Statistically, one of the New York Islanders best homegrown talents was off to his hometown, Toronto, to slip on their Maple Leafs crest and blue sweater.
© Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
What was particularly irritating about that day for me was that on July 2, 2018, this New Yorker was in Canada to watch my son play in the World Junior Ball Hockey tournament in Newfoundland.
I had to see front page coverage of John Tavares’ press conference smile, wearing blue and white (now minus the orange) on the cover of all publications including The Globe and Mail.
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Oh it hurt Islanders nation. And instantaneously, Tavares became Long Island’s version of the most-hated man.
I kept the paper as a keepsake. Sorta like a fork in the road memento. Would this turn out to be the nightmare for Isles fans that ends with Tavares raising the Cup over his head – – or would it be of one where he couldn’t burden the “C” in the city with media blanketing his every move 24/7?
Tavares’ tenure with the Islanders was remarkable statistically; few can say Tavares lacked skill. The first overall pick in 2009 quickly became the face of the franchise and most highlight reels.
In his rookie campaign, Tavares accumulated 54 points (24 goals, 30 assists) in 82 games, earning him a Calder Trophy nomination as the league’s top rookie.
Tavares soon became captain of the Islanders, replacing Mark Streit, who was captain since 2011 – – Streit was traded to the Flyers before free agency opened in 2013,
No. 91 led the team in scoring five times, including a then career-high 86 points (38 goals, 48 assists) in the 2014-2015 season.
Tavares’s career statistics with the Islanders include:
– Games: 669
– Goals: 272
– Assists: 349
– Points: 621
– Plus/Minus: -42***
– Power Play Goals: 85
– Game-Winning Goals: 46
*** Yes, the Plus/Minus is in bold for a reason, but we will get back to that.
Tavares had teased the Leafs fans real well during his time in Long Island, tormenting Toronto on countless occasions, including this artful OT winner:
Under Tavares’ leadership, the Islanders undoubtedly experienced a strong resurgence, playing postseason hockey three times, including a first-round series win over the Florida Panthers in 2016 — which climaxed with a Tavares double-OT goal!
Tavares’s individual accolades piled up, including five NHL All-Star Game appearances and a Hart Trophy nomination as the league’s MVP in 2015.
But some thing about Tavares never sat right with the Islander fans and my hockey scout’s eye agrees. That bold plus/minus number above always was a thorn in the side. Often it seemed that every time No. 91 would do something great, he would find a way to wipe it all away back in the defensive end.
At times, his sheer optics was not one of a captain. His aloof nature and lack of urgency both on the bench, and on the ice was sometimes concerning. And if a great captain has five tools in his shed, Tavares missed two in my book – and that has helped make his tenure in Toronto as fruitless (Cup-less) as his time on Long Island.
There is no doubt that his skill-set is definitely elite, but too often, perhaps scouting or covering the Islanders from the press box, high up at Nassau Coliseum or Barclays Center, I saw Tavares display optics leaving me scratching my head. Sometimes ending shifts early, or staying on too late – – or simply being in the wrong place, or slow to react, Tavares often looked a bit instinctively off, particularly in the defensive zone.
The worst of it was his slow back-check, particularly when his “guy” scored.
The exhilarating pluses always came with those deflating minuses. Now, the Leafs and every fan has learned the same.
The amazing thing is that Tavares actually left $11 million on the table by taking the Maple Leafs offer, which was one year less than the Islanders, who were able to offer the extra year in term.
So now Tavares is no longer captain, and Auston Mathews takes the reins.
Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said that Tavares will wear an “A” going forward.
But here’s the positive for Sir Tavares:
1-Without captain’s pressure and being in the last year of his illustrious contract, Tavares could actually be a major asset this season in more of a complementary way – – considering he’s playing for a new contract.
2-Additionally, a super motivator will be behind him on the bench in Craig Berube.
So who knows how this 91-saga will end…
Will he still be part of the Leafs’ big-four, or will his fade continue, culminating in another change of pajamas entering his free agency next summer?
Who knows.
But for Islanders fans one thing is certain, captain or not – no one wants to endure a Tavares-Cup with Toronto, so the rooting against will maintain its sky-high levels when he’s back at UBS Arena on January 2, 2025.
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