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John Tavares News & Rumors

Tavares making believers of Isles fans
February 4
Ottawa Citizen
 columnist Wayne Scanlan
"To the average hockey fan, the New York Islanders evoke a certain image: Eccentric management operating a losing team out of an ancient arena. From within, John Tavares holds a different view, having staked out a loyalist position. Tavares, the 21-year-old face of this long-troubled franchise, sees a promising young team with a realistic dream of reliving some of its old glory, and he would like nothing better than to help guide it there. When Tavares signed a three-year, $33-million extension in September, he sent a strong message to his Islanders teammates and fans that – whatever else might befall this franchise – the cornerstone of hope was in place. The move was as important as it was"
Tavares, Poulin seal Islanders win over Canes
February 1
Raleigh News & Observer
 
"For a long time Tuesday, the Carolina Hurricanes struggled to get the puck past unheralded 21-year-old goalie Kevin Poulin, who was playing for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League last week. But in the end, it was another 21-year-old, one of the emerging stars of the NHL, who did in the Canes. John Tavares scored a pair of goals and had two assists, leading the New York Islanders to a 5-2 victory at the RBC Center."
Tavares' four points lead Isles past 'Canes
February 1
NHL.com
 
"Some players just seem to have a team's number. New York Islanders All-Star center John Tavares has Carolina's. "I think great players find a way," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said after Tavares struck for two goals, including the game-winner in the third period, and two assists in a 5-2 win against the Hurricanes at the RBC Center. Tavares made it look that simple in helping New York to its third win in three games against the Hurricanes this season. After Carolina scored two goals early in the third period to erase New York's 2-0 lead, Tavares needed just 41 seconds to get the go-ahead goal by firing home a pass from Matt Moulson. who finished with three points. Tavares assisted on Kyle"
Can Toronto Maple Leafs stop John Tavares?
January 23
Toronto Star
 
"Hockey reporter Kevin McGran asks five questions in advance of the Leafs game Monday night against the New York Islanders. 1. Can the Leafs stop John Tavares? No one else has lately. The phenom has a 12-game points streak (eight goals, 13 assists), the longest points streak in the NHL this season. 2. Does Joey Crabb or Carl Gunnarsson get into any real fights? They got into it with each other Sunday at practice and one has to wonder whether frustrating is mounting as the losses mount. A bad outing against the Islanders could put some players over the edge."
Rangers' trio joins Tavares on All-Stars
January 13
New York Post
 
"Dan Girardi may be the happiest man alive to be notified of an assignment to spend four winter days in Ottawa. The 27-year-old defenseman appeared jubilant upon being named to play in the All-Star Game in Canada's capital city on Jan. 29, with the match capping four days of league-sponsored festivities. "It's great to get the recognition," said Girardi. "It's a pretty big honor. I'm going to savor every minute of it." Girardi, making his first All Star appearance, will be joined in Ottawa by teammates Henrik Lundqvist and Marian Gaborik, both named for the third time."
Flames done in by dash of dazzling Tavares
December 30
Calgary Herald
 
"One gent in the stands was proudly wearing a No. 91 jersey — with GORING stitched across the back. Well played, but on this night it was the other No. 91 that had been on the minds of every New York Islanders fan in the house. And why not? John Tavares, plenty dangerous for 40 minutes, stole the show in a (temporarily) deadlocked third period. Taking a tap pass from Kyle Okposo, the 21-year-old flew down the right wing. Gaining easy entry into the Flames zone, he skipped around defender Chris Butler and, cutting hard to the net, neatly beat goalie Miikka Kiprusoff to push his team ahead."
Isles' star playing with 'confidence'
October 16
New York Post
 
"There were a lot of stars on the ice last night at the Nassau Coliseum, but the one shining brightest was wearing a blue-and-orange sweater, the "A" emblazoned on his left shoulder a seeming understatement of his importance. When the puck found the open stick blade of John Tavares, the score 3-2 in favor of the Islanders and less than two minutes remaining, it seemed only appropriate the Islanders' 21-year-old superstar would be allowed to tie a bow on his superlative performance."
Isles wait on Tavares
October 13
New York Post
 
