JOHN TAVARES SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Tells Pierre Lebrun he’s all Islanders
10:30 pm - So that you never have to hear about it again, here’s John Tavares to Pierre Lebrun of ESPN.com on the urban legend about him not wanting to be an Islander. We told Mike Francesa two months ago about our “source close to Tavares” saying Mike heard a bad rumor. Now JT is on-the-record with Pierre:
“It’s not true at all. Wherever I’m selected, 100 percent I’m going to be going there. If it is the New York Islanders, of course I’m going to go. I think they’ve got a lot of good prospects and there’s some good things happening there. Obviously, they’re looking to get a new arena, which is always exciting. And it’s a team with great tradition and history.”
We just spoke with Lebrun for his take on their conversation. “I felt his comments about the Islanders were very genuine,” said Pierre. “He respects the team’s history, which is nice. The last thing the league needs is another Lindros situation circa 1991.”
Comments.
75 Responses to “JOHN TAVARES SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Tells Pierre Lebrun he’s all Islanders”
Please Wait
mike francessa’s source was probably colin campbell
I will bet that Isles fans will STILL hear it again lol. You can tell people things but you cant make them sink in!
All due respect CB but the press has a habit of blowing things up to more then it is….and I highly doubt this kid wants to start his careeer making himself look like an Eric Lindros character type person
That’s great to hear …now lets hope we’re in a position to draft him …
yay!!!!! jt is the man!!! as usual francesca is wrong!
Mike knows nothing about hockey
Aren’t the Isles leaning more towards Hedman anyway?
Good to see Tavares acting like a consummate professional however. Will bode well for his NHL career.
If we draft tavares…the joy would be something i havent experienced as an islander fan in a very long time.
are we even going to be in position to draft him? come on, people. don’t set yourselves up for what could be a disappointment. we may not even draft the kid!
It’s just sad that the rumour was even out there.
Only time will tell now.
I really hope we do get him… but Hedman is no slouch.
Let’s enjoy the rest of the season.
That is EXTREMELY relieving to hear…
Yeah, the common NHL fan seems enjoy picking on this franchise. It’s really sad that we have become the new Hartford Whalers in that regard.
But who cares. I already knew when it looked like we were getting the 1st overall pick stuff like this was gonna be said.
9 is right. we must not forget that we are the islanders. in other words, we are not drafting him.
I like that he knows we’re trying to get a new arena, it shows that he’s recently researched the team to find out information about us.
Snow and company may like Hedman better.
Oh baby, that is refreshing news. Now the rest is up to the Islanders and that damn ping pong ball.
What a shock. The pompous windbag, who’s hockey knowledge could fit on the head of a pin, got this story wrong.
Another uninformed “sports reporter” falls into the trap and goes the easy way with a negative Islanders story. Its going to be sweet when this team turns it around. There may not be enough crow on the entire continent for all these d-bags to eat.
That’s great to hear. Along with exceptional skills, he also seems to have a high maturity level that would be a great fit with the young guns on the team, as well as the vets. He is exactly the player we need on this team going forward. I’ve said it before, but as Al Arbour said about Bossy, “Get me the goalscorer, I can teach him how to play defense.” Who are we to argue with Arbour?You CANNOT teach offensive instincts and hockey sense.
FOXSPORTS.COM/NHL has a 10 best free agent signings list, Weight at # 10 and Streit at # 2. Nice to see some positives coming from the media.
Great news…now lets start losing again so we can snag this kid!
Lord hear our prayer.
On a lighter note the Eric Lindros circa 1991 was a building block to the Avalanche circa 1995, so I guess it’s a win win either way
well if snow and wang or whoever pick Hedman they are just plain stupid! Everyone has this kid going #1 for a year now. I honestly do not think the islanders will draft hedman if they get the #1 pick. Just from a marketing standpoint Tavaras would be huge for the lighthouse plan, selling jerseys, selling tickets, getting media attention. This is not tampa bay with Stamkos. Tavaras would get more hype in New York. LEts hope we get the #1 pick and draft Tavaras! Enough said!
This is great news…but I will not allow myself to even dream of Tavares until we finish last…and then win the lottery. We are on a roll and it is just our luck to go on a winning streak right now to blow our chance at Mr. Tavares or Hedman for that matter. For once can this franchise have a bit of luck. Let the young guys continue to develop without costing us the franchise player we so desperately need…
Sounds like Tavares is getting good advice at the very least. I don’t think Lindros ever quite lost the stigma attached to his draft. Hopefully he means it and isn’t going to have his agent tell the Isles off the record that they would be smart to draft Hedman (assuming, of course, they have the 1st pick).
We NEED this kid.
Almost every scouting report has JT ahead of VH. Garth Snow can’t be that foolish to pass on the best player in the draft,can he? Hey they may not even have to worry about that if these kids keep playing the way they are. The future is really starting to look promising. I just hope when it all comes together this team is not going to be in KC or another city.
