SNOJANKS! DUCHENE MOVES PAST HEDMAN
Tavares still No. 1, but about that bubble…
Islanders Point Blank on Twitter
Please make sure to check the end of this post for the Question of the Day.
UPDATED at 8:30 am - The great Gare Joyce wrote this piece on Duchene for espn.com and touches on Tavares vs. Duchene.
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In this corner, I continue to believe the Islanders will draft John Tavares first overall next Friday. This has now gone so far beyond the merits of whether I think Tavares is best for the Islanders, you think Victor Hedman is the easy choice or whether she believes Matt Duchene is the right player for the NYI.
No, with each day it becomes even more illogical that the Islanders would keep a running tab of free tickets requested by their fans - 17,000 and still counting - for a Draft Party they are well aware is a big hit because 90% of attendees want to be there for the coronation of Tavares.
(Bob Nystrom was one of my favorite players. For the last 22 years he has been one of my favorite people. Respectfully, if someone in New York doesn’t have Ny’s autograph by now, they don’t desire it).
Ask anyone around the organization and they’ll privately concede that the Draft Party is a phenomenon not because of another locker room tour, not because of the presence of a few former and current players, but because of John Tavares.
This is now at the point where the pick kinda has to be Tavares.
While many experts have Hedman as the No. 1 pick for the Islanders, we have moved Matt Duchene ahead of him at No. 2 and 25% in our fancy-dopey probability chart. The reasons:
- Billy (The NYI Could Trade Down in 08) Jaffe played golf with Garth Snow, then told Point Blank he feels the Islanders are taking one of the two forwards first overall.
- Pat Brisson, the agent for Tavares and Duchene, told PB that one of his guys will be picked by the Islanders. Most fans wrote off Brisson’s quote, saying that’s what an agent is going to say about his players and Brisson may have just been building up Duchene. That’s fair, but I have to point out that I was stunned Brisson said it because it goes against his usual low-key approach. He’s also friendly with Snow and might actually have an inkling of which player the Islanders are favoriting.
- Then there are the comments that have been uttered more and more frequently by those “around the game” as we get closer to draft night.
Tavares will get you 40 goals. Duchene will get you a Stanley Cup.
Have you seen how much Duchene has filled out? He’s going to be a horse.
(Puhleaze…Gretzky didn’t fill out til he was in his mid-40s)
If Duchene was not playing behind that great line with Cody Hodgson and Evgeny Grachev, his stats would have been so much better. Duchene played with a kid (Jason Dale) Bridgeport just signed to an AHL-ECHL deal. If he was going back to Brampton next year, he’d dominate every bit as Tavares has.
- For the last Snojanks Scoreboard I wrote, “If the Islanders could make this pick in a bubble, they might lean toward Duchene.” That feeling has only increased over the last week.
And besides, consider very recent history: the Islanders hired Scott Gordon over several experienced, successful head coaches…in a bubble. They passed over Luke Schenn, Nikita Filatov, Colin Wilson, Cody Hodgson and Mikkel Boedker to move back, add picks and take Josh Bailey…in a bubble. They have managed the dissemination of information on the health of their franchise goaltender…in a bubble.
The Islanders will make this pick, as it should be, by deciding who’s the best hockey player available without the intrusion of public opinion. Since Christmas, this site has included Matt Duchene in the top 3. There is no doubt in my mind he has been in the Islanders top 3 since at least March. Is he in the top 1? Don’t rule it out, don’t shoot the messenger.
SNOJANKS!
Welcome to the third of four updates of the Snojanks Scoreboard. If you’re just joining us, SNo Thjanks is named after general manager Garth Snow and assistant GM/director of scouting Ryan Jankowski.
Featured every week until the draft, Snojanks reflects the view of Point Blank on the probability of the Islanders’ potential moves with the first pick overall. Here’s our first chart from June 2. Here’s our update from last week. We’ll have one more before next Friday’s first round.