"Despite his comments after Monday's 2-1 win over the Wild, Islanders coach Jack Capuano is doing everything he can not to ladle pressure on the already-burdened shoulders of his 21-year-old center, John Tavares. "When goal scorers aren't scoring, I try to stay away from them," Capuano said yesterday in reference to Tavares' zero points and minus-2 rating through the season's first two games. "The last thing I want to do is make guys grab their sticks and play tighter," Capuano said. "I want them to play loose and relaxed. When they do that, and they don't worry about it and don't think about it, then good things will happen.""
Islanders give Tavares 6-year, $33M deal: report
September 15
New York Post
 
"It seems one star player is committed to playing for the Islanders. ESPN.com reports, "The 20-year-old center has agreed to a six-year contract extension with the Islanders, although the paperwork has yet to be completed." Tavares was the No. 1 pick for the Islanders in 2009 and, turning 21 next week, has become the face of the franchise. The report says he will receive $4 million in the first year, $5 million in the second, then $6 million each of remaining four years for a $33 million total deal and an average annual value of $5.5 million."
Tavares, Myers on the verge of multi-year extensions
September 14
TSN.ca
 
"TSN Insider Bob McKenzie has learned that New York Islanders forward John Tavares and Buffalo Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers are both on the verge of multi-year contract extensions with their respective teams. While the deals have not yet been finalized, they are both believed to be in six-year range and worth an annual average of roughly $5.5 million. Both Tavares and Myers have one year left remaining on their entry-level deals signed in 2009."
Canada adds Tavares, Skinner for worlds; Dubnyk in goal
April 13
TSN.ca
 
"Team Canada added some young goal-scoring talent to it's roster for the World Championship on Wednesday, confirming that New York Islanders sophomore John Tavares and Carolina Hurricanes rookie Jeff Skinner will make the trip to Slovakia. Edmonton Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk also accepted an invitation to play for Canada. Tavares scored 29 goals and 38 assists in 79 games during his second season with the Islanders. The 20-year-old also played for Canada at last spring's Worlds, and scored seven goals in seven games."
Duchene, Tavares prepare for next faceoff
January 7
Denver Post
 
"The 2009 NHL draft set up a windfall of talent not seen in a pro pick 'em since LeBron James, Darko Milicic and Carmelo Anthony went 1-2-3 in the 2003 NBA version. And, after Milicic became one of the biggest busts in draft history, everybody wondered whether any of the top three from the NHL's '09 draft would flail into obscurity. And who would be king? Top dog John Tavares? Second pick Victor Hedman? No. 3 Matt Duchene? One-plus season later, the A-grade has to go to the Avalanche. Its pick of Duchene netted one of the more explosive players in the league. But Saturday should provide hockey fans further evidence in the comparison. John Tavares and the Islanders come to Denver for an"
Islanders' Tavares leaves game with concussion
October 10
TSN.ca
 
"If it was not for bad luck, the New York Islanders would have no luck at all. Sniper John Tavares is the latest victim of the injury bug as he suffered a concussion in the first period of Saturday's game against the Dallas Stars after he was elbowed in the head by Adam Burish. Tavares was forced to leave the game and did not return."
Tavares breaks foot
June 4
New York Post
 
"Now it seems impressive that John Tavares scored even once in Canada's final three games of the World Championships, after he piled up six in the first four games of the tourney. The tournament's goal-scoring leader was playing on a broken foot. The Islanders' franchise star will spend the next month or so hobbling around on a cast on his right foot, but Tavares is expected to be ready for training camp despite the fracture diagnosed Wednesday. Tavares, still 19, was hit by a shot from Sweden's Jonathan Ericsson in the qualification round, Canada's fifth game, and played through pain for the rest of the tournament, scoring against Russia as Canada was eliminated."
Islanders' Tavares diagnosed with fractured right foot
June 3
TSN.ca
 
"New York Islanders' centre John Tavares suffered a fracture to right foot while playing for Team Canada at the World Hockey Championship last month. Tavares took a shot off his foot during the tournament but the injury was not diagnosed until Wednesday."
Tavares leads the pack
April 13
New York Post
 
"Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos, the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft, scored 23 goals in his rookie season. This past season, his second in the league, Stamkos scored 51 goals to tie Sidney Crosby as the NHL's leading goal scorer. John Tavares, who finished his rookie year with 24 goals after he was picked first overall by the Islanders in last year's draft, said he thinks he can take a step forward like Stamkos did in his second season. "Every situation is different, and we're two different kinds of players, but obviously I think we're both high-profile players coming into the NHL and we both want to keep doing well and improving," Tavares said yesterday as the Isles packed up their lockers"
Tavares remains star in the making
March 26
Calgary Herald
 
