Since Tavares’ departure, the Isles have gone further than the Leafs all 3 years

[IslesBro715]

Tavares was on the Islanders for 9 years, in those 9 years we made the playoffs 3 times and won a total of 10 playoffs games.

Since his departure which was 3 seasons ago, we made the playoffs all 3 years and won a total of 20 playoff games and counting.

I really feel like he is just not cut out to be a captain. The Islanders success has to be screwing with his head.

 

[Thrasymachus]

What an odd way to judge "success".

Til winning playoffs rounds is an "odd way to judge success"

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Tavares was on the Islanders for 9 years, in those 9 years we made the playoffs 3 times and won a total of 10 playoffs games.

Since his departure which was 3 seasons ago, we made the playoffs all 3 years and won a total of 20 playoff games and counting.

I really feel like he is just not cut out to be a captain. The Islanders success has to be screwing with his head.

You make a pertinent point that is often overlooked. The Isles ID changed when he left. Anders Lee is a great leader, he is passionate, is not shy in showing this, he cares for his teammates, and he is also a much better player than he is given credit for. Tavares is a robot some will joke. His interviews are cliches often spoken in monotone, he is not the type of personality people will gravitate towards. I really think him leaving changed the culture of the team. The Isles got tighter, the players more passionate. Lou believes in Logo first. This goes a long way in building a true team. I don't think it can be understated how the team's personality and some will call it ID changed when he left. The on ice record is proof of this.

 

[RobBrown4PM]

The usual argument from leafs and Habs fans qhen they have nothing else. But we is older than your team.

Some things stand the test of time, others not so much.

 

[Thrasymachus]

This is a very arrogant take.

kinda impressive actually. that reads like something a supervillain would say

alot of grandiloquence. I don't mind the arrogance, so long as you guys recognize unearned swagger like that is precisely the reason why so many detest your fanbase.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Some things stand the test of time, others not so much.

Like the leafs inability to win anything?

Thats certainly stood the test of time for about half a century and counting.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Sure, maybe. But you live with this stuff, and leafs fans have, do, and will. It's apart of being a franchise that spans 100+ years and is on the tip of literally every fans lips, yours included if you didn't know.

And the Leafs will be here long after other organizations crumble and melt into history. Our history, good and bad, is here forever, remembered by all. Others, not so much.

Who cares? The Leafs are on everbody's lips because they constantly find new ways to embarrass themselves for our amusement. And yet, we still see comments like this, perpetuating the cycle. The Leafs blow and have largely blown for the past 55 years. Not even a goddamn finals appearance in that timespan.

 

[JT Kreider]

Who cares? The Leafs are on everbody's lips because they constantly find new ways to embarrass themselves for our amusement. And yet, we still see comments like this, perpetuating the cycle. The Leafs blow and have largely blown for the past 55 years. Not even a goddamn finals appearance in that timespan.

If the NHL were more mainstream this choke would be on par historically with the Red Sox before 2004. It's a perfect storm to be the biggest choke of all time considering the Cup drought, the media/fan pressure in TO, signing Tavares cranked that pressure up times 100, the huge contracts, all the previous Game 7 losses, the Leafs were supposed to be poster boy team for the "new NHL" and yet they lost to a team with the most expensive goalie in the league..

 

[Zeeker]

This is a very arrogant take.

Arrogant is putting it kindly. “Funny” is the right word to me. This guy is bragging about every other fan base collectively laughing at his team. Ok, maybe “sad” is the best word.

 

[IslesBro715]

The issue with him was if he wasn't scoring, he was useless.

 

[Thrasymachus]

The issue with him was if he wasn't scoring, he was useless.

idk if I'd go that far

but he certainly loved taking 2+ minute shifts lol

 

[Canada is best bro]

The issue with him was if he wasn't scoring, he was useless.

No big loss for the isles and he still performed around the same for half the salary.

 

[JT Kreider]

The issue with him was if he wasn't scoring, he was useless.

The issue with him is that he has the leadership skills of a rock and has been one of the worst Captains in the league since he first got the C with the Islanders

 

[The Wahligator]

The issue with him is that he has the leadership skills of a rock and has been one of the worst Captains in the league since he first got the C with the Islanders

Ummm excuse me he’s a former finalist for the prestigious Mark Messier Leadership Award

 

[Thrasymachus]

The issue with him is that he has the leadership skills of a rock and has been one of the worst Captains in the league since he first got the C with the Islanders

this is revisionism

he wasn't the best captain, he certainly lacked a certain charisma... but he was the consummate pro in terms of his demeanor, training, and competitive-edge, which set the tone for the rest of the team. The Isles locker-room obviously respected him, if they didn't perhaps "love" him the way they seem to adore Lee.

