DiBO: TAVARES A SCORER AND PLAYMAKER
NYI prospect praises his Ontario League rival
Islanders prospect Justin DiBenedetto played the last four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League against John Tavares. The 2008 sixth round pick – the OHL’s third-leading scorer – says he’ll let the scouting mavens decide which 18-year olds should be drafted first, second and third, but he was not shy in his praise of Tavares.
“John Tavares is going to be a great player in the National Hockey League,” DiBenedetto said by phone Monday night from his Connecticut hotel, where he’s staying during the AHL playoffs with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
“As much as any player I went up against in four years in the OHL, Tavares was the guy our team always had to pay attention to,” said DiBenedetto. “From the hashmarks down, he’s just unbelievable. You know he’s going to score.”
I mentioned to DiBenedetto about some of the recent talk in the scouting community that Tavares may be a pure goal scorer but not a playmaker. He let out a small laugh.
“I’m going to have to disagree on that one. Believe me, Tavares can score goals and make plays,” he said, recalling four years of playing against the phenom when DiBenedetto was with St. Michael’s and Sarnia and Tavares was with Oshawa and London. “You know how that works sometimes in the press as the draft gets closer. Everything starts to get picked at. What did he have – 58 goals? If his goal and assist numbers were reversed, they’d still be great but everyone would say he’s not a finisher.
“That’s just the way it is this time of year. John’s been an incredible player for four years in the OHL and I’m sure he will be wherever he ends up in the NHL.”
DiBenedetto is less familar with Brampton center Matt Duchene, expected to go in the top 3 overall selections in the draft. “He’s only been in the league two years,” said the Sound Tiger, “but from what I saw Duchene is going to be a very good all-around hockey player.”
ETC: DiBenedetto was named the OHL’s Overage Player of the Year for 2008-09. Three years ago, forward Ryan Callahan – one of the Rangers’ most effective players this season – took home the honors. More on DiBenedetto coming soon.
Comments.
36 Responses to DiBO: TAVARES A SCORER AND PLAYMAKER
NYI prospect praises his Ontario League rival
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Booten says:
Great to hear from Dibo on Tavares. I’m excited to see Dibo in the NHL someday and with proper development he could be an absolute gem picking him in the 6th round. I think Tavares is still the way to go and a lot of the naysaying is only because he’s been under the microscope so long.
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StevieL says:
1977-78 season a much heralded, and hyped 17 year old set an OHL scoring record. He had a lot of doubters because of his skating ability and his slight size. He also had a disappointing 6 goals in 13 games for the Sault St Marie Grayhounds in the OHL playoffs. His name ….Wayne Gretzky. You don’t dismiss a 4 year body of work for 1 playoff series! Tavares has scored at every level with a huge target on his back!
I actually think the critic’s will help. Let’s get him really motivated to prove them all wrong. Only a 40 goal scorer in the NHL! Boy, that stinks! LOL! -
Al L says:
All the scouts in the world couldn’t have the feel and supply the accurate analysis of one who competed against Tavares on the ice repeatedly. Snow should read what Justin had to say,before taking that Red Line crapola to heart.
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Just to add,if indeed Garth observed Tavares in their OT loss tonight,he should have been more impressed with the fear and respect the opposition showed him with their shadowing tactics every second he was on the ice,rather than his zero on the scoresheet. He earned that attention based on his overall talent and 4 year body of work. Hopefully that is what Snow took note of tonight!
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HilbertSnipe says:
Great post, CB. As for DiBo, if he can pan out to have the same influence in an NHL game that Ryan Callahan has had, we would be very lucky. I understand they are two very different players, but I have high hopes for Justin in the NHL. (even for such a late pick)
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onesinceforty says:
The only part that worries me is the part that mentions “sense of entitlement”.
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Dadi says:
I hope next article is what Figren’s thinking about Hedman…
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The PolishPrince says:
#7 – That comment worried me a little also. May just be grandstanding by the writer or the fact that JT has been hyped as the next one for years. There may also be a grain of truth to it which is unsettling. Regardless I’ll trust Snow and his scouts will make the right decision.
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isles316 says:
Cool article. Very neat to see how some of our prospects turn out over the next couple of seasons.
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
Somehow I get the feeling that no matter who the Isles select 1st … it will be an anti-climatic feeling.
All this anticipation though out the last 2/3 of the season … then winning the lottery … now a 9 week lull filled in with debate after debate … second guessing … etc.
I know I’ll be happy regardless … the top 3 players are special … still leaning Tavares … but not getting myself all amped up till late June.
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Joey303 says:
Dadi #8 – I was thinking the same thing. CB -We know how you feel about
Taveras -does the word overkill mean anything? Give us Hedman guys something to read
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the bomber says:
go read the tampa site for your hedman stories : )
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OHL Playoffs Stats-
1-Taylor Hall(2010 Draft)-Windsor 14-10-16-26
3- Ryan Ellis(D-Man) -Windsor 14-8-17-25
6- Nazem Kadri London -13-9-12-21
10- Phil Varone- London – 13-10-9-19
11- John Tavares- London -13-9-10-19
14- Matt Duchene-Brampton- 13-9-9-18 -
jim from St James says:
Like I have been saying … Duschene to Okposo, he scores!!!!