"Dwayne Roloson didn't go No. 1. Doesn't even wear it (30 being his number of choice). He never graced the cover of The Hockey News as a teen phenom. No pulpy, silver-tongued sportswriter ever referred to him as prodigious or precocious or audacious. But, at 40, he can still relate to the bug-under-a-glass lifestyle usually reserved for matinee-idol moppets. "We'd go to the mall in Edmonton as a family to play mini-golf and people would be coming up, asking for autographs and things like that,'' Rollie the Goalie is recalling after Thursday's morning skate at Nassau Coliseum. "Everybody knew you. Which is nice. Which is great. But . . . "It's just different in Canada. John's gotten a lot of"
Islanders hope Lightning strikes again as draft god John Tavares sputters along Stamkos' trail
March 17
Vancouver Sun
 
"When Matt Moulson looks at housemate John Tavares, he doesn't see a golden child struggling to grasp the stardom being shovelled towards him. He sees a kid he has known for years who remains singularly driven to being among the best, and soon will be in the National Hockey League. Tuesday provided a pretty good preview. Tavares had five points in the New York Islanders' 5-2 reality check against the Vancouver Canucks. It was his first NHL game in Vancouver. So, how do you like him so far? "I sure hoped it was coming," Tavares said after the best night of his rookie season. "It's nice when everything starts to click, starts to go in. It feels good. I knew I proved myself early on in the"
John Tavares is left out of Calder talk
March 14
Toronto Star
 
"When defenceman Tyler Myers contributed a goal and three assists in the Buffalo Sabres 5-3 win over Dallas on Wednesday, it thrust him squarely into the NHL's rookie the year debate along with Colorado's Matt Duchene. Across New York state, in Uniondale, the Islanders' John Tavares once found himself in the same company, but a two-month slump has essentially taken the former first-overall pick out of the discussion, despite a strong showing in the his first 30 games of the season. Tavares, who faces the Leafs here tonight, is aware of the public's perception. He's been under a microscope since he was 13, so any opinion of significance rarely escapes his attention. "It's hard to ignore,"
Islanders' Victory Over the Lightning Keeps Tavares Happy in His Goal-Scoring Drought
February 14
New York Times
 
"John Tavares, the Islanders' 19-year-old center, has not scored a goal in 13 games, or four long weeks, but who is counting? The drought did not seem to matter as much to him Saturday as a hard-earned 5-4 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tavares, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 N.H.L. draft, had two chances to score in a game that included 75 shots on goal, but his backhand sailed wide of the net, and Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman, the No. 2 choice in the draft, broke up an odd-man rush. Tavares, his blue undershirt drenched with perspiration after the game, said he was not tired or discouraged. He is getting scoring chances. He assisted Kyle Okposo on a second-period goal"
Tavares focusing on strong finish
February 14
New York Post
 
"John Tavares and Steve Stamkos both grew up outside of Toronto, played on the same summer team that lost just once in four years, were opponents in juniors and No. 1 picks the last two years. That, however, is where the similarities end. While Stamkos shook off a slow start with Tampa Bay last season and scored 17 of his 23 goals in his last 28 games, Tavares started quickly this year, but has just two goals since Dec. 9. "When you go through a whole year and you come into the next one knowing what to expect, that's an advantage," said Tavares, whose Islanders play host to the Lightning today at the Coliseum (2 p.m.; MSG Plus; WHLI, 1100 AM). "He had a great second half last year and now"
Tavares focusing on strong finish
February 13
New York Post
 
"John Tavares and Steve Stamkos both grew up outside of Toronto, played on the same summer team that lost just once in four years, were opponents in juniors and No. 1 picks the last two years. That, however, is where the similarities end. While Stamkos shook off a slow start with Tampa Bay last season and scored 17 of his 23 goals in his last 28 games, Tavares started quickly this year, but has just two goals since Dec. 9. "When you go through a whole year and you come into the next one knowing what to expect, that's an advantage," said Tavares, whose Islanders play host to the Lightning today at the Coliseum (2 p.m.; MSG Plus; WHLI, 1100 AM). "He had a great second half last year and now"
Martin Biron, John Tavares guide Islanders to 4-3 win over Predators to end losing streak
February 10
New York Daily News
 
