The 2000s was a darkish time for the New York Islanders, so when the crew landed the primary general choose within the 2009 NHL Draft, the franchise’s outlook drastically modified. Following a 58-goal, 104-point season within the Ontario Hockey League, in addition to eight objectives and 15 factors in six video games on the 2009 u20 World Junior Championship, John Tavares was the projected prime choose, with Victor Hedman and Matt Duchene intently trailing. On draft day, normal supervisor Garth Snow wasted no time, deciding on Tavares first general.
Tavares’ Rookie Season
Tavares made his NHL debut on Oct. 3, 2009, in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Islanders gave him no time to regulate, taking part in him for over 22 minutes in his debut. Fortunately, he rose to the event, tallying a objective and an help. He earned his first NHL level with an help throughout an Islanders’ 5-on-3 energy play, the place Mark Streit scored on a slapshot from the purpose to tie the sport at 1-1.
After starting the second interval tied, the Islanders went on the powerplay 6:46 into the interval. After some chaos in entrance of the web, Tavares discovered the puck and backhanded it previous 2003 first general choose and future Corridor of Famer, Marc-Andre Fleury. The Islanders went on to lose the sport 4-3 in a shootout, however it was nonetheless an evening to recollect for Tavares and the Islanders.
Tavares started his rookie season with three objectives and 7 factors within the first six video games earlier than later hitting a chilly stretch. From Dec. 12 to Mar. 6 he scored simply two objectives in 34 video games. He completed the season with three objectives and eight factors in his remaining eight video games, bringing his rookie season totals to 24 objectives and 54 factors in 82 video games.
Associated: Revisiting Robin Lehner’s Season with the Islanders
Tavares in the end fell in need of profitable the Calder Memorial Trophy. Buffalo Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers, 19, received the award after a season with 11 objectives and 48 factors. Detroit Pink Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard, 25, completed second, with Duchene shut behind. Tavares got here in fifth, receiving two second-place votes and 18 third-place votes.
Tavares helped the Islanders enhance as a crew, going 34-37-11 and ending fifth within the division. This was an 18-point enhance from the season prior. Within the 2010 Draft, the crew chosen Nino Niederreiter with the fifth general choose and Brock Nelson with the thirtieth general choose.
Tavares’ Highlights on Lengthy Island
Following his rookie season, Tavares went on to play a further eight seasons. He completed his profession on Lengthy Island with 272 objectives and 621 factors in 669 common season video games.
Tavares’ 2012-13 marketing campaign, arguably his greatest as an Islander, noticed him rating 28 objectives and 47 factors in 48 video games as a result of lockout-shortened season. He completed third in Hart Memorial Trophy voting, receiving 38 first-place votes, 38 second-place votes, and 33 third-place votes. He led the Islanders to a 24-17-7 document earlier than falling in Spherical 1 to the Penguins in six video games.
Earlier than the beginning of the 2013-14 season on Sep. 9, Tavares was named the 14th captain in Islanders historical past, changing Streit, who had served as captain for the earlier two seasons earlier than being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. Tavares went on to captain the Islanders for 5 seasons.
One among Tavares’ greatest seasons of his profession was 2014-15, when he scored 38 objectives and 86 factors in 82 video games, main the Islanders to a 47-28-7 document, the third-best within the division. Nevertheless, the crew fell brief as soon as once more in Spherical 1, this time to the Washington Capitals in seven video games. He completed third in Hart Memorial Trophy voting, once more, this time receiving 4 first-place votes, 41 second-place votes, and 63 third-place votes.
Whereas Tavares’ 2012-13 and 2014-15 seasons every have a case for his greatest with the Islanders, he’ll perpetually be recognized for his 2016 Playoffs efficiency. Following a measly 33-goal, 70-point common season from Tavares, the Islanders matched up with the Atlantic Division-winning, Florida Panthers.
The Islanders took Video games 1 and three to start the sequence, whereas the Panthers took Video games 2 and 4. Within the Islanders’ wins, Tavares had a objective and 5 factors, averaging over 21 minutes per sport. Heading again to Florida for Recreation 5, the Islanders took the win in double extra time, giving the crew an opportunity to take the sequence, at house, in Recreation 6.
In what has grow to be one of the iconic video games in Islanders’ historical past, the crew entered the ultimate minutes of the third interval down 1-0. With the web empty, defenseman Nick Leddy carried the puck into the Panthers’ zone. He handed to the entrance of the web the place it was redirected by Nikolay Kulemin. Tavares discovered the puck and pushed it in, tying the sport with 53.2 seconds remaining.
After a scoreless first extra time body, the Islanders and Panthers headed to double extra time for the second sport in a row. Simply over midway into the interval, an Alan Quine cross to Kyle Okposo gave the Islanders possession within the offensive zone. Tavares then picked up the puck and took a shot from the hash marks, hitting off Roberto Luongo’s pad. Tavares gathered the rebound, wrapped across the web, and scored, sending the Islanders to the second spherical and breaking a 23-year drought.
The published’s iconic name, Tavares’ fogged-up visor, Nassau Coliseum’s background music, and Islanders’ followers chanting “Sure, Sure, Sure.” To this present day, no matter what later transpired, that second provides each Islanders fan chills. A 23-year wait was over, all due to one man: John Tavares.
The Islanders proceeded to lose to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Spherical 2, one thing the crew would get very used to. Tavares tallied a objective and an help in Recreation 1 in opposition to the Lightning however went scoreless to complete the sequence. His six objectives and 5 assists for 11 factors in 11 video games throughout the 2016 Playoffs noticed him set profession highs within the playoffs in every offensive class that also stand true right now.
Tavares Leaves the Islanders
All Islanders followers know what occurred subsequent. Two seasons later, Tavares hit free company, and on July 1, 2018, he turned a Toronto Maple Leaf. In hindsight, dropping Tavares introduced extra good than unhealthy to the Islanders. The crew constructed a well-rounded ahead core and went on a number of deep playoff runs, garnering way more success than Tavares has had in Toronto.
For Tavares, he could not have discovered the crew success he hoped for together with his change, however his offensive totals improved, at the very least at first. He set profession highs in objectives (47) and factors (88) in his first season with the Leafs and was even named captain in his second season. Sadly, 5 seasons later, he misplaced his captaincy to Auston Matthews following 440 complete video games with the crew.
Tavares’ Profession Accolades
At 33 years outdated, Tavares nonetheless has some gas left within the tank, however he already has had a robust profession. In 1,109 profession regular-season video games, he has 456 objectives and 1,040 factors. In 62 profession playoff video games, he has 23 objectives and 45 factors.
Tavares sits eighth in Islanders historical past in objectives (272), sixth in assists (349), fifth in factors (621), third in hat methods (eight), fourth in game-winning objectives (42), first in extra time objectives (11), and first in extra time factors (23). He has been an NHL captain for 10 of his 15 profession seasons and is a six-time All-Star, 5 of which had been with the Islanders. He was on the NHL All-Rookie Staff in 2010 and NHL First All-Star Staff in 2015.
Love him or hate him, Tavares’ affect on the Islanders won’t ever be forgotten. He introduced the fanbase many unforgettable reminiscences, and even with the bitter departure in 2016, he’ll perpetually maintain a spot within the fanbase’s hearts.