John Tavares has been the standout leader of the New York Islanders bright future, and on Monday the team rewarded him by stitching the captains 'C' to his sweater.
Tavares, whom the Islanders drafted No. 1 overall in the 2009 NHL draft after the team finished in dead last in the NHL standings, will be the 14th captain in franchise history. Tavares has been a beacon of hope for the Islanders ever since he was drafted, and if what he's done so far in the NHL is any indication, he's the type of leader the team needs to propel it to the next level.
Tavares was a Hart Trophy finalist last year and helped the Islanders get back to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season. Tavares helped lead the Islanders to a 24-17-7 record last year, good enough for 55 points and the final seed in the playoffs. With the Islanders being so young, the team hopes the experience of getting into the playoffs as the eighth seed can only help them get higher in the standings as the years go by.
The Islanders eventually fell to the No. 1 seeded Pittsburgh Penguins in six games during the opening round of the postseason, but the wealth of experience the young core got by playing in the postseason can't be measured. Tavares scored three goals and had two assists during the six-game series in his debut in the playoffs.
Tavares, who turns 23 on Sept. 20, will fill the void at captain that was left by defenseman Mark Streit who was the team captain until he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in June. The Islanders announced Tavares will be taking the reins as team leader at a press conference at Beth Page State Park. Tavares was honored to take over but didn't expect much change.
"It's pretty special," Tavares told NHL.com. "You understand the responsibility, but at the same time, I don't think too much will change. I'm not going to try and force anything. It's a great group and being here with the guys, it just feels like we're back to normal. So many familiar faces, a few new guys, but guys that are going to fit in really well. The group's really growing together nicely, so I don't think the feel or the atmosphere of our guys, or the naming of me captain, is going to change a whole lot.
Tavares has spent the last four seasons with the Islanders and has gotten better with each campaign. He has led the team in scoring in all four of his NHL seasons. Last year, Tavares led the charge for the Islanders, netting 28 goals and 19 assists for 47 points while playing in every contest during the 48-game lockout-shortened NHL season. His 28 goals ranked third in the league last year.
In his career, Tavares has scored 112 goals and notched 137 assists for a total of 249 points through 291 games.
Tavares represents a young core that includes Kyle Okposo, Michael Grabner, Travis Hamonic and Josh Bailey, a group that is ready to keep on proving itself before the franchise moves over to Brooklyn in two seasons, and have pumped life and hope back into a once disheartened fan base.
"We're extremely bullish on where we stand now and in the future," Islanders general manager Garth Snow said. "It's nice to see. I know it was painful at times, but it's been worth the wait."
Tavares will look to lead the Islanders on and off the ice and represent the captaincy to the best of his ability.
"I think I've been pretty comfortable in my shoes," Tavares said. "I've learned a lot since Day 1."
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