"Biron did his part in a presumed showcase start for a potential trade Tuesday night, helping the Isles halt their season-long losing streak at seven games in his first start of 2010. Mark Streit's 6-on-4 power play goal with Biron pulled for an extra skater with 11.1 seconds remaining in regulation forced overtime, before the forgotten third-string goalie backed the Isles to a stirring 4-3 shootout win over Nashville at the Coliseum. "I don't think you could've asked for a better performance (from Biron)," coach Scott Gordon said. "The guy deserves a better fate than what he's had this year." Bruno Gervais and Freddy Meyer also scored, while slumping rookie John Tavares, who has two goals"
Crosby can relate to Islanders' Tavares
February 10
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Penguins' Sidney Crosby knows, much better than most, what John Tavares of the New York Islanders is going through this winter. Both broke into the NHL as teenagers and as the centerpiece of a youth movement designed to rejuvenate their respective franchises. And from what Crosby has seen of Tavares, who will lead the Islanders into Mellon Arena tonight for a game against the Penguins, he believes Tavares is up to the challenges before him. "He's got a great shot," Crosby said Tuesday. "He sees the ice really well. He's big. He's strong. [With] his work ethic, and seeing how much he cares, he's only going to get better." Tavares entered the Islanders' game Tuesday night against"
Isles' Tavares looks for more
January 18
New York Post
 
"John Tavares skated yesterday in a Team USA jersey, the result of a bet he lost to Doug Weight when the Americans beat Canada in the junior World Championships last month. It could have been worse, since Tavares had just come off a game in which he snapped a streak of nine straight games without a goal. "It was nice to get one early," Tavares said after yesterday's practice at Nassau Coliseum, where the Isles will host the Devils today. "I'd have liked to have finished a few more chances though." Such is life for a top overall pick who is used to scoring goals almost at will. But his veteran teammates think the occasional trouble Tavares has had this year will eventually pay off. "It's"
Avalanche's heralded rookie Duchene takes on Islanders'counterpart Tavares
January 6
Denver Post
 
"Just as Carmelo Anthony, the No. 3 NBA draft pick in 2003, will always view No. 1 pick LeBron James, Matt Duchene likely will feel toward the New York Islanders' John Tavares. Duchene and Tavares are this year's Nos. 3 and 1 NHL picks, respectively. These are friendly feuds — Anthony-James, Duchene-Tavares — and one will be on display tonight at the Pepsi Center when Duchene, the Avalanche's rookie center, plays his first NHL game against Tavares and the Islanders. But don't expect any trash talking. "He's a buddy of mine," Duchene said. "We spent a lot of time together at the draft last summer, and he's a good guy. But of course I want to beat him and help our team get two big points.""
Tavares helps Islanders snap losing streak
December 31
New York Post
 
"It's not exactly something Knute Rockne would approve of, but at least coach Scott Gordon isn't fooling himself. "We're in a situation where realistically, we've gotta aim for that eighth [playoff] spot and there's a lot of teams that are bunched in that area," Gordon said after a 3-1 win over Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak (and a stretch of four straight defeats at Nassau Coliseum). One of those teams is Toronto and another is the Rangers, who the Islanders face on Saturday. And for those games to wind up meaning anything, the Islanders need more performances like the one they got last night, especially on special teams. Perhaps more importantly, for the Islanders to become"
Isles' Tavares eyes rebound
December 29
New York Post
 
"Garth Snow never doubted whom he would pick with the Islanders' top selection over the summer and John Tavares has made the Islanders' GM look good for much of his rookie season. Lately, however, the young center has seen his production slip significantly, as Tavares only has one point in his last eight games. But that's not a cause for concern for Snow. "He's 19 years old," Snow said of Tavares, who has 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists) in his first 40 games in the NHL heading into tonight's match against Columbus at the Coliseum. "Any time a young guy is going to come out of juniors or college hockey into this league, it's not going to be a seamless transition." Read more:"
Tavares helps Isles snap losing streak
December 24
New York Post
 
"It's not exactly something Knute Rockne would approve of, but at least coach Scott Gordon isn't fooling himself. "We're in a situation where realistically, we've gotta aim for that eighth [playoff] spot and there's a lot of teams that are bunched in that area," Gordon said after a 3-1 win over Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak (and a stretch of four straight defeats at Nassau Coliseum). One of those teams is Toronto and another is the Rangers, who the Islanders face on Saturday. And for those games to wind up meaning anything, the Islanders need more performances like the one they got last night, especially on special teams. Perhaps more importantly, for the Islanders to become"
Tortorella fumes as New York Rangers can't muster offense in 2-1 loss to New York Islanders
December 17
New York Daily News
 