THE SNOJANKS SCOREBOARD
June 19, 2009
51% - The Islanders select John Tavares with the first overall pick
25% - The Islanders select Matt Duchene with the first overall pick
15% - They select Victor Hedman with the first overall pick
5% - They draft two out of Tavares, Hedman and Duchene by making a trade that does not include Kyle Okposo or the Islanders’ first round pick in 2010. Knowing how much they love these three players, I can no longer rule out the Islanders moving their first round pick in 2010. For the umpteenth time, I strongly urge against it. But they could do it.
4% - The Islanders trade down to 2 or 3 and select Duchene or Hedman. What could they possibly get, especially when every team knows they like everyone in the top 3? Likely not much.
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***Question of the Day: If the Islanders draft Matt Duchene over John Tavares and Victor Hedman - and you had some time to digest it, watch him at the Prospect Camp, read all the press clips - what will your reaction be? Post your answer in Comments.
Comments. Comment Guidelines. 3 posts max per reader, let everyone have their opinion, don’t go after other readers. If you missed my meltdown about the Comments section, please read before posting.
315 Responses to “SNOJANKS! DUCHENE MOVES PAST HEDMAN
Tavares still No. 1, but about that bubble…”
Please Wait
I guess we will see Friday. This is becoming a long road till the draft. I can not wait to see who we pick.
my initial reaction would be if he was so talented, why did he not get selected for Team Canada at the worlds. Obviously something held him back…
If they draft Duchene, or even Hedman, I will need a moment. I will probably step out of the room and clench my fists and think to myself how they’ve done it to me again. And then come training camp I will hope for the best with the guys the Isles have and who knows, maybe Stanley will come back to the Island this season.
This isn’t anything new, anyone who’s been on board the Islanders train since the early 90s has been through worse than this anyway.
this could get very interesting. i think i would be mad still, feeling tavares should be the pick but i would allow myself to wait through the season and evaluate the pick. my gut tells me duchene can be a great player and would help out any club but the club needs tavares
Back-up goalie = back-up GM
This is all based on Potential. JT has already proven more and he still has a lot of potential. TAKE JT!!!!!!!!!
I will still support and be excited for duchene. I think he’s going to be excellent, some scary intuition I have says he’ll be even better than that. But I can’t say I want that pick to be made, JT really seems like he’ll be an awesome islander and exactly what we need. I just don’t want hedman…not sure I want tavares AND duchene…I too want the 2010 first round, and I’d think we’d have too many centers, unless Bailey was part of this deal.
I’ll feel as if once again the Islanders have defied conventional wisdom and done something unusual. I’ll be worried about how it will pan out over the long term and I’ll probably embrace Duchene with open arms and hope the scouting team was right. Pretty much an exact copy of how I feel about the club trading down to 9 and then grabbing Josh Bailey.
Move the 2010 pick if you can get Tavares AND Duchene. That’s a no brainer. I’m hoping that this team will be good enough to not play for a top 5 pick next year. High picks are great, but it’s time to start making strides. However, I don’t think the Islanders have enough to offer Tampa Bay or Colorado to get one of their #1 picks. Still, come away with Tavares, and I’m happy with whatever else.
Well I had Duschene higher than Hedman but second to Tavares. If not JT than I want Duschene. I like his speed, and two way play and certainly isnt lacking in offensive skill.
It would mean that they like Duschene better than Tavares and as we all know, most of us Tavares lovers have never seen either one of them play. I would have to see how Duschene developed and trust the people who drafted him as they certainly know more than me.
If he becomes anything like Yzerman as he has been compared to….and I have seen Sakic too….it would be great for the Islanders. They might feel his skating ability puts him ahead in todays NHL. He appaently is pretty thick too.
i like matt duchene a lot and he would be an excellent pick at #3 but i just don’t see him being better than tavares or hedman. i think it’s insane to pick him first. if the avs offered a great package for the isles to trade down to 3, then fine, but you can’t pick duchene first. it will be a very ugly scene at the coliseum next friday night if they take duchene first overall. it will do nothing to help erase the perception that this franchise is clueless. the pick has to be hedman or tavares.
