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It was like the slow ripping of a band-aid, and now the wound will bleed all Islanders fans for decades to come.
A dark day in the history of the Islanders arrived Sunday, when Captain John Tavares decided to become a free agent, then signed a sentimental agreement with his hometown Maple Leafs. The seven – year, $ 77 million contract is certainly lower than what the Islanders were offering, first because the Islands were the only team capable of giving it eight years before the midnight arrival on Sunday. It is also believed that their bid was about $ 12 million a year, if not $ 11 million from Toronto
Tavares, who will be 28 years old before the start of the season, grew up nearby. Mississauga, Ontario, and he even tweeted a picture of himself as a child sleeping in a leaf bed of Maple Leafs, with the caption: "Not every day you can live a childhood dream. "
to pitchers by six teams – the Islanders, Leafs, Sharks, Stars, Lightning and Bruins. New team president, Lou Lamoriello, and new coach Barry Trotz have been Islanders favorites, which largely explains why Tavares could stay, as the Islanders' organization has changed to become more stable.
Tavares also tweeted a message to Islanders fans, who were furious with Greenpoint in Greenport, and they will probably let him hear their frustration every time he returns to New York.
"To all fans of Islanders" he wrote. "These last six days have never been what I could have hoped for … Making the most difficult decision of my life: staying where I've been all my career or taking a leap of faith calculated in an opportunity that, I believe, will be special to me and my family.The island has been my home, that's what I know, it's part of me – it always will be. can not think you enough for the dedication that you have all shown.I am sorry if this decision pains you because you can say that it was not easy, but trust the future because that is The Islanders are in good hands and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be an Islander for as long as I. The Island, The Fans, The Islanders are in good hands. organization, my team mates will always be special for me and my family, but it's time to live my childhood dream here in Toronto. "
This process was more than ever 39, a year in progress, with Tavares having been able to sign an extension as of July 1, 2017. Despite his intransigence, he wanted to return to the Islanders, Tavares had also specified that he wanted to evaluate all his options and weigh the for and against each possible
He received a large spot from the Brass Islanders who, at the time, was led by General Manager Garth Snow. A tougher line would have required Tavares to sign an agreement in the middle of the season or to exchange it before the February 26 deadline. If this were the case, it would have created a feeder frenzy of suitors and would have brought back a substantial return to an organization that is trying to rebuild its pool of exhausted prospects.
But the highly qualified center was allowed to leave During the season, there were no negotiations and he regularly answered questions about it while his team missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. The Islanders still have only one playoff win since 1993.
Then came the offseason, and the Tavares watch was full. The longer it lasted, the worse it got. Having already traveled so far, Tavares decided to use the five-day free agent brokerage period after draft, when all the suitors came to his agent's office in Los Angeles. On Thursday, Tavares flew out of California and found himself in Toronto trying to make a decision. Lamoriello and Trotz never had the opportunity to formulate a last word, but had they not yet clarified their message, it was likely that Tavares would leave.
On May 22, he hired the legendary Lamoriello, who, two weeks later, relieved the neophyte snow and snow trainer, Doug Weight. On June 21, Lamoriello was able to hire Trotz a few days after winning the Stanley Cup as a Capitals coach.
The principal owner, Scott Malkin, and his associate Jon Ledecky brought restored financial stability, and they also got the rights. to build a new arena at Belmont Park, which will open for the 2021-22 season. The club plays its home games between Barclays Center and the renovated Coliseum the next three years before the move.
It was a lot of information to deal with before making the Tavares decision. But everything has been treated, and now he is gone.
A dark day in the history of Islanders, indeed.
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