"Dwayne Roloson accused his Islanders earlier in the week of mailing in an effort because they were looking ahead to playing the Rangers. So what exactly were the Rangers looking ahead to Wednesday night, Christmas dinner? Or was it golf in April? Thirty-three games into the season, the Rangers are on the fast track to oblivion, and they greased the wheels Wednesday night at the Garden in a punchless, passionless and ultimately pointless endeavor, a 2-1 loss to the Islanders in the opener of a pivotal home-and-home between the archrivals. The Rangers lost for the fifth consecutive time and the eighth time in nine games (1-6-2), and if they haven't yet hit rock bottom, there is always the"
Tavares Provides Glimpse Into Islanders’ Future
December 17
New York Times
 
"John Tavares, the Islanders' star rookie, is probably going to have a long, successful career, and will play at Madison Square Garden many times. The Islanders made his first visit to the Garden a winning one Wednesday night, but the game was more likely to be remembered as one of the worst played there in some time. The Islanders' Dwayne Roloson allowed only a third-period goal to Enver Lisin. The Islanders beat the Rangers, 2-1, in a contest of remarkably low quality, a parade of missed shots and flubbed chances all around. Fans of both teams can only hope it won't be repeated when the teams meet again Thursday night in Uniondale. Both clubs are struggling, but the Rangers were"
Islanders waste Tavares' two-fer in loss to Flyers
December 9
New York Post
 
"John Tavares scored both goals for the Islanders as they fell to the Flyers, 6-2, their second straight loss, and slipped into a last-place tie with the Flyers in the Atlantic Division. Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Claude Giroux scored two goals apiece as the Flyers posted their first win under former Isles coach Peter Laviolette. Tavares tried to rally the Islanders with a pair of second-period power-play goals that cut their deficit in half. His first was scored at 10:52. He made it 4-2 with his 13th of the season at 14:55. The Isles finished 2 of 8 on the power play."
Moulson lifts Isles
December 4
New York Post
 
"Matt Moulson scored three goals and the Islanders snapped the Thrashers' four-game winning streak with a 4-1 victory last night. It was the first career hat trick for Moulson, who is in his third season in the NHL and first with the Islanders. Rookie forward John Tavares' 11th goal, scored into an empty net with 1 second remaining, made it 4-1. Moulson, who has a team-leading 14 goals and is tied with Tavares with a club-best 22 points, finished his hat trick at 13:09 of the third period to give the Isles a 3-1 edge. His other two goals came in the second period. The Thrashers scored first with Slava Kozlov beating Dwayne Roloson from in close for his fifth goal at 9:01 of the opening"
Isles find 'third' gear
November 28
New York Post
 
"What a difference a game makes. After a shoddy third period cost the Islanders a win against the Flyers on Wednesday, they rebounded with one of their most complete final frames of the year yesterday, scoring twice in a 3-2 comeback win over the Penguins. "I think that was the best period of hockey we've played," goalie Dwayne Roloson said after John Tavares scored 13:48 into the third for the first game-winner of his young career. Just as important as that third period was the penalty kill the Isles had in the second. An interference penalty by Jack Hillen was followed barely a minute later by a double minor for high-sticking by Andy Sutton. With the Isles already trailing 2-1 against the"
Tavares lifts New York Islanders to come-from-behind win over Pittsburgh Penguins
November 28
New York Daily News
 