I would be extremely disappointed if the NYI took Duchene over Tavares… but I would almost rather have Duchene over Hedman. CB, I was just wondering what made you move JT down some percentage in the scoreboard?
Ughhh. I was in the Hedman camp for a long time, and as soon as I come around to Taveras, this crap comes out? Look, I wish MD the best, and hope he’s a great NHL player. Just not for the Islanders.
Ill buy my Ovechkin jersey and start rooting for the Caps. I didnt even know who Duchene was up until about 4 months ago. Tavares was a projected #1 for 3 years now and his stats prove it. Im tired of going through this every year…draft TAVARES!!!!
I would be very disappointed. Will feel like the Isles have screwed us again as fans. I wonder who had the quote about Duchene playing behind that great line and how he would have been better if he wasnt. I would of figured it would be the opposite. That line probably helped him. If he were the man on the first line people would key on him (like everyone has keyed on JT for the last three years!!). Come on Snow, no one is a sure thing but JT is a hell of alot closer to being a sure thing than anyone else.
If the Isles could move the 2010 1st overall pick and pick 2 of the big 3 I would be absolutely ecstatic.
Not trying to hijack the blog here (this is post #2 for me)
Here’s what I would give for Tampa Bay or Colorado’s pick:
-This year’s #26 overall
-This year’s #31 overall
-Next year’s first rounder
-A roster player who is not Kyle Okposo or Josh Bailey.
Anything more than that, and it’s not worth it. I think that’s a fairly decent offer.
To your question, Tavares will always be “the one that got away” out of this draft class - the Heatley, Luongo, etc.
Ultimately, Duchene would HAVE to turn out better than Tavares in the long run - not just be a nice player - to justify a move like that. Probably not fair to him, but those are the stakes when the GM gets fancy, imo.
Duchene is no better than Kane.
JT is #1.
Hedman #2.
Then there is a drop off from 3-7.
Duchene
Kane
Magnus
Cowen
Schenn
I’m not worried anymore.
Garth will do the right thing.
If the Isles choose Duchene I think you can say bye bye to the Isles. What small amount of fans they have left many will depart and just lose interest in the team all together. All we have heard for the last 4 years is this year is the Tavares draft and he did everything asked including I believe being named MVP of the WJC. The kid has done it all and most scouts say he is the best player in the draft. Now your telling me after letting your fans suffer through a dreadful year your not taking this kid. You would have everyone saying same old Isles never make the big move. Bad enough they passed Schenn and Filatov to pass on Tavares this year would just be awful.
I smell a blockbuster trade Brewing. Duchene and Tavares. Baily a casualty. As well as our 2010 first rounder and maybe a second.
Love the Snojanks Report. I’ve been thinking about the draft party as well CB. With the onus on Tavares with the fan base it is becoming harder to see the Isles engaging in a self made riot.
Or at least I hope they dedicated a few moments to think this out if they do indeed wish to choose someone else.
I would not like it, in my opinion when you have the 1st pick you take the best player available and that is JT. Will Duchene be an excellent player…probably, but IMO you cannot not chance it. If we pass over JT and Hedman and select Duchene and the other 2 become all stars and Duchene is nothing better then a nice 2nd liner then we just set back out rebuild 4 years.
You take JT and then try to move up in the draft if you have a woody for someone else.
After watching both play on TV, I’d be thrilled to take Duchense but only if they can find a way to fall back to 2 or 3 and talent right now. I listen to too many say build through the draft and as much as it make sense, it can’t work in today’s accelerated Free Agency. We need to start to be competitive very soon or Opokso will be an RFA and then a FA before we know it. We need to find some middle age younger talent to mesh with new young talent. The new draftees will learn their trade in BP to eventually replace the older guys. This draft could help us land a decent young player to fall back to 2 or 3 and still get Duchense. This is ideal
Duchene = No Renewal on My Ticket Plan
If Isles take Duchene, they’re gonna find out what he can do as Brampton’s first line center because he will not make the big club out of training camp.
