Senators fans think Brady Tkachuk betrayed them? NY Islanders fans would like a word

There was something wonderfully entertaining about watching Ottawa Senators fans turn Canadian Tire Centre into a madhouse Wednesday night, giving former captain Brady Tkachuk a reception that would have made the Nassau Coliseum faithful proud.

The boos, profanity-laced chants, jerseys tossed onto the ice and relentless hostility were all part of a spectacular evening that ended with Ottawa embarrassing Tkachuk's Florida Panthers 5-1. It was everything hockey fans love about a good old-fashioned homecoming filled with hatred.

But before anyone starts comparing Ottawa's reception to what John Tavares experienced returning to Long Island in February 2019, there's one rather important distinction.

The Senators actually got something for their captain. The Islanders got absolutely nothing.

Tkachuk requested a trade with two years remaining on his contract, giving Ottawa an opportunity to recoup assets rather than watch its franchise player disappear for nothing. The Senators ultimately received three first-round draft picks and a second-rounder from Florida.

Was it painful? Absolutely. Did Tkachuk abandon a fan base that adored him? Sure. But at least Ottawa's management had an opportunity to protect the franchise's future.

Tavares? That's an entirely different story.

For months, the Islanders captain publicly expressed his desire to remain with the organization, creating expectations that he'd eventually sign an extension. Instead, he played out his contract, reached unrestricted free agency and signed with his childhood team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

No trade. No draft picks. No prospects. Nothing.

And then came the infamous childhood pajamas photograph, celebrating his homecoming while Islanders fans were left feeling completely deceived.

That's what made February 28, 2019, so personal. Islanders fans weren't simply angry that their captain wanted to play elsewhere. They felt he'd misled them throughout the process, denying their organization the opportunity to obtain anything in return.

Ottawa fans certainly earned their moment Wednesday, and their passion deserves appreciation.

But comparing the two situations ignores the fundamental difference between a negotiated departure and walking away for nothing.

Senators fans lost their captain. Islanders fans lost their captain, their trust and any potential return.

That's why Long Island's unforgettable night of vitriol remains in a category of its own.

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