Islanders Three Best Chants from Original John Tavares Return Game

We Don’t Need You

When Tavares left, the Islanders were pronounced DOA for the 2018-19 season. Sure, they had new management and a new coach, and both were former or recent Stanley Cup champions, but look at the roster.

The Islanders had the worst defensive record in the previous year. They also missed the playoffs by 17 points. All of that with Tavares on the roster. What could they possibly do without him?

To make matters apparently worse, the Islanders didn’t bring in a direct replacement for Tavares. During the offseason, the Islanders brought in Robin Lehner, Valtteri Filppula, Tom Kuhnhackl, Matt Martin, and Luca Sbisa.

With that roster, the Islanders were supposed to be in the race for census first overall pick at the 2019 draft Jack Hughes. But as we know that’s not what happened.

By the time Tavares came to the Island with the Leafs on February 28, 2018, the Islanders held a 36-19-7 record for 79 points and were tied at the top of the Metropolitan Division.

That’s why within a minute of the game starting, fans were chanting: “We don’t need you!”

The Islanders would end the season with 103 points and made it to the second round of the playoffs. The Leafs ended the 2018-19 season with 100 points and were bounced by the Bruins in the first round.

Since Tavares’s departure, the Islanders are 60-30-8 with 128 points. The Maple Leafs hold a 55-34-12 record for 122 points.

Tavares clearly joined a talented group in Toronto. But so are the Islanders. In fact, the Islanders are better, even if it’s just slightly better. They’re nowhere near the bottom of the NHL as most thought we’d be when Tavares decided to go back home to Toronto.

Obviously, having a point-per-game center would be nice, but it’s clear that like the fans chanted on February 28, the Islanders don’t, in fact, need him.