New York Islanders Dealing With John Tavares Trade Hot Takes

We all knew these were going to happen, terrible trade takes for New York Islanders captain John Tavares. It’s one thing to speculate on a trade for Tavares and it’s another to say we’ll be fine with Brock Nelson.

New York Islanders captain John Tavares is in the final year of his contract with the Islanders and is nearing free agency. That means the hockey world at large is licking its chops at the potential to land the superstar player.

And I don’t blame them. John Tavares is a player all 31 teams in the NHL covet. He’s a first line center. He’s responsible defensively. He can put up a point per game. He’s a franchise player.

So when other NHL markets put out trade speculations for Tavares it’s understandable. Heck. We do it too. If Tavares has to leave I’d rather we not lose him for nothing.

But it’s one thing to want to trade for Tavares and another to say that the New York Islanders will be fine with Brock Nelson to take his spot. Brock Nelson. That’s right.

Brock Nelson < John Tavares

Brock Nelson is an ok NHL level player. He’s got his issues but he’s OK. But John Tavares he is not. Heck. A top line player he is not either. Not even close. So to intimate that the Islanders can move Brock Nelson up to the top line if they lose Tavares would be crazy to state. Unless you’re in Montréal it seems.

I know right? Look I want to make this clear. I have no issue with the speculation. That’s what happens when a superstar player is in the last year of their contract. It comes with the territory.

The issue is when you look at the stats sheet and immediately intimate that Brock Nelson can replace a franchise elite level player in John Tavares.

That has to be the reasoning behind the take. Doesn’t it? Brock Nelson plays third line minutes and puts up 45 points. So if he played first line minutes he’d have to put up more. That’s the only way this could make any sense. It’s still incredibly wrong. But I’m sure that’s what lead to the tweet.

Nelson doesn’t have a defensive game to speak of. His effort level can be best described as “cruise control”. I like Brock Nelson on the third line. I truly do. But a first line player he is not.

Look not everyone watches the New York Islanders. Especially talking heads from other markets like Montréal. I haven’t seen a single Edmonton Oilers game, even though Ryan Strome is there now. I have a vested interest in watching, but I don’t. So I get that Nelson is a center and has put up points.

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What Made It Worse

Naturally, Isles fans flooded his mentions to point out that Nelson isn’t a first line player and never will be. And after initially doubling down, it turns out to be a joke. I think.

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t see the humor in the first tweet. I don’t see where the punchline was. Or where it was clear this was a joke. Especially after doubling down on the take.

Maybe I’m just being too sensitive to the Tavares rumors.

Next: Remember Tavares Wants To Stay

It’s possible. It’s getting hard to take and where still months away from anything potentially happening. I don’t know when Tavares plays in Montréal on January 15th and then Toronto on January 31st. If he hasn’t signed by then it’s only going to get worse.