Truth & Rumors > NHL

Tavares doesn't plan holdout

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John Tavares was thrilled when Brian Burke declared he would move heaven and earth to try to get him in a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform. But if the New York Islanders use their first pick overall in the NHL entry draft on Tavares, as expected, Tavares will become an Islander. There will be no Eric Lindros-style holdout even though Tavares grew up in Oakville, Ont., worshipping Steve Thomas, Mats Sundin, Curtis Joseph and the Maple Leafs. But that, Tavares has said more than once, is as far as it goes. Even though the once-proud Islanders are now the Siberia of the NHL, neither Tavares nor his agents, Pat Brisson and J.P. Barry, will try any strong-arm tactics like telling the Islanders or the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have the No.2 pick, that he will not play for them.

The Globe and Mail

John Tavares, Getty Images John Tavares, Getty Images
April 21, 2009  08:59 AM ET

With thinking like that, all the unfortunate young hockey players of the GTA whose fathers brainwashed them into being Leaf clones would all hold out and insist on playing for the Leafs.

April 21, 2009  09:01 AM ET

He'll have enough pressure on him being seen as a savior for the franchise if the Isles take him. A holdout wouldn't do anyone any good.

April 21, 2009  09:33 AM ET

Just the daily Tavares-Toronto Article. We're gonna get one every day until the draft

April 21, 2009  09:46 AM ET

At least he is smart enough to realize that a hold out puts a tremendous amount of pressure on him. Being the 1st overall is going to be enough.

April 21, 2009  10:17 AM ET

Burke did his little Tavares sideshow hopin Johnny boy would do a Lindros and say he isnt playing for the islanders and pressure them into a deal. Maybe he should have spoken to Tavares first.

April 21, 2009  11:27 AM ET

The Islanders need defense in front Dipietro to keep him from being over worked and ruining that hip. They should move this pick if Burke is serious because adding Schenn and a Forward at #7 plus and whoever they get out of the deal will help their team far more on the ice than Tavares.

April 21, 2009  11:30 AM ET
QUOTE(#6):

The Islanders need defense in front Dipietro to keep him from being over worked and ruining that hip. They should move this pick if Burke is serious because adding Schenn and a Forward at #7 plus and whoever they get out of the deal will help their team far more on the ice than Tavares.

Look at what happened with the Nordiques they traded Lindros and it gave them part of the foundation for a cup.

April 21, 2009  12:33 PM ET
QUOTE(#7):

Look at what happened with the Nordiques they traded Lindros and it gave them part of the foundation for a cup.

This is very true. However... Toronto does not have the depth, or quality of players to create that type of situation. Toronto can however provide them with enough talent to be competitve next year.

That being said... Brian Burke must be upset that Glen sather offered up so much money to Matt Gilroy. The guy is unproven in the NHL, albeit he has tons of potential, and he is still young (24). He just fell outside of the "entry-level contract clause" of the CBA, and Sats went ballastic. $3.5 million a year, on a one-way deal. WOW! Hasn't even been to a training camp yet.

April 21, 2009  12:49 PM ET
QUOTE(#8):

This is very true. However... Toronto does not have the depth, or quality of players to create that type of situation. Toronto can however provide them with enough talent to be competitve next year.That being said... Brian Burke must be upset that Glen sather offered up so much money to Matt Gilroy. The guy is unproven in the NHL, albeit he has tons of potential, and he is still young (24). He just fell outside of the "entry-level contract clause" of the CBA, and Sats went ballastic. $3.5 million a year, on a one-way deal. WOW! Hasn't even been to a training camp yet.

Its $3.5 million total / 2 years.

Comment #10 has been removed
April 21, 2009  01:49 PM ET
QUOTE(#6):

The Islanders need defense in front Dipietro to keep him from being over worked and ruining that hip. They should move this pick if Burke is serious because adding Schenn and a Forward at #7 plus and whoever they get out of the deal will help their team far more on the ice than Tavares.

If Burke is offering Schenn, the Isles would be crazy not to make the deal.

April 21, 2009  02:38 PM ET
QUOTE(#11):

If Burke is offering Schenn, the Isles would be crazy not to make the deal.

I don't want the deal if it involves Schenn, which probably means the deal won't happen because he is the only thing of concrete value. We don't need Tavares at that price. Beauty #1 centres are can be found anywhere in the 1st round.

Toews #3
Carter #11
Getzlaf #19
M.Richards #24

April 21, 2009  03:03 PM ET
QUOTE(#11):

If Burke is offering Schenn, the Isles would be crazy not to make the deal.

1 Burke ain't offering Schenn.
2. The Islanders already passed on Schenn last year

April 21, 2009  03:04 PM ET

A lot of "experts" have Tavares at #3 behind Hedman and, now, Matt Duchene. I'm an Islanders fan; very psyched for the way things have been going. We have a lot of young talent and a coveted pick. This from today's Newsday: http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/ny-spisles2112676438apr20,0 ,2550273.story

April 21, 2009  03:20 PM ET
QUOTE(#3):

Just the daily Tavares-Toronto Article. We're gonna get one every day until the draft

And I suspect they'll get wilder and crazier with time.

April 21, 2009  06:04 PM ET
QUOTE(#14):

A lot of "experts" have Tavares at #3 behind Hedman and, now, Matt Duchene. I'm an Islanders fan; very psyched for the way things have been going. We have a lot of young talent and a coveted pick. This from today's Newsday: http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/ny-spisles2112676438apr20,0 ,2550273.story

Just the redline report. Everyone else has him 1 or 2

April 21, 2009  06:15 PM ET

I think you all need to watch him play in London right now... he's still putting up some points, but something is SERIOUSLY wrong with him.... not sure if he's injured or what... he looks extremely 'ginger' out there and very very lazy...

April 21, 2009  06:16 PM ET
QUOTE:

Schenn for Tavares? C'mon LGP. Thats bordering on a "defend yourself" type TD. Schenn will be a beauty defenceman in the near future yeah but he's nowhere near the class of a player as Tavares. Its not even comparable. Tavares will put up a 30-40 rookie season. Schenn will put up a 5-10 season.

Goals aren't the issue here. And I wouldn't be so quick to give tavares 30 to 40 goals as a rookie, particularly not if he is an Islander.

April 21, 2009  07:41 PM ET

so is this kid the real deal or just Bryan Berard's long lost brother

 
April 21, 2009  09:39 PM ET
QUOTE:

30 goals and 40 assists. Bobby Ryan potted that much and Tavares is supposed to be better than him. 30 goals is very reachable for him. He'll be getting tons of ice time on the Island to boot.

Bobby Ryan was also a 21 year old rookie, Tavares will be 19. That is a big deal.

As well, Stamkos only got 23 Goals as a rookie and he was/is much more highly touted than Tavares, so who knows.

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