1. Couldn’t unseat Hodgson as No. 1 center even though this was his draft year.
2. Couldn’t make World Jr. Team, and from what I’ve read, he was not the last best player cut. Apparently Kane was.
3. Of the 5 players at the top of the draft (Tavares, Hedman, Duchene, Kane, Schenn), whatever team takes Duchene will get be the sorriest. Something tells me he’s gonna top out at 18-20 goals max because he’s a “two-way, complete center” which is usually a caution sign of no hands.
4. Reminds me of everything said about Jamier Lundmark.
I’m curious about that bit about Nystrom in the middle of this article. Did I miss something, or is this just a out of context fact? I’d love Ny’s autograph, but I live no were near NY.. oh well, I suppose that is what eBay is for
I will feel exactly like the Isles passed on the all-time OHL scorer , who was the MVP of the World Junior Tournament for a kid who was the second line center on his junior team, did not make the Canadian World junior team, and was outscored this year, in the same league by 27 goals!!.
You wrote yesterday that Mckenzie of TSN polled 12 NHL scouts , and it was virtually unanimous that Tavares is the top pick!!
I would think that the last place Isles once again think that they are smarter than the rest of the NHL, an opinion that has been stated here, as having never shown any evidence of being true.
I would then have to root for Duschenne to reach his “potential” in an Islander uniform, along with last years “smart move Bailey” and every other young player we have! Unfortunately the “potential” label also doesn’t come with any guarantees! Duschenne at #1 would be the riskiest pick in this franchises history!!
i will be happy with any of the big 3. But they have no choice but to draft Tavares because of the draft party. Still in the hedman corner!
now that its tavares vs duchene, Now im 100% sure we are taken tavares.
B/c i can understand taken Hedman Dman. But taken the 2nd best foward in draft with #1 pick. That makes no sense.
For Duchene guys, All one of you. My prediction is sophmore bailey will have better stats than Rookie Duchene in Colorado. You heard it here first.
I’m in the Tavares camp all the way, but if the Isles select Duchene I will give Duchene a chance to win me over as I did with Bailey. With such a sure fire pick as Tavares, why run the risk?
You embrace whoever the player is. Then he’s gotta produce. Any of them would be great.
I always preferred JT, but still wouldn’t mind Hedman. I’d be disappointed with Duchene, not ’cause I think he’s overrated, but rather because we need JT at this point in Isles history. Here are other reasons we need to pick JT:
1) he’s the one guy who is closest to being an immediate impact player, and we need to improve immediately.
2) if DP goes down for any stretch of next season, we need a quality scorer to help us scratch out some games. JT is just that sort of player.
3) JT has proven himself to be a kid who can handle some serious pressure. He is no joke, folks…he’s been producing as a star since age 13/14. We need that from a kid whom we fans we have already placed in a do-or-franchise-die situation.
Welcome to Long Island, John Tavares!
The best part of “Snojanks!” is the exclamation point. What’s with that, CB?
my choices in this order are Tavares, Duchene, Hedman.
However i will kind of be upset if they take him at #1 because i think they can trade to #3 and still get him if he is the Isles’ number 1 choice.
If Snowjanks feels that Duchene is their guy, fine by me. I will trust that they did their homework and know what they’re doing. What choice do I have really? I will not swear off the team. Will never happen (unless they break my heart and move!).
However, if they feel MD is the guy, they need to move out of the top spot and get some value for the top position. They also will need to do some serious PR work to back their position up with the fans, the media and everyone else who will think they are nuts. It will be a PR problem big time. Because of that, the bottom line is that I still don’t see it. If MD was their guy all along I think there would have been more work done to diffuse all the excitement of JT being number one for 90% of the fan base.
My reaction would be wait and Duchene will become. However, if they do take him I will be in complete shock.
