http://www.islanderspointblank.com/John Tavares called late last night from Pittsburgh and immediately wanted to make a point. Our conversation:
How’s your trip to the Stanley Cup Final?
It’s been amazing. Having a great time. Hey, I don’t mean to cut you off, but is it okay if we get to something right away that’s been bothering me?
Of course. What do you got?
I’m glad we’re finally getting to talk and I can get my voice out there to New York and Long Island. Once and for all, I want to be clear that it would be a privilege to be drafted by the New York Islanders. Please let everyone know that. I can’t believe some of the stuff that’s been out there. I like the Canadian media and I’m on the web reading like everyone else, but some it has gotten out of hand. I don’t know where they get that stuff.
How do you think it got started?
I don’t know. From the very beginning, I consistently said that I would sign with the team that drafted me. When the Islanders won the lottery, there’s been so much garbage out there. It’s really bothered me. Even before I visited with the Islanders and got to know the owner and the GM, there was never an issue. Now that I’ve gotten to know what the franchise is about, I feel even stronger about it. I want to be part of them rebuilding into a contender. I want to be part of a Stanley Cup team there. I want to be an Islander. Can you please make that clear in your article?