22…Yes the Eric Lindros trade helped the Avalanche win however he didn’t want to play on the Nordiques who then moved to Colorado…But I will remain positive, this is great news bring on JT and the lighthouse…I think Joey Mac needs to start more
Obviously he’s no Crosby or Alex O, but who do they compare JT too? Lecavilier? Thornton? I know he’s more highly regarded then Stamkos.
Some have said Mike Bossy comparison
28..My point wasn’t who lindros didn’t want to play for,everyone knows Colorado came from Quebec. My point was the trade for the highest regarded prospect in that draft (which included first round picks…S.Niedermeyer,P.Forsberg,B.rolston,A.Kovalev,G.Murrary and Z.Palffy)was a major influence on the team formerley known as the Quebec Nordiques winning the cup
Don’t put all your eggs into one basket quite yet. Their is still a lot of hockey to be played. The Islanders need this road trip to be bad (good for us). Then Hilbert cannot be resigned and the Islanders take this kid and build around him, Kyle Okposo, Bergenheim, Bailey, Comeau ect.
To be completely fair, I think this kid is going to be great. It would be in our best interest to have the Islanders finish first and the Lightning finish second, rather than Atlanta. A last place finish does not guarantee a first overall pick, but I wholeheartedly believe that the Lightning would take Hedman, as they already have Stamkos and Lecavalier. In that case, even with the second overall pick, I still think Tavares would be on the table. Just a prediction, but I stick by it.
Tavares is absolutely the priority should we have a crack at him. You can always fine quality Dmen late in the draft. Look at McCabe and Streit.
Goal scorers are hard to come by and this team BADLY needs guys who can score goals.
Snow passes up on Tavares that will be his job on the line. No way will he EVER live that down.
Thank God that was a rumor
Silly question. since some here think that Hedman might be a soft european d-man, suppose they get the 2nd pick and whoever picks 1st takes Tavaras, should the Isles pass on him and take Duchene? I was thinking about this today (I know, I need a life)
I can’t believe this even became an issue. I’m glad LeBrun sort of buried it at the end of his column. Soap opera rumors like that are a better fit with the other sports that are already oversaturated with coverage.
Tavares to Okposo would be very, very nice.
Good news for sure but I never believe he wouldn’t want to be an Isle. He has tremendous character.
Good news on Figern. I’m a bit surprised it was Callahan and Josnneu that went down. Callahan plays way better then Pock and Martinek but I guess he was easiest to send down as Pock would need to clear waivers. Josnneu was sent down I can only believe to improve their playoff positioning. He deserves to stay with the Isles even more so then any of the other recent call ups. I had hear Wrecker was staying with the Isles and it is a smart move, especially considering some of the guys they’ll be playing.
If I am Garth Snow, and I’ve been 2nd guessing myself 10x a day 24/7 for 8 months about whether to draft Tavares or Hedman, my mind was just made up by that interview.
Acknowledging the current crop of kids, the history of the franchise, the direction it’s heading now, and plugging the LH tells me that this kid has got his chit together in more ways than one.
GET HIM GARTH.
(and BTW…..in case I haven’t mentioned this before? NO KO TO BP)
HEY CB?
What kinda software you got here?
Has it never heard of daylight savings?
The time posted on my last comment is only one time zone away.
Now I’m all bamboozled.
CB, where is the Bryan Trottier interview your promised us (alright not really but that we all thought would be a good idea)? C’mon he was just hanging out there last weekend and I’m sure he’d love to plug his book. Maybe you and Bourne could tag team the interview.
I think Tavares is a Danny Heatley type player except at the center position. Gonna score more than assist. I think he could be converted to the wing and have lots of success in the NHL being fed by Bailey for the next decade and a half. The second coming of HUll and Oates.
i think tavares will be a touch of rocket richard with a dash of michael jordan…let the kid be john tavares…
Move Tavares to the wing and have Bailey centering him and Okposo. Can someone here give me a “HELL YA”.
Well … I already heard Johnny T say he’s going to be loyal to any team that selects him back in January … including the Islanders … he wouldn’t say if he prefers one team or another because he doesn’t want to alienate his future team.
That all being said … I’m glad that he specifically mentioned the Islanders in a positive light that would indicate he’d actually enthusiastically embrace the Islanders, their future, history and tradition.
On Point Blank Night … unfortunately I can’t be there … I have my first playoff game tonight … but rest assured I’ll be there in spirit .. Chris Thanks for ALL you do above and beyond for the fans. You really give us a gateway to the team that probably no other fan of any other team has with their team.
Bring Bailey and Okposo to the draft and let them talk to all the potential draftees. There won’t be a problem with any of the kids wanting to call the Islanders home then.
Hurray! Of course now that Tavares went on the record saying he’ll have no problem playing here there is no way in hell we end up with him in June. Not to be a negative nancy here but there’s still a lot of hockey to play and a lottery to win. I just have a gut feeling the Isles will be picking 3rd at the draft.
Tavares just broke the OHL scoring record (career goals) set in 1976. That’s 33 years! Of course, the guy who had held the record (Lee) was a bust for Montreal in the NHL but you’ve got to play the odds. If you get the chance to draft this guy, you do it.