I’ve been saying for the past 3 weeks that they’ll draft Duchene first. I’ll support it but wouldn’t be suprised to hear 16,999 boo’s should Duchene be picked over Tavares
i want to start out by saying that its not a good sign for you to ask us how we would feel if the isles take duchene. this means either you got some inside info or maybe your just gauging our opinion but the cynic inside of me tells me your doing this for the isles to gauge fan interest in case they pick duchene since we already know how fans feel about tavares. i hope im wrong but i cant rule it out becuase its certainly possible. now on to if the isles take duchene, my reaction would be i would cry. ive been a isles fan for over 10 years. i lived through the MM era only to see nothing happen. i was pissed at not drafting filatov last year and i still am to certain extent but if the isles don’t take tavares, this just shows to me that their management is incompetent. you can tell me management knows better but what the hell have they won since 93. yeah, absolutely nothing. i watched tavares for over 3 years now hoping for one day the isles could draft a face of the franchise player like him. hes done everything since he was 14! what was duchene doing when he was 14? jt has so many accomplishments as everyone has beaten to death….we will continue to be the laughingstock of the nhl if we pick duchene because he is no better than stephen weiss to me…he hid behind grachev and hodgson all year…if the isles dont select tavares, its over for me. say what you want, i dont care but its over for this fan.
forgot to add this to my post above…
if they pick Duchene, Isles can give him # 11…this way they won’t even have to change the nameplate on the jersey
Answer: Depends on how he plays.
The Duchene comments make me a little nervous - did people “around the Islanders organization” say that? Who?
#14 you are over paying.
#21 your first two points are right on. If he’s that great why didn’t he make the WJC team? The one Tavares shined on and was the key player? Also, Hedman had a solid WJC and played injured we know but Tavares was the best player there.
Why has no one been talking about Duchene for 4 years? Great management level officials in all sports warn to be wary of the guy who comes on in their draft or contract year.
I’ll admit I have not watched enough of these players to know who the best one is but all the data seems to line up to it being JT. For once it would be kinda nice if the Isles did “what’s expected”.
I was just speaking with a friend last night about how nice it would be for JT and Bailey, and Okposo and the rest to be able to match goals with Pit. To have the biggest star in NY.
If the Isles took Duchene I’d be willing to give him a chance but it would be a huge let down (I probably would avoid this site and the comments posted for a while-lol). I don’t see how they could pass on JT or VH and select Duchene #1 without gaining assets. I wonder why no one was talking Duchene until the last couple months?
They aren’t talking about getting JT and Duchene if they get two picks because they already have Bailey, Nielsen, Weight, Treveno. If they managed to get Hedman and one of the centers then that might be best pending how they’d move around to do it. The best way to do that would be the TB scenario where TB gets JT and COL gets Lecav. So I’d give it as shot if they drafted Duchene and realize he and Bailey would be an excellent 1 & 2 but I’d always wonder what could have been and always why the Isles have to do off the wall stuff(but Snow was right on Bailey).
CB, I guess what is worrying me is it almost seems like your not asking for yourself but someone at the Isles asked you about this question?
Also, CB what kind of numbers does Duchene project to put up at his peek? If Tavares is good for at least 40 goals what about Matt?
I would assume that the scouting staff knows more than me (they seemed to last year and it looks like they will be right), and I will continue to support the team. Both players obviously NHL talent. I am an Isles fan, not a JT groupie…and to say that this management team does not know what they are doing because the team hasn’t won anything since 93 is absolutely absurd!
I will be devastated if the Isles do not come away with JT after this draft…
#26 - So if they don’t pick Tavares we can’t have a riot? Then what’s all of this draft party stuff about anyway
I’m having second thought about bringing my sons to the draft party. “Dad. What’s a dumb $%^%? $%%^%&()*?”. Yeah., I’d have a lot of explaining to do. Maybe better and safer to watch from home. Just take JT #1 and be done.
