John Tavares will make his long-awaited return to Nassau Coliseum on Thursday when the New York Islanders take on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Tomorrow night, the New York Islanders will play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but all eyes will be on former Islander John Tavares. How the fans inside Nassau Coliseum will react to Tavares on the ice is anyone’s guess. But odds are he won’t be receiving a warm reception.
After being drafted first overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Islanders, he went on to score 272 goals and tally 349 assists over the course of nine seasons with them. While the Isles had little support to offer Tavares, he would establish himself as one of the more dynamic players in the league with five All-Star Appearances (’12,’15,’16,’17,’18), NHL All-Rookie Team honors (2009-10), first NHL All-Star Team honors (2014-15), and being named a Hart Trophy Finalist (2014-15).
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His best season as an Islander undeniably came in the 2014-15 season. Tavares led New York in goals (38), assists (48), and points (86) on the way to the Islanders third-place finish in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 47-28-7 and 101 points.
While he performed respectably in the first round with two goals and four assists, it was not enough to prevent the Islanders from being eliminated in seven games by the Washington Capitals. Tavares would follow up his 2014-15 season with 33 goals and 37 assists in the 2015-16 season and six goals and five assists in the playoffs before the Islanders were knocked out in five games by Tampa Bay in the second round.
Entering the 2017-18 season speculation was already in motion, but the consensus was that Tavares would resign with the team that drafted him in 2009. Finishing second on the team in goals (37) and third in assists (47), it seemed almost a given that Tavares would stay to help solidify the core of young players along with Anders Lee and Mathew Barzal.
The Islanders, unfortunately, would miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a record of 35-37-10, finishing seventh in the Metropolitan Division. They headed into the offseason set on resigning Tavares long term. In the days leading up to offseason, he decided to test the free agent market while setting up meetings with teams as well as New York.
San Jose even offered him a seven-year $91 million contract which would have made him the highest paid player in the NHL, but he would ultimately sign with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs for seven years and $77 million only an hour into the free agency period.
Since joining Toronto, Tavares has 36 goals (fourth in the NHL), 32 assists, and 68 points, all the while helping lead the Maple Leafs to third place in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference with a record of 39-20-4 (82 points). Meanwhile, the Islanders are tied for first place in the Metropolitan Division with Washington in points (79) and fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 36-19-7.
Tonight’s game at Nassau Coliseum has no doubt been one that’s been circled on the calendar not only by Tavares but by the Islanders fans and players alike. The two teams previously met in December at Scotiabank Arena which resulted in a 4-0 shutout for the Islanders.
Tavares for his part had five shots in just over 17 minutes on the ice. Win or lose, all eyes are certainly to be on Tavares and how he performs against his former team and even more how the fans who once put their faith in him respond to his return in the sweater of another team.