Refreshing to hear, however, we still have to win the lottery no matter where we finish. Last, 2nd, 3rd, there still is a lottery. And if we win it, I still think Hedman is the better choice. BTW, I thought Pete Best was better off on his own, and picked the Rays to finish last, last year
I think its still waaay too early to start talking about drafting Tavares. I say when its a lock that we will draft no worse than #2 can the discussion begin
How in the name of GOD is hedman a better choice than Tavares????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
well we dont know if hedman will be a better choice than tavares. at least not today. however if hedman is really going to be as good as pronger(which has been suggested by many people), i dont see how you can go wrong with picking him. we’re not going to end up with the first pick anyway, so i hope that doesnt horribly disappoint some people.
IF we are so lucky enough and/or the NHL decides to allow it, let’s say we get the #1 pick. It HAS TO BE John Tavares. To me he is the clear cut choice for various reason that we have all mentioned and won’t repeat.
However, let’s say we get the 2nd pick and JT goes first. Do we take Hedman and trade him for multiple prospects, prospect and picks, etc etc? OR Do we take Hedman, OR do we take Duchene.
OR is this whole discussion pointless?
” …but Hedman is no slouch.”
don’t sell him short, he’s a tremendous slouch. (joke - see CS)
#7 - how would you know this?
How dare John Tavares contradict Mike francesa. You will go nowhere in this town, young man, if you go against the Oracle of Manhasset.
This is extremly exciting to hear come from John Tavares mouth!
Well now since Tavaras is on record as saying he’d play here, only one thing to do……….Just Lose Baby!
The only thing Francesa knows about hockey is that there are 4 periods.
Let us be so lucky to pick No. 1 and have the opputunity to draft a stud like Tavares. As much as it is nice to win a few down the stretch it is equally essential to lose a few more to ensure last overall in the NHL, which is the BEST thing for the future of this organization. It shouldn’t be about pride at this point. We’ve had the No. 1 draft pick three times in our history 1972, 1973, and 2000. 72 and 73 were our inangural year(s) so besides that 1 time in 36 years, the odds could be against it. This franchise needs a savior, like Pittsburgh needed and got with Crosby, we the Islanders must get John Tavares! But besides that picking higher in every round will ensure better players in each round as well-almost as important as a stud
John Tavares, come get the cup. Seriously, I cannot wait until this guy is an Islander. It’s been a tough year, but will be worth it to draft Tavares.
The Hockey News has been calling him the best prospect in this draft class for TWO solid years. I’d consider that a positive, as well as his play on a big stage at the World Juniors. Every indication is that he should be a major stud.
As far as draft position… Isles won the lottery from the fifth spot in 2000. Not that they should finish 14-4-1 and trust the ping-pong balls again, but there’s a precedent. I’m not a fan of tanking. Play the kids, let them play hard, take what comes.
That is comforting! Now let’s hope the islanders don’t pull themselves out of it because they need this type of player more than Anything else. *)
Lindros’ 1991 draft malarky was the reason he was given a paper mache head the rest of his career. Turns out God was a Nordiques fan.
Valentino (#52): You will get the answer in few years time…
For all those who keep sayying “We need Tavares”… The key to remember is that even IF we finish last, it’s a negative expected value play that we’re going to end up with the first overall pick. Chances are, we’re not. In other words, more than 1 time in 2, someone else will win the lottery…
The way this team is playing I am not sure we’re gonna get the 1st over all pick. As much as its exciting to watch them win and I can’t root for them to lose the best thing for this team is to end with the worst record but how many Isle’s fans can say that in their hearts they are rooting for losses???I can’t root for losses but if they it forth an inspired effort and lose that’s that’s would be ideal.
Honestly tho, how many Islander fans can honestly say in their heart of hearts that while watching the games they are literally rooting for losses???I can’t help but be psyched when they win but the long term goal requires short term losses.
John Tavares just announced he will refuse to play for Atlanta or Tampa
did anyone else notice this real interesting nugget from pierre-
that tavares has emerged as the clear cut number one over hedman
does this put the debate to rest for those leaning towards hedman?
what about you cb-any word from the isles
If we finish last…its not so much us needing to win the lottery as it is 4 teams we want to NOT win the lottery…if #6 or above wins it, who cares?
One thing we DO have, should Atlanta or TB win the Lottery, is an extra First rounder that could be parlayed along with what would likely be the #2 or #3 pick to move up, especially if they are looking at Hedman anyway. It’s been done before, hopefully with better results this time (Sorry Ricky, Luv ya ta death, but Facts is Facts)
Well it doesn’t matter, looks like the Islanders are gonna win their way out of the first pick at this rate.
As a Leafs fan who has seen Tavares play on several occasions in the OHL, I can tell you Islanders fan that you would be very lucky to have Tavares on your team.
This guy is a pure goal scorer and has great game sense, and with the young and talented team you guys have, your future will be even brighter with him on your team.
I just hope the Leafs can drop a bunch of games to improve our chances at Tavares.
i hope the isles draft tavares. they havent had a pure goal scorer since well i guess ziggy palffy.