Logical Progression wrote:
Sorry Chris - feel your pain. From a distance, didn't like the way the Tavares sweepstakes went down. He could have still gone to the Leafs and done the Isles solid. The optics look bad and he comes out looking like just another selfish pro athlete.
He comes off as the biggest douche bag ever.
He had a call with NY reporters. He started by thanking them for always treating him kindly and with respect (way to set the tone of the call). So a bunch started
congratulating him. 80 year old Stan Fischler was having none of it. He's got zero fucks to give. He asked how JT could possibly take so long to decide and why he didn't do a sign and trade so the Isles would get
something in return. Canned answer on how tough a decision it was. No mention of the Isles. Fischler spoke to some remaining Islanders. He says the players had no idea Johnny Pajamas was leaving. Most were shocked, some in total disbelief. Fischler told them some Isles fans are burning their #91 jerseys. One said "don't blame them." So obviously they didn't expect him to leave either, which tells you how he acted around them.
He had an interview in TO the other day in which he was asked why he didn't do a sign & trade (as I've said- he could have gotten 8 years and the Isles could have gotten something for him). He said he didn't want to weaken the org he was going to by having them trade away assets. If you're a Leaf fan, I guess you love that kind of dedication. If you're an Isles fan, you look at it like he's a huge, lying scumbag who says all the right things, while twisting an imaginary mustache and tying someone to train tracks.
Lou and Trotz have both been giving lots of interviews. Both said they're disappointed to see him leave, but that they'll move on and have a plan of attack. Lou said he knows fans aren't thrilled with the situation and asked for patience, as they're changing the culture first, then will move on to the play. Lou was quick to point out how much Martin loved the Islanders, and how happy he is to be returning. Lou gave a few backhand shots at JT, saying these guys want to be here, and aren't interested in personal gains- just the team. They want to build a TEAM, not a group of individuals. Trotz said he knew the Isles goals against last year were bad but didn't realize it was the highest in 10 years. But he smiled and said "that's easy to fix. It's team defense. We're going to play solid
team defense. And everyone is going to be committed to playing hard for the team." So clearly they've begun the "us vs the world" slogans and brain washing. Trotz said that he's met with all roster players & some he expects to be on the roster soon to tell them what he expects from them, etc. He sounds like he really likes Ho-Sang, which I found surprising. Trotz also said when the JT news broke a bunch of the players texted him that they're going to miss him, but they'll get over it by concentrating more as a team. I wonder if some of the Isles who have been dragging their feet (Nelson!) will break out with JT gone because they're no longer sitting back waiting for him to get the big goal. I can hope anyway, right?
Supposedly Jack Capuano called this 2 years ago after meeting JT's girlfriend. He said she seemed to hate Long Island and all she talked about was how great Toronto is.
JT was asked why he didn't request a trade at the deadline. He said Snow told him he wasn't going to trade him "and I respected that". WTF does that mean? The rumor in NY since January was that Snow asked if he SHOULD trade JT and JT said no. If that's BS, then JT should refute it. Sounds like it's true, so he really fucked the Isles over. And himself- he could have had 8 years with the Leafs. He also even fucked his agent by taking 1 less year, and $14 million less on the contract (Isles offer was 8 years at $11.375, Leafs was 7 at $11). Maybe the Cap will sky rocket by then and he'll make more that 8th year.
Supposedly his contract is written so he gets paid even if there's a lockout. Is that possible? Sounds like a really moronic thing for owners to do if it's true. No idea how that would work. And if true, it's a pretty big FU to lower end players in the NHLPA who certainly won't get such clauses.
It's going to hurt any time you lose a point/game player. The way he left, after all the things he'd always said, make it far worse. Isles fans hate JT on a level with Dale Hunter & far more than Kirk Muller. Yes, there are some idiots burning jerseys. That's a shame. I'm looking into getting "GORING" name plates for my kids' #91 jerseys. Sure, they have Cs on the front and Goring was never a Captain, but that's still not as disingenuous as Captain Pajamas, so who gives a fuck? I'd rather they have jersey fouls than see that dick's name.
Isles fans are clambering for various promotions the first time the Leafs come to NY. Some want #91 retired that night- for Butch Goring. I can't see him going through with that. Others want it to be Islanders Pajama night. I think that's hysterical. There are already lots of ideas of what to do if (more like WHEN) the Isles play some sort of tribute video. Some want to boo. Others want to walk out en masse. Some want it to be clips of him saying how he wants to be an Islander for life... I'm sure they'll do a video, and Islander fans will boo the whole thing. The week before JT will give some sappy statements about how he wished it went down differently and how he loved Long Island. The press will forgive him as will some fans. Others will make an even bigger deal and do moronic things like burn Canadian flags, and look like total assholes in front of the whole hockey world.
But hey. Matt Martin is psyched to be an Islander again!
And Lou is signing veteran AHLers for Bridgeport to change morale down there. I think that's really important and has been totally neglected since that team first existed. Change the culture in both places, so kids have a winning attitude when they're brought up. I like it.
And Trotz said the NHL is getting younger and faster, so look forward to seeing kids playing a lot (said 2 days after signing a bunch of slow, old guys). But at least he knows it and it sounds like Ho-Sang and co will get a chance to show they belong or won't ever make it. But at least they won't just be buried because of their age. Trotz also said Bellows can score, so maybe he gets a real chance to make it or is the first call up. Hopefully these kids get the chance to bury the recent signings in the press box!
Lou & Trotz also both said they know it's a mini-rebuild, but it should be a very quick one. So as usual, it's wait and see what really happens. At this point, Isles fans don't really give a fuck about lip service. We want hockey with results.