Auston Matthews makes a telling leadership gesture toward John Tavares ahead of Islanders game
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a heartfelt decision to John Tavares ahead of tonight’s game against his former team.
Ahead of tonight’s game against the New York Islanders, the Toronto Maple Leafs have given an unexpected boost to John Tavares in his return to Long Island.
Leafs captain Auston Matthews let Tavares lead the team into morning stretches ahead of tonight’s game, with Tavares reluctantly accepting the role.
The move comes for Tavares to be viewed as a leader ahead of a match against the Islanders that in recent years has been rowdy and hectic towards former Islander John Tavares.
John Tavares move to Toronto still stinging with Isles fans years later
For New York Islanders fans, hurt still exists over the decision for John Tavares to leave the team, and wounds haven’t shown themselves to have healed just yet.
Tavares was drafted first overall by the Islanders in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, having been at the time the most hyped prospect since Sidney Crosby in 2005, although had cooled after a less than exceptional draft season, but skilled enough to go first overall.
Despite being once heralded as a potential generational prospect, Tavares was still expected to be a franchise player for the Islanders and was so from the beginning.
Tavares spent nine seasons with the Islanders, named the team’s captain in 2013, having been the team’s biggest star since the Islanders dynasty of the late 70’s and early 80’s, fifth in all-time points as an Islander with 621.
Following a high-stakes free agency sweepstakes for Tavares, who had indicated his future was no longer with the Islanders, he signed with his boyhood Leafs in 2018.
Tavares’ move to Toronto was a deeply unpopular one for Islanders fans, who openly heckled Tavares upon his return to Long Island, booed by fans and jeered as a “snake”.
The Islanders have a new star #1 prospect in rookie defenseman Matrhew Schaefer, with the 18-year-old having one of the best seasons by a rookie defender.
Tavares has seven goals, six assists, & 13 points in 17 games for the Leafs against the Islanders, with two goals and seven points in his last 10 NHL games this season.
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Auston Matthews makes a telling leadership gesture toward John Tavares ahead of Islanders game
Will John Tavares score vs the Islanders tonight?
