Anders Lee's response when asked the best quality in a teammate via the @nhlpa: "Loyalty."

[SI90]

Does he have an issue with Ladd leaving to sign with the Islanders? Komarov leaving to sign with the Islanders? Lehner leaving to sign with the Islanders? How about the countless other examples?

Joke of a comment.

Those players were not wanted by their teams. I say you have the joke of a comment.

Also, it’s been stated over and over and beaten to death. It’s not that Tavares left, it was his actions and how he left. Playing for the leafs was/is his childhood dream and he’s living his dream. He has a right to do what makes him happy it’s his life. All he had to do was tell the media “ I’m not answering any questions on my contract or upcoming Free agent status.” Done.

Instead all he did was speak on his desire to stay and be an islander for life. He talked constantly about the future of the team and him being a part of it. He was never pressured into these comments either. He offered them up on the regular. That’s why islanders fans are so upset. If no one can see that than that’s their problem.

 

[Fenrirson]

Lol and the best Islander ever left anyway cause the team sucks

 

[Bronson]

You're all pathetic. Tavares was at his wedding this summer.

 

[SI90]

You're all pathetic. Tavares was at his wedding this summer.

And he was at Tavares

 

[SI90]

Lol and the best Islander ever left anyway cause the team sucks

Potvin never left and Bossy Retired because of back issues.

 

[Dahlin 2 Eichel]

Doubt it was bogus since Shanahan backed up the claim. Said Tavares took a discount.

Shanahan the guy who is hinting that Nylander should take a pay cut because he did to play in Detroit?

 

[barilko05]

Potvin never left and Bossy Retired because of back issues.

Nice try. Unrestricted Free agency didn't exist back then. Neither left because they couldn't.

I'd also argue that Trottier was the best ever...and he did leave (eventually).

 

[SI90]

Nice try. Free agency didn't exist back then. Neither left because they couldn't.

Players forced trades though and they never did. Plus, they’re both considered the all time great islanders.
Potvin pretty much #1 though.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Uh...

This seems to me like standard NHLer boilerplate, like 'team played hard but didn't get the bounces', 'they out hustled us' and (after goalie caps the bed) 'we didn't defend well enough' and not a jab at Tavares.

But people will take it how they will take it.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Shanahan the guy who is hinting that Nylander should take a pay cut because he did to play in Detroit?

So we can't trust the media (multiple known sources) nor can we trust Shanahan. Instead, we should trust an HF poster.

Seems a bit silly don't you think?

 

[CanadasTeam]

Tavares told management and fans for a year that he was resigning, Isles didn't even attempt to shop him. Before FA everything from the Isles camp was that they were sure he was resigning.

Then FA hits and it becomes obvious by Tavares comments that he made up his mind a long time ago to leave. He strung his team and fans around, prevented management from getting assets before the trade deadline.

Tavares could have been honest from the beginning and left with class. Or he could have lied and said he made his decision after the Leafs team meeting at FA. Isles fans have every right to be angry with the way he left, you can bet that Isles management is that they didn't get a 1st+top prospect for him.

I don't know who your sources were but just in case, for those who have not seen the piece on Sportsnet, here's how it actually went down.

How the Toronto Maple Leafs signed John Tavares - Sportsnet.ca

 

[barilko05]

Players forced trades though and they never did. Plus, they’re both considered the all time great islanders.
Potvin pretty much #1 though.

Not really. Without UFA players had very little leverage back then. Some held out but by and large it didn't work. Also, the Isles were a dynasty. If JT's Isles were even half that good, he probably wouldn't have left.

And I'll concede Potvin as #1...with Gordie Lane a close 2nd .

 

[ijuka]

This just shows the mantality of players. More should leave their teams. It's fine in every other sport except the NHL.
The guy took less money to try to win and he's crapped on.

Agreed. "Loyalty" in general is an attribute that sets a person up for getting taken advantage of. It's the players who make the sport, not the organizations or entities.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Leafs fans so insufferable its making me actually sympathize with the f***ing Islanders and their fans. What a world we live in.

 

[King'sPawn]

Isn't it possible the remark wasn't about Tavares and the world doesn't revolve around Toronto?

 

[CanadasTeam]

Isn't it possible the remark wasn't about Tavares and the world doesn't revolve around Toronto?

Definitely possible, but somebody thought it was worth tweeting.. where's the guy from again?

 

[Bronson]

Definitely possible, but somebody thought it was worth tweeting.. where's the guy from again?

So this thread is not about Anders Lee but about pro tweeter Rob Taub?

 

[puckIuck]

i'm sure Tavares would've been viewed differently if he didn't do the whole blanket twitter thing

 

[jjyay]

Uh...

This seems to me like standard NHLer boilerplate, like 'team played hard but didn't get the bounces', 'they out hustled us' and (after goalie caps the bed) 'we didn't defend well enough' and not a jab at Tavares.

But people will take it how they will take it.

Absolutely, I'm kind of shocked by how many people here (not just leaf fans) have worked themselves into a frenzy over the most standard, generic answer to that question.

 

[Field of Dreams]

I'd be upset too if I lost my mealticket on a contract year

 

[DanM]

Whatever lol

A grown ass man made a decision to play for another team. Grow up, and move on. Is this guy 12?

JT is an adult who made an adult decision that was best for him, hockey players, like any athlete, are free to make this choice. Just like us average folk can switch jobs, or divorce partners, it's not a big deal.

I do feel for NY fans, because as a Leaf fan, I would not like to lose a star player, but it's life.

Nobody gives a single f*** about Anders Lee, and his opinions.

 

[sabremike]

Whatever lol

A grown ass man made a decision to play for another team. Grow up, and move on. Is this guy 12?

JT is an adult who made an adult decision that was best for him, hockey players, like any athlete, are free to make this choice. Just like us average folk can switch jobs, or divorce partners, it's not a big deal.

I do feel for NY fans, because as a Leaf fan, I would not like to lose a star player, but it's life.

Nobody gives a single **** about Anders Lee, and his opinions.

OK, I'll give it a go here since you didn't bother reading my or several other posts debunking this. ANDERS AND JOHN WERE AT EACH OTHER'S WEDDINGS THIS OFFSEASON. WHEN ANDRES WAS NAMED CAPTAIN JOHN CALLED HIM TO CONGRATULATE HIM AND THEY CHATTED AT LENGTH. THEY ARE BOTH VERY GOOD FRIENDS. THERE IS VIRTUALY ZERO CHANCE WHATSOEVER THIS WAS A SHOT AT JOHN.

 

[Bronson]

Whatever lol

A grown ass man made a decision to play for another team. Grow up, and move on. Is this guy 12?

JT is an adult who made an adult decision that was best for him, hockey players, like any athlete, are free to make this choice. Just like us average folk can switch jobs, or divorce partners, it's not a big deal.

I do feel for NY fans, because as a Leaf fan, I would not like to lose a star player, but it's life.

Nobody gives a single **** about Anders Lee, and his opinions.

Lol, Tavares is an ass man.

 

[FinnishSniper]

Whatever lol

A grown ass man made a decision to play for another team. Grow up, and move on. Is this guy 12?

JT is an adult who made an adult decision that was best for him, hockey players, like any athlete, are free to make this choice. Just like us average folk can switch jobs, or divorce partners, it's not a big deal.

I do feel for NY fans, because as a Leaf fan, I would not like to lose a star player, but it's life.

Nobody gives a single **** about Anders Lee, and his opinions.

But you obviously do tho...

 

[sabremike]

Lol, Tavares is an ass man.

Wait he's Billy Gunn??????