Another thought, after the Isles found out they would be selecting 1st overall, Garth said he knew who he was going to pick (or at least had a favorite pick in mind). Just yesterday, Garth said that he still has the same prospect in mind. Based on the fact that Duchene was not nearly held in such a high regard at the time of the draft lottery (because this was prior to his play in the OHL playoffs), how could Duchene be the player Garth has been targeting/scouting “not only for weeks, months, but for years”(as Garth has said)?
I want this team to win a stanley cup not just have a high scorer. On that same note, I also want to finally get a little bit of respect and coverage in the league. I believe JT should be the pick to gain respect and coverage. I believe Hedman is the guy to win a cup with(ie…neidermayers, scott stevens, prongers, lidstroms, chara’s, etc….). I DON’T know if JT is anything more than a one dimensional goal scorer….he could be the next ziggy palffy(scores a ton but couldn’t ever be used to win a cup)…..as for Duchesne, well I don’t really know much about him…..in the end here is what will happen….no matter who we draft it will end up being the wrong choice for no other reason than it’s the NY Islanders we’re talking about. The other two will be superstars winning cups and our pick will be a bust and get traded in 4 yrs right before their prime and go on to greatness somewhere else ie….luongo, bertuzzi, mccabe, jokinen, etc….you think i’m jaded? I need to see this team successful.
Now this is getting ridiculous. Not only do Isles fans have to worry about them not taking Tavares, but now we have to worry about them passing on Hedman too? Come on already! This is nonsense!
How can the Isles seriously consider taking Duchene #1 overall, over John Tavares AND Victor Hedman? Duchene wasn’t even the first line center on his Junior team. Duchene didn’t even make the Canadian Worlds. How he can be considered for the #1 overall pick?
If Matt Duchene is taken #1 overall over Hedman and Tavares, this organization will regret it for years, as will the fans. This draft will be like the 2000 draft all over again.
why are the islanders infatuated with duchene? what does he have that tavares doesn’t? why do people on this site assume tavares is not a character player or he won’t bring a cup to the island? its actually quite the opposite. although he won’t do it alone, tavares will actually take this team to the promise land just like he put all of canada on his back at the word juniors….when canada was down 3-0 to America, who scored two goals to get them back into the game? down by one goal with 10 seconds left in the semis, who set up the game tying goal to send canada into ot to eventually win the game? you talk about character and wanting a cup, jt shows nothing but confidence and makes his teammates better. jt wants everything and he does whatever to get it. duchene is no where near as good. with this post, i feel your doing snow a favor. snow thinks hes smarter than everyone else but you know what….if 29 of the kids in the class think its choice A, and 1 kid thinks its choice B, either that one kid is really bringht or really dumb. more like than not, hes really dumb. and strummer, why are you claiming snow was right on bailey, filatov got 4 goals in 8 games where as bailey had less than 30 points in 55 plus games…lets wait a year or two to compare the two.
My 2nd and last post on this. I have seen probably 50 or more mock drafts since the season started and not in one did I ever see Duchene at #1. Yes I did see Hedman at #1 in maybe 5 but Tavares was the run away #1 pick for every mock draft. How did this change after the kid won the MVP at the WJC? So his team didn’t win it all from all reports the kid worked hard at both ends of the ice. I just can’t see rational behide taking Duchene over Tavares. If the kid was so great in Brampton he would have moved Hodgson out of the #1 spot. Sure the kid maybe a very good NHL player but at this point the Isles can’t take that chance and pass on Tavares.