"Scott Gordon was in a noticeably more chipper mood after this third period than the previous one the Islanders had played. After raising the ire of their coach to new levels with a passive final 20 minutes in a loss to Philadelphia the night before Thanksgiving, the Isles came back after the holiday and finished off their first third-period comeback this season. Prized rookie John Tavares netted the decisive goal in a belt-tightening 3-2 win over Pittsburgh Friday at the Coliseum. "I have to commend the guys on their effort, and not just in the third period," said Gordon, whose team had been 0-7-3 when trailing after 40 minutes this season. "I said to the guys after the second period that"
Isles' Tavares seals deal against Penguins
November 28
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The New York Islanders did a pretty fair impersonation of the defending Stanley Cup champions Friday at Nassau Coliseum. Dominating the third period and receiving clutch goals from their superstars has been the Penguins' recipe for success since Dan Bylsma became coach in February. The Islanders turned the tables on the champs, outshooting the Penguins, 18-5, in the third period and receiving a late goal from rookie John Tavares to earn a 3-2 victory. "We pride ourselves on being a good third period team," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. "We didn't do a very good job of that." The Penguins entered the third period with a 2-1 advantage but were unable to match the Islanders' intensity"
Penguins blow 2-1 lead
November 28
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Scott Gordon had been a bit agitated Wednesday night. And rightly so. Gordon, the New York Islanders' coach, had just watched his team ring up one shot in the third period of what became a 2-1 loss to Philadelphia at Nassau Coliseum. He did not kick over tables or launch into a rant that became an instant YouTube classic, but Gordon made it known that he was not happy, and that he expected more from his players. And even though he spoke mostly through clenched teeth, Gordon's players obviously understood his message. Absorbed it. Did everything but tattoo it on their foreheads. And they made a commitment to upgrade their third-period performance the next time out, which just happened to be"
Penguins lose to Islanders, 3-2
November 28
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Rookie John Tavares scored on a rebound at 13:48 of the third period to give the New York Islanders a 3-2 victory against the Penguins at Nassau Coliseum this afternoon. Josh Bailey put the Islanders in front, 1-0, at 9:05 of the opening period when he pounced on a loose puck at the right side of the crease and knocked it past goalie Brent Johnson. Evgeni Malkin tied the game with a spectacular goal at 17:22, backhanding a shot past New York goalie Dwayne Roloson and inside the far post from the bottom of the right circle. The goal, Malkin's seventh, netted assists for Eric Godard and Ben Lovejoy. Godard's point was his first of the season."
Leaf can Phil the role
November 24
Toronto Sun
 
"The moment native son John Tavares stepped on to the Air Canada Centre ice surface for the pre-game warmup last night, the estimated 100 family and friends in attendance erupted in a collective cheer. As for the other several thousand patrons in the rink, they could only dream of what No. 91 would have looked like in Maple Leafs' blue-and-white. It's going to be that type of week for Maple Leafs fans, who will have the images of "what might have been" thrust right in front of their faces. Last night, they were forced to watch Tavares, the pride of Oakville and a longtime Leafs fan himself, take his place on the visitors bench. If only the Leafs had tanked in the final two months last"
Tavares back in Toronto
November 23
New York Post
 
"What looked a few days ago like it would be a triumphant return to Toronto for John Tavares has turned into something considerably different. That's what happens when a young team like the Islanders -- who went 2-0-2 during the first four games of their seven-game road trip -- loses consecutive games to two of the worst teams in the Western Conference. Though Maple Leafs fans will be able to see Tavares, a native of Mississauga, Ontario, which is 20 miles outside of Toronto, play his first NHL game at the Air Canada Centre, the 19-year-old rookie will be more concerned with keeping the Islanders (8-8-7) afloat."
Tavares breaks through in OT to halt Caps' streak
October 31
Washington Times
 
"John Tavares hit two posts, was robbed on a one-timer and thought for sure he had an assist on a beautiful backhand pass. Through 60 minutes, the latest "Next One" was one of the best players on the ice but couldn't crack the score sheet. No worries; Tavares kept working and delivered an upset for the upstart New York Islanders in overtime. Tavares hit Mark Streit with a beautiful centering pass as the Islanders defeated the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Friday night at Verizon Center. "Good players make the plays," Caps center Brendan Morrison said. "He's a young kid, but you can tell he's highly skilled. He's going to be a good player in this league." The first pick in June's draft had"
'09 top draft picks make the cut, staying in NHL
October 29
NHL.com
 
"Six players taken in the 2009 Entry Draft made their NHL team's opening-night roster. Making the League is one thing; staying there is another. But for the special six from this June's draft, they all passed their first major test. John Tavares (No. 1, Islanders), Victor Hedman (No. 2, Lightning), Matt Duchene (No. 3, Colorado), Evander Kane (No. 4, Thrashers), Dmitry Kulikov (No. 14, Panthers) and Ryan O'Reilly (No. 33, Avalanche) haven't all passed the 10-game threshold, but all have been told that they should look into permanent housing. Teams have nine games to evaluate their teenage prospects before having to make a decision on whether to keep them -- and activate their entry-level"
Islanders' Tavares takes center stage
October 17
Buffalo News
 
