Isles Take Tavares!

[Lil Bit Special]

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/blog/2009/06/pick_no1_islanders_take_john_t.html

Sacrebleu! That was suspenseful, but for once the Islanders made their fans happy, selecting John Tavares. The Islanders just became the first team to select No. 1 four times. I'm not sure if that's a distinction you want. This time, they may have got their man. He looks good in the orange and blue.

His favorite players growing up were Mario Lemieux, Mike Modano and Patrick O'Sullivan!

Everyone sounds happy about this one.

Early returns from the live poll on the Islanders blog showed 85% wanted Tavares, but as the poll went on it went down to 64, 31% for Duchene... One of the announcer's just summed up this pick: "The Islanders now become a team you want to watch."

[Lil Bit Special]

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/blog/2009/06/john_tavares_didnt_know_until.html

Media members weren't the only ones the Islanders kept in the dark until making the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft. Newest Islander John Tavares said he didn't find out until general manager Garth Snow announced the team's decision'

"I had no idea," Tavares said moments ago. "It was just like everybody else. I didn't know what the decision would be. It's just a great moment to be sharing it with my parents and my sister. I couldn't be more happy right now with the opportunity to play for Long Island and for the Islanders.

"To have the opportunity to start with a young core of guys and grow into the future....You see the way teams have done it before and you could see the way Garth was headed in the draft...I can't wait to get started, this is really a humbling moment for me."

Asked how he felt about the Islanders keeping their plans secret for two months, Tavares said: "You want to know. You're anxious. But it's a big decision for them."

[Lil Bit Special]

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/blog/2009/06/islanders_trade_down_in_first.html

The Islanders just gave up the 26th, 37th, 62nd and 92nd picks in the draft in a trade with Columbus for the Blue Jackets' first-round pick at No. 16 and for their third-round pick at No. 77.

Here's the big move up everybody wanted to the middle of the first round, and they made it after only five players were off the board. They must be confident the player they want will be there.

[Lil Bit Special]

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/blog/2009/06/islanders_deal_up_to_no_12.html

The Islanders just trade No. 16 and No. 77 and No. 182 to Minnesota for the No. 12. They chose defenseman Calvin de Haan. They're done for the night.

De Haan had 8 goals and 55 assists in 68 games for Oshawa last season. He's a puck-moving defenseman who should eventually provide a boost for the offense. The bonus is that he already is familiar with No. 1 pick John Tavares after playing with him in Oshawa before Tavares was traded to London in the OHL at mid-season.

[Jetkid94]

what a great first round. we got obviously the best player in the draft and also got a defensemen with the potential as high as the sky, plus tavares has talked him up, and Haan seems like a possible franchise Defensman.

and we get pick 31 and from an islanders board I know(I wont name it due to spam) theres a lot of great options around at 31.

would you go defense or wing with #31?

ive heard talk of going for goalie at 54, I dont know how I feel about that. I would go D/W with 31 and then get the other at 54. maybe get a goalie with whatever pick after 54.

[JetsMan57]

The Isles drafted 2 goalies in a row. DiPietro must be shot

www.nyislandersshop.com

[Jetkid94]

The Isles drafted 2 goalies in a row. DiPietro must be shot

www.nyislandersshop.com

I also feel like, Garth doesent believe the forwards and defenders that were available could make an impact anytime soon, so i feel like he has ideas of filling those in free agency. maybe we make a couple of above average signings when the FA market opens.

[Thai Jet]

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/blog/2009/06/islanders_deal_up_to_no_12.html

The Islanders just trade No. 16 and No. 77 and No. 182 to Minnesota for the No. 12. They chose defenseman Calvin de Haan. They're done for the night.

De Haan had 8 goals and 55 assists in 68 games for Oshawa last season. He's a puck-moving defenseman who should eventually provide a boost for the offense. The bonus is that he already is familiar with No. 1 pick John Tavares after playing with him in Oshawa before Tavares was traded to London in the OHL at mid-season.

Looks like they're using the Jets plan of quality not quantity.

[Jetlag]

Looks like they're using the Jets plan of quality not quantity.

Well this year anyway. Last draft they took 13 players. So in the past 2 drafts they added 19 prospects to a completely barren farm system. It's a wait and see. There's this kid Kirill Petrov they drafted late last year who was supposed to be a first rounder but slid because he was Russian. He claims he intends to come over. The kid is 18 and is 6'3" 220 and plays winger. I'd love to see him turn into a player and team him up with Tavares and Okposo.

[Thai Jet]

Well this year anyway. Last draft they took 13 players. So in the past 2 drafts they added 19 prospects to a completely barren farm system. It's a wait and see. There's this kid Kirill Petrov they drafted late last year who was supposed to be a first rounder but slid because he was Russian. He claims he intends to come over. The kid is 18 and is 6'3" 220 and plays winger. I'd love to see him turn into a player and team him up with Tavares and Okposo.

You never know. The NHL draft is more of a crap shoot than the NFL draft IMO. Unless it's a top 5 pick you're NOT getting any help for at least 2 years. The Sabres draft these kids in the top 15 every year ( they've MISSED the playoffs 5 of the last 7 years yet retain Lindy Ruff and Darcy Reiger ) and they're never heard of again.