The fact that JT captained a team which won a playoff round means he isn't a "bad captain" IMHO

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Sure, maybe. But you live with this stuff, and leafs fans have, do, and will. It's apart of being a franchise that spans 100+ years and is on the tip of literally every fans lips, yours included if you didn't know.

And the Leafs will be here long after other organizations crumble and melt into history. Our history, good and bad, is here forever, remembered by all. Others, not so much.

Nonsense. Most current NHL teams will be here permanently subject to a few exceptions. And while the Leafs do have a storied history, that was all back in the six team league. The history since then has been anything but storied.

 

[Thrasymachus]

Nonsense. Most current NHL teams will be here permanently subject to a few exceptions. And while the Leafs do have a storied history, that was all back in the six team league. The history since then has been anything but storied.

if anything people far removed from this time and our social media bubble are going to look back at the list of past cup winners / finalists and assume the leafs folded in the 70s

 

[carparkno1]

What's interesting is the lack of multiple first round picks the Isles didn't get from Tavares forced them to be a bit different with their roster.

They found value from within, gave guys like Wahlstrom time to develop and kept faith in Sorokin in Russia.

We raised an eyebrow at the Varlamov deal but that's looking sweet right now, and the D has been so tight they don't miss Devon Toews who has been lights out.

They've got the team first mentality, backed by a very very sound system, a strong draft history (credit to Garth Snow), but ultimately it cannot be ignored that the new ownership has changed the franchise above and beyond any one moment in time like Tavares leaving.

Hiring Lou, hiring Trotz, building this incredible new arena, making the island a place UFAs and Trade targets would want to come has fundamentally made the difference.

JG Pageau is the embodiment of all these things.

I'm not anti-leafs, not even anti-Tavares (although I do think he spun the Isles a tall story for a long time about resigning), but the change in fortunes of both franchises (especially considering the leafs budget and reach) is quite incredible.

 

[JT Kreider]

this is revisionism

he wasn't the best captain, he certainly lacked a certain charisma... but he was the consummate pro in terms of his demeanor, training, and competitive-edge, which set the tone for the rest of the team. The Isles locker-room obviously respected him, if they didn't perhaps "love" him the way they seem to adore Lee.

The fact that JT captained a team which won a playoff round means he isn't a "bad captain" IMHO

He definitely seems like a "lead by example" type of Captain and is about as perfect a hockey player you could have, but it's almost to the point that perfection is a bad thing and he is way too robotic and I am not sure that resonates with Marner and Matthews

 

[MatthewBarnabysTears]

this is revisionism

he wasn't the best captain, he certainly lacked a certain charisma... but he was the consummate pro in terms of his demeanor, training, and competitive-edge, which set the tone for the rest of the team. The Isles locker-room obviously respected him, if they didn't perhaps "love" him the way they seem to adore Lee.

The fact that JT captained a team which won a playoff round means he isn't a "bad captain" IMHO

Those teams were incredibly non-resilient though. The two seasons before Tavares left were embarrassing—they had the talent for deep playoff runs. Most of it was on coaching, but it hardly seems like Tavares was providing any useful leadership.

 

[Oneiro]

Sure, maybe. But you live with this stuff, and leafs fans have, do, and will. It's apart of being a franchise that spans 100+ years and is on the tip of literally every fans lips, yours included if you didn't know.

And the Leafs will be here long after other organizations crumble and melt into history. Our history, good and bad, is here forever, remembered by all. Others, not so much.

Ah yes, the McDonald's of hockey.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

this is revisionism

he wasn't the best captain, he certainly lacked a certain charisma... but he was the consummate pro in terms of his demeanor, training, and competitive-edge, which set the tone for the rest of the team. The Isles locker-room obviously respected him, if they didn't perhaps "love" him the way they seem to adore Lee.

The fact that JT captained a team which won a playoff round means he isn't a "bad captain" IMHO

There are different kinds of captains. Fans and media have no idea what these people say and do in the locker room aside from the filtered info people in the know chose to give them.

None of us have any idea just how good or bad a captain anyone is.

 

[Thrasymachus]

Those teams were incredibly non-resilient though. The two seasons before Tavares left were embarrassing—they had the talent for deep playoff runs. Most of it was on coaching, but it hardly seems like Tavares was providing any useful leadership.

that is moreso the fault of Doug Weight's abysmal coaching IMHO

 

[MatthewBarnabysTears]

that is moreso the fault of Doug Weight's abysmal coaching IMHO

I agree, but nonetheless it clearly was not an impressive captaincy.

 

[Thrasymachus]

I agree, but nonetheless it clearly was not an impressive captaincy.

Alright I think we can agree there.