Hockey fans are a spoiled bunch. In the NBA, superstars leave teams via free agency all the time and you rarely see anything remotely like the Tavares backlash by the Isles fans (Lebron "The Decision" part I aside). At some point hockey players have to be loyal to themselves (by this I mean dreams/career goals i.e. winning a cup) and their family before the organization and a fan-base. Would any of us in his position, presented with a 1 time opportunity to take your dream job in your field pass it up strictly based on loyalty to an employer that has squandered your talents for 9 years, and looks to need another 2-3 years at least to even have any sort of serious playoff hopes?
Tavares gave essentially a decade to that franchise, signing a sweetheart deal to give them a chance to surround him with talent and they didn't. No legit starter in 9 years, a porous D and squandered top 5 pick after top 5 pick (Strome, Dal Colle).
I have been disgusted by some of the things that have been thrown around regarding Tavares, his fiancee, etc during this whole saga. The guy clearly cared about the team and the fans, and the fact that compared to the situations of the other teams pitching him during the interview period, that the Islanders were amongst them, and a finalist showed how much his loyalty to that franchise was weighing on him.
The fact that Islander management/ownership is not bearing the brunt for Tavares leaving and the franchise having nothing to show for it is ludicrous to me. They switch management and bring in Lou literally a month and a half prior to him hitting free agency and Trotz a week (or less) before, and expect it to coax him into staying? The owner threw the whole franchise into turmoil at the 11th hour. If I am the player I am thinking how is this going to play out? Are we rebuilding? Is my role going to change? Who that I am close to is going to be moved out the door? etc.
