[@sacredsiren]

@@tgags123HD THIS

[@go4a24]

This is not Tavares's fault. This was the GMs fault. Tavares took a huge pay cut in his first contract so the GM could build a good team there, they didn't. The GM should have traded him or the owner should have started making changes earlier instead of letting it get down to the wire the way he did. If it makes the Isles fans feel better, it's almost guaranteed that the same thing is going to happen to the Leafs because Matthews has a no movement clauses in yhe last year of his contract and the Leafs have no interest in trading him before it kicks in. I am positive he is leaving once his contract expires

[@AMan_629]

We gave him every reason to stay in the last few years of his contract. He wanted a new home arena after the coli went into construction and Barclays wasn’t working out. In 2016 Charles wang sold the team to wealthier people who had the money to buy ubs arena. In 2018 we signed Lou and trotz. Those 2 moves not only raised the ceiling of our on ice success but made our organization more respectable. Not only that but the core we had was only getting better. Guys like ebs bailey lee nelly leddy and our whole 4th line we’re all 26-27 and just hitting their prime. On top of that we had promising young players and a future super star that year. Barzy beauvillier pelly pully mayfield toews we’re young and showing glimpses of what they’d be in a few years. Also we drafted Dobson and wahlstrom weeks before he left. If he signed a 2 year deal he would’ve had everything he ever wanted/needed to succeed. There is still the silver lining for us. I really thought we’d plummet back into a bottom 5 team until we won another lottery but trotz and player development made us better then we ever were. The craziest part to me now is to this day his most successful year was in 2016 and we’ve quintupled his career playoff series wins in the 3 first years after he left. Toronto also got screwed by his contract, him and Mathews both being centers has forced jt to be a 2nd liner, lowering his mins and taking the best talent off his line. He just isn’t the same player he was on Long Island but he’s getting paid like he’s their best player. According to capfriendly the leafs r 1.5 m over the cap rn. Tavares’ contract is the problem, he’s being payed 11 to play like he’s worth around 8-9. I agree with u that Austin will leave due to money problems, unless jt waives his nmc for Toronto to clear up cap, I don’t see another situation where he would resign. Jt is older so he doesn’t fit the timetable of the rest of the current roster and looks like the likely candidate to be cap dumped. Imagine his trade list included the isles 😂😂. I’d have no idea how our fan base would react if he wanted to or does come back.

[@go4a24]

@@AMan_629 JTs signing was not our problem. Marner and Matthews contracts are the problems. Their agent made Dubas look stupid. The fact is, your GM should have traded JT for whatever he could get when JT never signed. Snow should have tried to sign him prior to the beginning of the season and then traded him when JT didn't sign. Marner and Matthews both have full no movement clauses in the final year of their contract so the Leafs don't even have the luxury of trading them if a deal isn't signed prior to the season

[@devpatel7154]

It’s not like he lied to the fans he changed his thought in the last second

[@adk46er5203]

Yeah right.

[@sacredsiren]

Oh yeah, that's why his fiance took a job in Toronto 6 months before he went into free agency lol

[@chessmentor63]

@@sacredsiren But management surely knew that? I blame management. Do you hear the lack of enthusiasm when he says he wants to stay? Red flag right there. Management should have known. Anyway we're better now without him.

[@cli260]

So now the Islanders without Tavares did better than Toronto in the Playoffs two years in a row. You can't built a team like that over night. And I'm not gonna defend this guy, cause Jesus he lied sooo many times about not moving on (thnak you for this video). But part of the blame is going for NYI Management: just trade the guy. It's still business and building a team at the end of the day. And it looks like they got the team now, even if they got nothing in exchange for Tavares. Also - stop saying that "this is the best player in the world" about a guy who was never even close to the cup. Nhl fans have this funny way to tell you who is the best (especially if the guy's from Canada) waaay before the player achieved anything. So for now all the McDavids and Matthewses and Taraveses in the World are worth significantly less than Crosby or Toews. And for Tavares, playing for over a decade now, it's a little embarrassing.

[@Kawasaki2009]

Why so bitter? lol I love that he is a Leaf, he plays with some of the best talent in the league, and the best player in the league.

[@tauraizamchiya2797]

The thing is, the Ilse were and are trash ok? The man wanted a change of scenery, you can't hate on him for living his life how he's always wanted it to be lived. The guy loved Long Island and the ppl there, but some times you can't always please everyone...

[@carcharodontosaurusrex1164]

GET.THE.TAVARES.VIDEO.OFF.KZbin.NOW.

