So, it's time for another post. Usually I only end up here when something big happens, and I feel compelled to vent, post, complain, or pontificate on something. Today's one of those days.
We're a little more than 24 hours removed from one of the most stunning, infuriating, and, for some, saddening days in recent Islander history. John Tavares is a Toronto Maple Leaf. The salt in the wound was a post on twitter from Darcy Tucker of all people
After asking emphatically not to be traded mid-season, after saying multiple times during interviews that Long Island is his home, after saying Long Island was where he wanted to play, he miraculously realized after a week long dog and pony show that he had a childhood dream he wanted to live out.
I call shenanigans. If you're going to post a picture of yourself in your Maple Leaf PJ's right after announcing your contract, that means you did a little prep work. So let's cut the crap and call a spade a spade.
John Tavares strung Islander fans, his team, and his teammates along far longer than any of us deserved. I don't buy the half assed iPhone notepad screenshot break up. I don't buy the shaky voice during the interview. I don't buy the statement that it was the hardest decision he ever made.
The entire situation was one long drawn out mess and a disservice to his time in NY.
Nobody -and I mean nobody- is going to think of overtime winners or sick goals anymore when they think of John Tavares. They're going to think how he played the Islanders like a fiddle and went home, not the place he said was his home for the last several years as the free agency talk started to get legs.
It's been a very long time since there was a player who left one of the teams I root for that I have been livid toward. I wasn't even this mad at Jose Reyes when he took the money and bolted. Now John Tavares is in the elite company of people like John Rocker, Dale Hunter, Darcy Tucker, Sean Avery, etc.
He is officially persona non grata to me now. He's just another person on another team. John Tavares is the enemy. No video tributes. No welcome back JT. Nada.
He's a person who should be boo'ed every time he hits the ice from now until the end of eternity, and rightfully so.
I'd say thanks for the memories, John, but they're all tarnished. I'll stick to putting my hopes in the kid who won the Calder trophy.
