Tavares is Number One

Friday was a day for New York Islanders fans to celebrate a promising future as general manager Garth Snow made the right choice in selecting Ontario Hockey League scoring sensation John Tavares with the first overall pick. Heading into the draft it was not clear whether the Islanders who finished last with only 61 points would select Tavares who scored 58 goals with the Oshawa Generals/London Knights this past season or 6 foot 6 Swedish rear guard Vctor Hedman. When Snow approached the stage to make his selection he had no second thoughts on who he wanted to rebuild his team around and that was Tavares who last season eclipsed Peter Lee’s 33 year scoring record of 213 career goals scored in the OHL. “He’s an offensively-gifted hockey player,” Snow who picked goalie Rick DiPietro first overall in 2000 said. “Whether it’s shooting the puck or distributing it, he sees the puck at a different level than any other young player that I’ve seen in this draft.” Prior to making the selection Tavares who is from Oakville Ontario had no idea that he would be selected by the Islanders and was even more surprised by the warm welcome he received from the New York fans who were shown at a draft party in Long Island where they were celebrating the pick. “I didn’t see it but I heard things and obviously they are really interested in having me, and I definitely have the support of the fans and the community that’s huge,” Tavares said. “I’m very thankful to be going there and I appreciate the opportunity to be part of Long Island. It’s going to be great and I can’t wait to get things going knowing where it’s headed. It’s going to be a great future for all of us.”