John Tavares is already one of the NHL's best forwards. He also represents the best hope for an on-ice revival of the Islanders franchise, which is largely ignored by the media.
 The last five first-overall picks have not had a difficult time acclimating to the NHL.
Parick Kane (2007) has a Calder Trophy and Stanley Cup ring. Steven Stamkos (2008) led the league in goals with 51 in just his second year. The tandem of Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2010, 2011) represents a shining light at the end of the recently moribund Edmonton Oilers’ tunnel.
John Tavares, the 2009 pick, has not garnered the accolades and that is partially because he plays for the New York Islanders, a franchise largely ignored by the media for the past decade.
But the 2009 pick, Partially because he is playing for the Islanders, who have been largely ignored by the North American media for the past decade. Tavares, who will play in his first NHL All Star Game this weekend, is not especially garrulous with the media, either.
Despite the Islanders' anonymity, the 21-year-old has put up 20 goals and 29 assists in 28 games in his third season while showing that he has the ability to be a legitimate star, first-line center in the NHL for the next ten years.
“You can tell that he’s getting better every year,” Islanders captain Mark Streit told James Mirtle of the Toronto Globe and Mail earlier this week. “His dedication is huge, and his work ethic is great as well. So he got stronger. He got faster. It’s all paying off.”
He is also one of the dozen or so NHLers who has worked with skating guru Dawn Braid.
Tavares’ talent is paying off for the teammates who have been fortunate enough to play the most minutes on his wings.
Right wing P.A. Parenteau is in just his second full NHL season at 28 years old, and has 10 goals and 33 assist through 48 games. Left wing Matt Moulson has 22 goals  and 21 assists in the same amount of games, threatening to eclipsehis career high of 31 goals in a season.
But like most seasons in recent memory, the team results for the Islanders have not been stellar.
They entered the All Star break with 45 points through 48 games, ten points out of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot. While that deficit is not insurmountable, the Islanders would have to replicate last season’s scalding second half to have a legitimate chance at a playoff berth in late March.
Not much is certain for the Islander franchise, given ownership’s desperation to leave the Nassau Coliseum and Nassau County voters’ unwillingness to subsidize a new arena. But barring any surprise trades, Tavares will be with the organization through the 2017-18 season, after signing a contract extension in September.
And if there is a reversal of fortunes for the Islander franchise in the next five years, Tavares will no doubt be one of the main catalysts.
“I would love to be part of turning it around,” he told Mark Herrmann of Newsday. “I think it would be great to make the Islanders once again a powerhouse.”
NOTES
Ranger goaltender Henrik Lundqvist earned his 40th career shutout in seven NHL seasons with Tuesday’s 3-0 win over the Jets in New York...The Rangers entered the All Star break with the most points in the Eastern Conference (66) but their power play remains an issue.. They have converted on 14.1 percent of their power play chances, 25th in the NHL...Penguin Evgeni Malkin entered the break leading the league in points, with 26 goals and 32 assists in 42 games...Philadelphia Flyers center Daniel Briere is the Atlantic Division’s latest star to fall victim to the NHL concussion epidemic. The team did not announce when he sustained the injury. Briere is out indefinitely.
Photos by Getty Images
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