you have a blessed life if a hockey player leaving was the worst day of your life.

Just look at how leafs fans treated Mitch Marner for wanting to resign for his actual value.

Look at how leafs fans and media stalked phil kessel and called him lazy, you know, the guy who missed 11 games with leukemia.

Leafs fans who call william nylander female names on this site.

and on and on and on.

Leafs fans that will turn on tavares in a minute if his production dips.

All true. Although I think it's worth noting this is some of leafs fans. I'm a fan of the game and the Leafs, and while I want them to win all the time, that will never happen. Some players turn out to be good others turn out to be Jason Blake. But at the end of the day, they're still people as well and I think as fans who consume the entertainment they provide, we could all stand to show them a little respect.

All these things weren't the majority of the fanbase and aren't being justified. This is major false equivalency.

This team has done a lot better both results and culture wise after Tavares left.

and if auston matthews left Toronto under the same circumstances JT left the Isles you will bury him too.

we can revisit this if matthews ever leaves for nothing.

I'll let you be the one who remembers this thread.

But that doesn't justify how Isles fans reacted. If Matthews leaves for nothing, which he might, that would suck. I agree. But personally I wouldn't make or defend any leafs fans making a smear video of him and posting it online. I'm not arguing that JT leaving would suck for Isles fans, I'm saying the reaction was classless. I would say the same if the Leafs did it.

lol, touche

why do you care so much what some dumb islanders fans did?

I care that so many Islanders fans think that was an appropriate thing to do. I worry about humanity. Also I never called anyone dumb.

You’re over exaggerating. The way they treated tavares won’t be a factor in star players decisions to play for the isles.

Frans Nielsen left money on the table to sign with detroit 4 years ago - isles fans were mad at first but he still received a standing ovation in his first game back . Tavares situation was unique and he didn’t deserve any respect. You disagree because you can only see the situation through a subjective lens.

Worry about humanity because isles fans booed Tavares. Yikes

I don't care that they booed him.

How many former 1st overall picks and former captains have they signed since?

so its the Dear John video that 20 idiots made before his return? Everyone knows that video is cringe worthy.

From this thread all I read was Isles fans defending that and that JT got what he deserved. The making of that video and the majority of the fanbase getting behind it was wrong in my opinion. I believe that will be a factor for any future UFAs to sign there.

Lee left money on the table to sign with the isles and Andy Greene was captain of the devils

lol if you think a majority of the fanbase got behind it you weren't paying attention. Most of the fanbase was against it.

Tavares did get what he deserved - like I said before, the only thing that was important to isles fans was to make his first game back a hostile environment. He didn't deserve any respect. After that most isles fans moved on.

Neither were 1st overall picks. Also Lee re-signed, so he was already playing there. Not the same as testing the market and moving your whole life to a new city and team.

Yes clearly they've moved on...

You said 1st overall picks and captains, not 1st overall picks who were captains.

The only 1st overall picks who tested free agency since 2018 were Taylor Hall and Joe thorton. The isles had no cap space, but if they did they would have a decent shot at signing him. His best friend is Jordan Eberle. Joe thorton wouldn't make the isles roster , they weren't interested.

The Leafs have had a good shot at signing players too if they would have had cap room.

It's not something that isles fans will forget about, but you don't see isles fans talking about him often . Id argue more leafs fans troll isles fans about him leaving.