2018-19 NHL thread

I just read it. It's not a story I would have read unless I was a Toronto fan. But it's very well done, Elliotte. Good work.

Two quick thoughts, one about how you wrote it, and one about the Tavares situation.

First, you spoke to Tavares' friends and quoted them anonymously. The whole time, I was wondering who they were. Whether they were ex teammates, in particular. I don't know why that stuck out to me. Usually anonymous sources don't bother me, especially when it is about relatively inconsequential stuff like this, but because they were quoted so often, I was thinking about WHO they were and it was gnawing at me.

Second, I believe I had read elsewhere (I can't tell you where) that Garth Snow wanted to trade Tavares at the trade deadline if they couldn't lock him up. And Malkin and Ledecky wouldn't let him. If that is true, I think it vindicates Snow a lot. There is a perception by some people that the owners got played -- even if Tavares didn't have it all worked out at that point. I know it says Snow didn't want to talk, but you couldn't verify anything about that?

Either way, I think the Islanders blew it. And I am not just saying that in hindsight. One of two things had to happen: They either needed to lock him up-- like the minute the deal for the new arena got announced, because that was supposedly the major sticking point about his future. Or they needed to tell him they couldn't take the chance that he was going to walk if he wouldn't commit then, and get what would have been a decent package for a rental at the trade deadline. Instead, they got nothing. I personally don't think any story about his situation should give them a pass for that, and it really doesn't matter how deliberate a person he is. It's a business, and they really bungled it from a business perspective. You can't leave things to chance (I felt the same way about Stamkos, even though it worked out for them).

 

That was a horrible story. It was sad to watch, even without knowing you had a personal connection. Even harder knowing your family is suffering. I am sorry for your loss, HC.

 

I saw the tweet but did not know the depth of the story....Bieksa is a superb person, who will have a career in TV if he wants it. Very sorry for your family, HC.

 

I appreciate the comments, thank you.

Ragu,

One of the reasons I quoted anonymously was a few are Islanders. Under Lou Lamoriello, there's no way they would have spoken to me without it. Lou's rules. It just got to the point where I thought it would make it easier for the people who know Tavares to guess the identities if some were protected and some weren't.

As for your second point, I was told one specific person made that point to Malkin. But he was unwilling to talk, so can't confirm it, although I think it is true.

Cosmo, I didn't want to include the "what I was hearing," but did so to make it certain everyone knew that I was attributing it to myself. Didn't like using "I" in this piece, for sure. The "as you know" was an attempt to be folksy. Never had a second thought about it until your point, but it is always good to hear differing ideas.

 

Always good to hear what people are noticing

I am very protective of sources, it is true. people have threatened to have others fired if they figure out who im talking to.