It seems there may still be some hurt feelings in New York.
The National Hockey League's top stars are all gathered in San Jose, California for the National Hockey League's annual All Star festivities and things have already started to get interesting. Although the All Star Game itself as well as the skills competition that proceed it are events designed to please young fans and hep grow the game, they also provide a unique opportunity for members of the media to get quotes from a number of the league's very best players.
Recently TSN senior reporter Frank Servalli had a chance to catch up with New York Islanders star Mathew Barzal during those festivities and produced a rather surprising quote from the young NHL star. Seravalli was discussing the Islanders current run of form, form that has led to a great deal of success for the Islanders, when he asked Barzal why he felt the team had made such a drastic turn around following the previous season. Barzal's answer appeared to be a thinly veiled shot at the organization's former captain, John Tavares.
“What has been the one singular difference that you’ve noticed from this team?” asked Servalli as per TSN.
"No one is treated any differently, it doesn’t matter who you are,” replied Barzal.
Now if that seems like a shot at Tavares it's because that is indeed what it appears to be, although no doubt Barzal himself would deny that. That being said though it seems that Seravalli himself felt the comment was a shot at the former Islanders captain and even said as much after the words came out of Barzal's mouth.
“Wow, sounds kinda of like a shot against John Tavares,” said Seravalli.
Now it is not all that surprising to learn that there might be some lingering soreness from some members of the Islanders roster after Tavares left, and especially after he left in the way he did, but it remains surprising to see such a young player take a shot at such a well established and well respected player in the NHL. No doubt Tavares will hear about this at some point and it will be interesting to see how both men behave when they meet up on the ice.
