Cal Clutterbuck holds no grudge against John Tavares for leaving the NY Islanders for the Toronto Maple Leafs

It was a day that the NY Islanders fans will hold in their hearts until the end of time. July 1, 2018, when John Tavares posted on social media a photo of himself in his childhood bed with a Maple Leafs blanket and sheets, signaling that the Tavares era on Long Island was over, signing a seven-year $11M contract with his hometown team.

But Cal Clutterbuck, one of Tavares’ teammates and closest friends, doesn’t hold anything against the former Islanders’ captain despite the devastation it caused the fan base. 

Clutter has no problem with Tavares' decision

“I never held a grudge,” Clutterbuck said on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast.”He earned that decision. It’s his decision to make. I can try and tell him we all want him to stay, but at the end of the day, he’s going to make it and he made. I’m sure he’s fine with it. I know he’s fine with it and I’m fine with it too.”

In Tavares’ first game back at Nassau Coliseum, Clutterbuck goes on the say “it was one of the wildest games I’ve ever seen.”

After thumping Tavares and the Leafs, Clutterbuck remembers seeing Tavares after the game and the former captain saying, “I’m glad that’s over with.”

While many thought the Islanders were dead in the water without their star player, the team advanced to back-to-back Conference/Semi-Finals appearances, while Tavares and the Leafs have yet to make it out of the second round.

While the fans will never forget or never forgive Tavares for his decision, it’s interesting to see the players' perspective on the situation. They understand it’s a business and don’t fault players who earn the right to choose where they play and be rewarded handsomely for it.