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Mike from Philly says:
16 – Duchene is not going 1st overall. If we had the 3rd or 4th pick I could agree with you but this is not the draft to be going off the board with the pick!
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Adam says:
In regards to the “sense of entitlement” issue – does anyone think that Witt, Weight, Park, and Hunter are going to let Tavares walk around and act that way? That is why you have guys like that on a team and that is why we have these guys.
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Oliver says:
So every ‘knowledgeable’ hockey writer is kiicking the tires on Tavares and their finding some minor fault here or there – look at it from the perspective of us adding 40 or so goals to this years Islanders team. Especially in those 32 1 goal losses that we had to suffer through as fans. Then add in a similar number of assists indicating that additional goals were being scored and maybe a good number of those defeats end up in the wins column. Where would we be then? In the playoffs and driving other teams nuts with our in your face force you to make quick decisions style of play. How about those Ducks!!!
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Scott S. from Long Beach says:
Just take Hedman and everything will be nice and easy. He’ll score 8-12 goals, block some shots, and lead some rushes out of the zone – and everyone will say he’s fantastic. But if Tavarez doesn’t score…look out…
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Dan from Westchester says:
This is going to be a long 9 1/2 weeks til draft day. .
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RichM says:
Taveras will be fine. A solid choice. The thing that worries me is the crazy expecatations fans will have for him. The Islanders are not going to the playoffs next year. I am jut hoping to still be on the hunt in March.
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I wouldn’t be upset if Snow traded down to the 3rd pick and picked up an established NHL star such as Kovalchuk and then drafted whoever was left out of Tavares, Hedman, or Duchene. I don’t even know if Atlanta would do a deal like that, but it would be nice to see. I know we’d have to give up more to get him than just swapping spots though.
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I can see it now, Tavaras gets double teamed passes to KO and “SCORE”. JT will make the whole team play better. I don’t think some of the team players are going to have to put JT in his place, JT seems to be very level headed for 18/19 years old.
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Valentino says:
Considering all the blunders this franchise has committed in the past, passing on TAVARES would be the greatest blunder of all.
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Dan says:
All this talk about how Tavares stinks, is a one zone player and such is making me sick. Next we are going to hear that he is going to fall to the mid 1st round because he can only score (remindes me of a player called BOSSY).
How is it that this kid was ranked #1 most of his life and now that the Islanders look like they will pick him he is falling? What is wrong with the hockey world?
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Ooops, Atlanta has the 4th pick though and Colorado has noone so forget that idea….unless they dangled Stastny.
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Mike says:
I read that scouting report the other day where they talked about how Tavares is not a playmaker. 1. I don’t put too much stock into that, he looks like a pretty good playmaker to me. 2. Who cares if he isn’t?! We need a goal scorer! Let Bailey and Neilsen make all the plays…JT is going to put the puck in the net! On a side note…We need to be patient. No matter who we draft in June, we will still probably not make the playoffs. We’ve all watched this team for a long time…1 player is not going to put us over the top.
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UIF says:
Here, here, Dan (26). All of a sudden he’s a selfish, undeserving kid who can’t play hockey. We always end up with the “great character” guys who are “responsible,” blah, blah. Just once, please, get us the goal scorer. I’m sure our other guys will have plenty of character and responsibility to spare if it’s that much of an issue with Tavares!
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Moose says:
CB…I am real curious to what the scouts are saying about Dibo now? If he was eligible this year what round would he be projected to?
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-Big Van Vader says:
I really don’t mind if the Isles aren’t in the playoffs next year as long as they progress much like this year. And if they WILL miss again next year, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for them to finish dead last again, win the lottery and draft Hall. Hall and Tavares would be the next Toews and Kane.
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bob l says:
didnt we already draft a Toews? =)
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Max'n the Hamptons says:
normally high goals lends itself to making play
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Bryan says:
31…I can’t stand to see another last place finish. If this happens, there is a good chance we don’t get to see either of the players, because this franchise can’t afford another attendance dip. Finishing last place two years in a row would almost certainly lead to this dip. I agree we probably won’t make the playoffs, but we better be much more competitive then we were this year. If we can get DiBo to become a strong second line scorer in the next 2 or 3 years and Tavares or Hedman is the star everyone is making them out to be, this team could compete for the division for years to come.
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Anyone have any clue how much Tavares in going to demand contract wise? Does anyone think this will be an impact when talking about drafting Hedman or Tavares… Say Tavares wants 2 million more a year than Hedman?
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All rookies entering the League are subjected to a standard contract.
Great article thanks. It is almost like some people are dying to find a reason not to draft him.