Fansided

John Tavares jersey burning is even dumber than most (Video)

By David Rouben

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 30: (EDITORS NOTE: Image Converted to Black and White) John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders high fives a fan on his way to warm-up prior to the game against Toronto Maple Leafs at Barclays Center on March 30, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 30: (EDITORS NOTE: Image Converted to Black and White) John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders high fives a fan on his way to warm-up prior to the game against Toronto Maple Leafs at Barclays Center on March 30, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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John Tavares officially hit the open market, declining to sign an eight-year extension with the New York Islanders, prompting one fan to burn his jersey.

We like to call free agency in the NHL offseason “silly season,” but that doesn’t just apply to GMs. While they’re the ones that get criticized the most and are prone to looking stupid by overpaying for average players out of desperation, fans have been known to act irrationally during free agency as well.

The most notable example is when fans burn a player’s jersey when they leave. Since the biggest free agent this year is John Tavares, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if/when New York Islanders fans do that this year. He’d be leaving the only team he’s ever known, while he’s still in his prime, presumably because he doesn’t believe they’re a future Cup contender.

The jersey burning usually doesn’t come until a player officially signs elsewhere. However, the mere sight of Tavares hitting the open market was enough to convince this Islanders fan that he isn’t coming back:

It’s safe to say this guy’s a hipster, since he burned his Tavares jersey before it was cool.

By not signing before July 1, Tavares can no longer sign an eight-year deal, something that only the Islanders could’ve offered him. And because of that, reporters are already speculating that they’re “all but out of it.”

The Islanders aren’t officially out of the Tavares sweepstakes, but perhaps they shouldn’t be the odds-on favorites anymore. Outside of them, he could sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who offer him a chance to play in his hometown and with a young forward core that’s already showing signs of dominance. He could also move to the San Jose Sharks, who are solid at every position, and are desperate to get Joe Thornton a Cup before he retires.

Next: 1 reason every John Tavares suitor could land him

This fan already seems to think that Tavares is as good as gone, but if he ends up going back to the Islanders, things will get awkward in a hurry.

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