New York Islanders Mike Bossy Answers John Tavares Non Rumors

In the ever-evolving world of sports media, New York Islanders legend Mike Bossy is getting into it as he tries to just speak his opinion in his post-playing career. But he still has to be careful.

It’s an odd world to live in when New York Islanders legend Mike Bossy is making the rounds in the rumors mill and running afoul with a certain portion of the Islanders fanbase.

We all remember last season when Mike Bossy had provided comment on a proposed trade between the New York Islanders and the Montréal Canadiens based on a failed trade between the Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning for Vincent Lecavalier.

The Lecavalier trade was: Carey Price, Max Pacioretty, P.K. Subban and a first-round pick. When asked by the shows host about how a trade like that could work now with John Tavares instead of Lecavalier, what would the Habs have to give up?

It wasn’t Mike Bossy busting down the door with a random hot take that he absolutely needed to get off his chest. He was giving an answer to a question. Like we all do.

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And Then There Was More

And then Mike Bossy, again in his reoccurring spot on 91.9’s programming he was asked by the show’s host if John Tavares could be traded if the Isles were out of the playoffs by Christmas.

The particular segment isn’t on their site. For some reason, the audio cuts out right before the commercial break. But the show’s producer, Louis-Phillipe Guy, sent me the transcript of what Mike said that drew the ire of most notably SNY.tv’s Chirs Botta.

"Jean-Charles Lajoie: Les Islanders risquent d’être éliminés à Noël et attention… Tavares pourrait être disponible. Mike Bossy: Ah c’est sûr que si les Islanders sont éliminés à Noël, Tavares va être échangé."

I know his interviews are all in French and but the translation is that the host asks Bossy what will happen to Tavares if the New York Islanders are eliminated by Christmas. As in what if the Isles are the Colorado Avalanche from last season?

Bossy’s answer is: “If the Islanders are eliminated by Christmas, Tavares will be traded.”

I’ll be honest that this doesn’t look great for Boss. He’s sure that if the Islanders are absolutely terrible this season and well out of it and essentially officially eliminated from the playoffs Tavares will be traded. Will be.

That’s tough to hear for all of us still holding out hope. But then again Chris Botta’s take was about as sensationalist as he thought Bossy was. Botta had the following to say about Bossy’s comments:

"Knowing his commitment to everything he does, Bossy’s decision to drop Tavares rumors on the radio may be nothing more than giving an audience what he thinks it wants, or saying something riveting so dopes like me give it attention."

Bossy started no such rumor. He was merely answering a question with his honest opinion. Which he’s entitled to do. But as a club ambassador he, Bossy that is, has to understand that his word on team matters can be seen as “having knowledge” of the situation. Whether that’s actually true or not.

We know Mike Bossy talks to the owners, he said so himself on that very segment. So that alone can allow for most to rightfully connect the dots that he might know something.

Mike Bossy is a perfectionist and he does everything to the best of his ability or he doesn’t do it at all. What he was doing here was answering a question to the best of his ability with his personal opinion. But he isn’t perfect either.

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I don’t think he should stop speaking on matters relating to the team, I like hearingMike talk about the isles. it means he might start talking about the good ol’ days. Which he does from time to time. But he needs to see how his role with the club could add weight to the words he uses.

The takeaways: there’s always something to be said about the context of a quote and sports media is a fickle, fickle beats even for a legend like Mike Bossy.