Tavares Out For Season

Update:
 

 

Earlier today, Arthur Staple broke the news we all knew would come, but feared hearing ...

 

"BREAKING NEWS: John Tavares (knee) will miss rest of NHL season, source says. More to come."

"MRI reveals torn MCL and torn meniscus for Tavares. May need surgery. Will be ready for training camp in September."

 

 

 

 

So, when John Tavares was hit into the boards by Latvian defenseman Arturs Kulda in yesterday's Olympic game against Latvia, he went down in a heap after awkwardly tweaking his left knee. Tavares would soon learn his Olympic debut and New York Islanders season would be over after an MRI revealed a torn left medial collateral ligament and a torn meniscus in his left knee.  Surgery is likely and Tavares is sure to undergo an intense rehab that will last throughout the summer.  I am sure he will work his ass off to come back ready and able with something to prove.  And although the team and player expect to be ready for training camp in September, it is realistic to expect a possible set back moving into the NHL season like the one Tavares experienced in 2010 when he injured his foot in the IIHF World Hockey Championship in Germany.

While Kyle Okposo was surprisingly left off the U.S. roster and Lubomir Visnovski was not permitted to play in the Olympics for Slovokia because of coming off a serious concussion suffered during the season, Tavares, Granber and Vanek were allowed to compete.  My initial thought was why is Vanek permitted to attend the Olympics?  I understand the team wants to keep in his good graces and the fact that Vanek said he would listen to offers from Garth Snow and possibly return to Long Island even if he was traded and entered free agency, but I wouldn't bet on it.  It was obvious that after he turned down the Isles 7 year - $50M offer, The Islanders would look to acquire assets back for the impending UFA, especially after trading  Matt Moulson along with a first and second round pick to attain him.  Thankfully, Vanek escaped injury and should allow the Islanders to get something back in return for his services by a new team.


Olympic trade freeze ends on Sunday, 2/23.  General Managers will be able to conduct trades until the March 5th trading deadline.  The Islanders are expected to be busy with intentions to trade Vanek and MacDonald (who also turned down an Isles offer, 4yr/$16M) at very least.  Now, more than ever, they need veteran pieces that can fit into the existing line up and compete at a high level from the start.


Any NHL team who lost their star player in similar fashion would be devastated by the injury.  Islanders GM Garth Snow is no different.  While Snow, who was a Olympian in 1994 understands the national pride of representing your country, he also feels the Olympics are best suited to amateurs.  What do you think?  He has also been vocal, since his Captain's injury about what the loss really means to the Islanders organization.

Arthur Staple quoted Garth Snow, "Are the IIHF or IOC going to reimburse our season-ticket holders now? It's a joke," Snow said. "They want all the benefits from NHL players playing in the Olympics and don't want to pay when our best player gets hurt."



He continued, "This is probably the biggest reason why NHL players shouldn't be in the Olympics, it should just be amateurs. And it could have happened to anyone; it just happened to be us that lost our best player. A lot of people pay to see John play. It wouldn't matter if we were 10 points clear of a playoff spot or 10 points out. We lost our best player and he wasn't even playing for us."

 

While angry at what has happened, Snow told Staple he would never begrudge the players involved, but he is serious about how the injury will affect the Islanders.  "We're still going to do what we have to do," Snow said,  "There's too much at stake."


What remains for the Islanders is a challenge to the vets and rookies to make some noise for the rest of the season.  For all the negative losing Tavares will bring the team, it will also reveal opportunities to those selected to figure into the future, now. 

 

 

Sound Tigers Notes:

Transactions:  D Andrey Pedan has been recalled (from Stockton) to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL).

The Sound Tigers have loaned F Riley Wetmore to the Stockton Thunder (ECHL).