[@besiedju]

Dude literally carried the team his whole time there, I don’t blame him for leaving

[@ptoedits5644]

I dont blame him for leaving either. It was how he left

[@k-rod25]

@@ptoedits5644 and yet look how the islanders turned out

[@com3dytriogamez62]

He didnt

[@zkid001]

Carried us to mediocrity

[@tribalchief1516]

I mean I love JT AND ALWAYS WILL LOVE HIM. BUT HE ENDED A 23 YEAR DROUGHT OF 1ST ROUND LOSS AGAINST FLORIDA. AND WHEN HE LEFT WE WENT TO B2B ECF AGAINST TBL. JT: AND I QUOTE I WOULD NOT COUNT ON THAT ME GOING TO TORONTO. WE SHOULD'VE GOT AT LEAST A 1ST RND PICK. BUT DEEP DOWN JOHNNY KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING. 😭😭🏒🥅

[@shawn6745]

Isles fans should hate snow not Tavares. He didnt trade JT when he could have.

[@spizzwolf]

we do

[@crislsq172]

🐍

[@viewfromthehighchair9391]

NY Islander fans need to get TF over it. It's been over 5 years FFS!!! Maybe Islander fans would be better off booing their ownership for not doing their job well to keep Tavares. How about that for an option? Hockey is, at its core, a business and it is (and was) not Tavares responsibility to do the Islander's job for them. Apparently the Islander's management played hardball and came up empty which is not Tavare's fault. Every team has lost a fan favourite, including Toronto on a few occasions, and that player might be boo'd for a game or two for fun but for 5-6 years, that's making a mockery of the practice. I can't understand why Islander fans are such babies about it; I've always admired the toughness of the people of New York City (and surrounding areas) and this is a slap in the face to that reputation of toughness. Once again, get TF over it already!!

[@anthonys3631]

Ah, excuse me. He pleaded with the team to not move him at the trade deadline the prior season hinting he was going to resign with them. But then in the off season he does an about face and signs with his hometown leafs. So then the Isles were left with and got nothing for him in return?!?! I'd have been pi $$ ed off about it too! Any fan base would be. Just 'dirty' what he did to them.

[@anthonys3631]

Ah, excuse me. He pleaded with the team to not move him at the trade deadline the prior season hinting he was going to resign with them. But then in the off season he does an about face and signs with his hometown leafs. So then the Isles were left with and got nothing for him in return?!?! I'd have been pi $$ ed off about it too! Any fan base would be. Yea hockey is a business but one should be clean and honest with their intentions. If he was saying he was 'undecided" as to what he was wanting to do come trade deadline then yea I'd have moved him and gotten something for him in return. Just 'dirty' what he did to them. IMHO he's been a overpaid bust for the Leafs anyways. They should buy him out and move on from him cause his numbers don't equal his overpaid salary.

[@viewfromthehighchair9391]

@@anthonys3631I think he is overpaid as well but I would have gotten tf over it by now. It makes Islander's fans look like 2 year-olds keeping this crap up. Sure, boo him the first couple of shifts for fun and then enjoy the damn game FFS!!

[@viewfromthehighchair9391]

You know you can just edit your comment or delete and start over, right? You seem to have posted the comment twice although you did add to it. 3 dots on the right side of the comment will help you.@@anthonys3631

[@anthonys3631]

@@viewfromthehighchair9391agreed. Time to move on and let it go. IMHO he hasn't done much for the Leafs. They should buy him out and be done with him, cheers.

[@victorsforza5578]

Y'all don't realize that Islanders owner Charles Wang, who was still a minority partner in 2017 btw, would NEVER HAVE TRADED Tavares even if John begged him to. Y'all don't know how Strange this entire saga was, Tavares kept stringing the isles and their fans along during 2017-18 but few if any knew the dynamic that existed with the club while Charles Wang had any say in the club. Wang insisted that one stipulation of him selling a majority portion of the isles to John ledecky and Scott Malkin was that then current GM Garth Snow be retained for the near future, when Wang had basically no more say in the club, snow was dismissed (the club missed the playoffs two yrs in a row under weight giving up nearly 300 goals in 2017-18) and Lou lamoriello and then Barry trotz was brought in..

[@chadoke3110]

He is a liar

[@kaylenricketts]

Lol u guys are so mad

[@user-qb1lq9xf1d]

Tavares didn’t want to be a fish stick

[@matthewserpe1051]

When John Tavares says he hopes he’s gonna stay that doesn’t mean that he’s 100% gonna stay. Also it’s not like he promised the franchise that he was gonna resign

[@gr3mlin404]

Okay. And? He enjoyed playing for the Islanders and then decided not to stay. Who cares? Chara did the same thing. Not that any Isles fan respects my opinion considering that I'm a Rangers fan.

[@spizzwolf]

i respect ur opinion and also, it's wrong. listen, there's a right way to handle things. like the way ur team's best player panarin told CBJ straight up he wants to test free agency. and chara was traded by the isles he didn't leave.

[@TigerDriver66]

Snake