Id of course root for the kid, because he is a talent and has a bright future to look forward to in the NHL. But if the Isles took him #1, Id be scratching my head wondering WHY. Id be really disappointed that the Islanders built up all this draft day hype just so the Islanders newest player and the rest of the NHL could experience the fans anger and disappointment. I just dont see any logical reason why any organization would do that. What good would come of it?
if the Islanders took Matt Duchene, i will honestly be pretty angry/confused at first but will eventually grow on me after watching him play just like Josh Bailey did.
what will my reaction be??? simple i will cry myself to sleep and would have to take a reallllllllllly long look and say can i root for the islanders again i never lived the glory days all i lived has been embrassment and humiliation and i have been praying that we can get a number 1 pick and get a face of a franchise and now that we have it were just going to step on it and let it go uhhh no sorry GARTH AND CO. IF YOU TAKE MD FIRST THIS IS WORSE THEN MILBURY’S DP MOVE BECAUSE HEATLEY AND GABORIK WERENT AS HYPED AND WATCHED AS JT THATS ALL I WANT OR CARE ABOUT
TAVARES OR BUST
I WOULD NOT RENEW MY SEASON TIX IF DUCHENE IS DRAFTED AT #1 END OF STORY!!!
I’m pretty sure Chris isn’t being fed inside information and is trying to test our reactions so he can report back to the Islanders. All he’s doing is asking us a simple question. My answer to that question is that I’d be very dissappointed. I have the same questions about Duchene that everyone else has (why he didn’t make Team Canada, why is he only now becoming relevant, etc) and it doesn’t make sense to let the excitement for the draft party get to this point and then disappoint 90% of your fanbase.
If the Isles are hell bent on not taking Tavares or Hedman, they should just trade down and stockpile picks like last season. There is absolutely no reason to take Duchene at #1 overall. That would be the reach of all reach picks. If the Isles don’t want one of the two best players in the draft, which is crazy to think, they should just trade down and get some picks back in exchange for their stupidity.
My 1st choice is JT. But, after I let out a 10 minute primal scream, i will sit, digest my indigestion and ponder if Garth was right. Hopfuly he will make the right decision no matter who it is. Hey, we can all be wrong, JT could be a bust, for our sakes if they pick him I pray that he isn’t. The same can be said about Hedman and Duchene too.
It better not be Duchene. If he’s the pick, there are going to be a ton of stuff written about the Isles and how they always find a way to do something wrong, because Tavares was the number 1 ranked player, and they decided to go against that. Then Garth Snow, the Isles organization, and Duchene himself will be under enormous pressure to not only perform at a high level, but to perform at a higher level than Tavares.
It’s always been between Hedman and Tavares…you telling me the Isles were so excited to get the number 1 pick only to draft Matt Duchene? (If they changed their minds about the kid in the last 3 months because of the OHL playoffs, then shame on them for letting 2 months of games convince them of picking one player).
I think its ultimately gonna be Tavares. But if they pick Duchene, I’ll be extremely disappointed in Garth Snow for it. Even though I’ll support Duchene (kudos to him for moving so high up), and will probably grow to like him, but he’s gonna need to perform or else everyone will be on Snow, Jankowski, Duchene, for this one.
JT all the way
the guy who built those two teams, the dynasty islanders and the dynasty red wings Mr JD. whats his advice. take the best player. he might, just might know what hes talking about on this subject. i was/am a hedman guy. but, take the best player always seems to be a good policy. you never know about drafting teenagers, and thats what they are in most cases, teenagers. take the best player. winding up with too many good players at one spot, means you can deal from that strength.
just take JT!!!!!!
i would love for the guy who posted that me thinking the islanders management is incompetent becuase they havent won anything since 93 is abosultely absurd to elaborate on his assertion. you make a big claim, now support it. last thing, if we take duchene and he turns out to be a good but not great player and we dont win the stanley cup and if tavares goes on to score 40 goals with whatever team and he helps them win the cup, the isles will be in the same position as they are now 10 years down the road and then you guys will wonder why everone laughs at us? i cant change people’s opinions but you guys will be be left wondering why we are the symbol of failure in the eyes of all reporters and fans everywhere all over again. if snow picks md, you can justify his decision in whatever way but deep down, you know you will wonder why does this franchise always do this team? are they always a step ahead or always a step behind. i think history can answer this question for me.
While I am sure Logan would be pumping up Duchene and so would much of the Islanders website, I would be too busy reading about Tavares in a Tampa Bay / Toronto / Colorado media outlet considering he is the best available player in this draft, he is the most dynamic player in this draft, and he is something we desperately need here on Long Island.