"Martin Biron sees John Tavares as the ideal guy to sit around with and watch football. "He's a Bills fan, so on Sunday we get together, we watch the games, we have a lot of fun," said the New York Islanders goaltender, who spent parts of eight seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. Biron also see Tavares as the ideal guy around whom to build a team. The Isles are doing just that. The new-look Islanders visited HSBC Arena on Friday, giving Buffalonians their first chance to see the No. 1 overall pick in June's draft. He entered the contest with two goals and three assists in his first four games and added to his total with a goal during the Sabres' 6-3 win. "It's definitely been great," Tavares"
Senators defeat Tavares-led Isles 3-2
October 9
Ottawa Citizen
 
"Same player, same building, different circumstance. At the Senators home opener, they came to bury John Tavares, not to praise him, as they did when he wore Canada's colours and helped deliver a World Junior championship here just nine months ago. "It seems like yesterday," Tavares said, before the second game of his NHL career. Lessons come daily for the 19-year-old, selected first overall by the New York Islanders last summer, a fallen franchise's great saviour. In his first game, Tavares learned he could score at this level, producing a goal and assist in an overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Against the Senators, the Franchise discovered if you stand around with your head down,"
Senators ready for Tavares
October 8
Ottawa Sun
 
"The last time John Tavares stood on the ice at Scotiabank Place, he was wearing a gold medal around his neck -- as a proud member of Team Canada. It's a memory Erik Karlsson, the flashy young Senators defenceman, who won the silver medal with Sweden at the world junior championship, would rather forget. Fast forward a year and Tavares returns to Ottawa as a New York Islander, the first overall pick in June's draft. Tonight, Tavares and Karlsson will meet again, but this time in the NHL. It'll be Karlsson's first regular-season game on home ice, while it's Tavares' first NHL game on home soil. "I'm just trying to forget that I ended up second last year," said Karlsson with a smile. Tavares"
Spotlight's on Tavares
October 8
New York Post
 
"John Tavares received plenty of scrutiny before his first NHL game on Saturday at Nassau Coliseum, but that figures to pale in comparison to what he's in for tonight, when he makes his Islanders' debut in Canada against Ottawa (7:00; MSG+2, WMJC). "I grew up there and won World Juniors there, so there's going to be a lot of attention," Tavares said after the team's practice in Syosset yesterday. "At this level, that's part of it." Scott Gordon isn't overly concerned with how the 19-year-old rookie will handle things in his native country. "If anybody is prepared for it, it's him," Gordon said of Tavares, who grew up near Toronto. "He's been under a microscope for a long time and I'm sure"
Penguins ruin Tavares' debut with Islanders
October 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Dear John. It'll only get better from here. Best, Sid. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and New York Islanders franchise prospect John Tavares each posted goal-and-assist games, but Crosby's club is where Tavares can only hope to take his — and the grit of a champion is what separated the Penguins and Islanders on Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum. Third-period rally goals by defenseman Mark Eaton and Ruslan Fedotenko earned the Penguins one point, and they snagged another one in the shootout with consecutive scores by defenseman Kris Letang and Crosby to down the Islanders, 4-3. "It's not often you can play just 20 good minutes and win the game," Eaton said. "We were fortunate to get the"
Tavares eclipsed by Lighthouse failure
October 4
New York Post
 
"After months of waiting, the Islanders finally got to see their reward last night. John Tavares, the Isles' No. 1 draft pick, scored a power-play goal and added an assist in his NHL debut, a season-opening 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins at a sold-out Nassau Coliseum against Pittsburgh. "It was a [heck] of a game," Tavares said. But it became clear again last night that the young forward's future on Long Island -- and that of the organization -- is still tenuous at best. Just minutes before Tavares took the ice for the first time, team owner Charles Wang said he was "disgusted" that yesterday's self-imposed deadline regarding approval for his Lighthouse project that would include a"
Penguins ruin Tavares' debut with Islanders
October 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and New York Islanders franchise prospect John Tavares each posted goal-and-assist games, but Crosby's club is where Tavares can only hope to take his — and the grit of a champion is what separated the Penguins and Islanders on Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum. Third-period rally goals by defenseman Mark Eaton and Ruslan Fedotenko earned the Penguins one point, and they snagged another one in the shootout with consecutive scores by defenseman Kris Letang and Crosby to down the Islanders, 4-3. "It's not often you can play just 20 good minutes and win the game," Eaton said. "We were fortunate to get the win." The Penguins (2-0-0) were fortunate in 2005 when"