Dear John

This letter was submitted by a reader that requested in be posted anonymously.
Dear John,
For years you have patiently waited for support from the franchise that selected you first overall in the 2009 Draft. You’ve expressed unequivocal faith in coaches and management like the loyal, corporate soldier you are – even when they didn’t deserve it. Throughout the ups and downs, your professional demeanor has remained constant as the face of our franchise.
Let me start by saying…
We UNDERSTAND your concerns surrounding an arena.
We UNDERSTAND your hunger to win a championship.
We UNDERSTAND your passion for the game of hockey and building the most competitive team possible.
And guess what…
We WANT you to be a New York Islander for life.
We WANT you to shake Commissioner Bettman’s hand and raise our fifth Stanley Cup.
We WANT you to lead the parade down Hempstead Turnpike.
Your personal needs and our wants as fans are aligned. You are in a position that few players will ever be fortunate enough to find themselves in. You hold the power, and you’ve earned every right to use that leverage to your advantage. Let’s be honest, you are going to get paid $11-12M no matter where you sign. I believe you when you say you want to be here.
Now is the time to be selfish. Go take the franchise hostage.
Walk right into Mr. Ledecky’s office and give him an ultimatum: either he swings his axe down on those who have left you (and this franchise) in purgatory for a decade or you’re gone. It’s that simple. You will never have your name etched on the most prestigious trophy in the world when the status quo is mediocrity. You know this first hand. There is no accountability in the front office, but you have the power to change that.
Maybe Dwayne Roloson was right when he said “it’s like a country club in here.” … you know, 8 years ago.
We both know who’s responsible for you being in the position that you are right now. Quite frankly, few fans will blame you if you decide to ship out.
Say it with me: #SnowMustGo
Sincerely,
Islanders fans everywhere