For years, the notion of ‘as John Tavares goes, so do the New York Islanders’ has been nothing out of the ordinary. It’s been a reality for the team, and the expectation that he’d save the organization from the travesty it had become was laid upon his shoulders the moment he was drafted. The grace, pride, and outright dogged determination with which Tavares has shouldered that expectation (and burden) is a testament to his character.
For whatever reason, it’s always been understood, and in many ways acceptable, that this is Tavares’s lot in the NHL. John Tavares is a superstar and he should be able to carry his team and make others better.