If the Isles pick Duchene with the #1 pick, what will I do? Well, after watching the Islander fans turn the Draft party into a Draft riot. I’ll turn the set off and start thinking about what I’ll do with the $139 it costs for the Center Ice package.
First I’d be frozen in stunned disbelief … and wonder if Garth was still hanging around Milbury.
My second thoughts would be to shield my nephews and run to my truck as fast as I can before the NVMC’s lot looks more like the post apocolyptic Escape from NY.
Then … maybe a few days of being ashamed of myself for believing Garth and Co. would do the right thing I’d realize that Matt Duchene deserves my 100% support and I’d have to reconcile myself ot that just as I’ve done with Josh Bailey.
I still think JB has to prove Snow correct … and part of that is seeing what Garth can do with Toronto’s second round pick.
why,at draft time does this organization continually do one of two things,either they think they’re smarter than the rest of the league and get cute, or they pick the “safe, character” player? why can’t they just pick the best player at thet slot?if the braintrust can’t figure it out, i’ll foot the bill for a hockey news subscription or iss report.
Tavares its the easy pick its the right pick for ownership, for the fans and for the GM because lets be honest if he drafts tavares and hes not that good it wont be put on snow.
Matt Duchene was the third best player on his junior team. Please, Tavares or Hedman.
I would embrace Duchesne as well, but over time as he proved himself. After all, he would not be the one that did not pick JT. Tavares has proven himself at every level and under every imaginable pressure. Duchesne has just rocketed up the charts recently. We need Tavares.
I find it interesting that there is an argument about Duchene putting up better numbers if he wasn’t behind Hodgson. You can also look at it another way. Maybe his numbers would have been less considering Hodgson probably gets the tougher checking assignments against his line.
Anyway, I still don’t see Duchene going first overall to any team. I believe it will be Tavares. If not, I’ll root for whoever the Isles pick and cross my fingers that it was the right decision.
And I’m sure the agent mentioned both names as a possibility so as to not show favoritism over one or the other.
If they draft Duchene over Tavares or Hedman with the #1 pick, I will voice my displeasure with my wallet. I wouldn’t stop being a fan but I won’t spend my money on tickets or merchandise when i’m not happy with the decision making.
It would be a very big risk for Snow to take. Ultimately it’s his neck on the line so he better be sure beyond a reasonable doubt Duchene is the best choice. And it better be obvious to the fans very quickly. Fans won’t wait 5 years for Duchene to pan out while Tavares wins rookie of the year and tears it up. And it may destroy Duchene in the process trying to live up to Tavares type expectations the fans will have.
I love this. I think Garth & co. are very smart in playing their hand this way. Look at everyone on this site (as well as others) practically having a stroke at the thought of them taking Duch 1st overall. Everyone is talking about the Islanders. If they can keep building this hype surrounding the “non-selection” of Tavares, then come next Friday do the logical thing and take J.T., all will be good in Islandercountry. Can’t wait. It will not be dull.
My initial reaction would probably be something along the lines of “Duchene? Really?” After a few moments this would probably transition to “If Snowjanks is turning down the consensus #1/2 players for Duchene, they must really believe in him. I sure hope that belief isn’t misplaced.”
Regardless of who the pick is, the player will get my support 100% (even if I don’t necessarily support the decision to draft him) as whoever they pick is going to be a big part of the future of this franchise.
The Isles are likely to pick Tavares because they’re aggressively promoting the draft party?
I think this argument credits the Isles’ promotional department with subtantially more influence–and capacity for rational thinking–than it actually possesses.
I’ll welcome any of the 3. More interested in what the Isles do with the other picks. Need at least 2, maybe 3 NHL’ers to come out of this draft and hopefully 2 studs. Will get one regardless of who we pick w/ 1st. If SnoJanks really believe Tavares is one dimensional let them take who they believe will bring us the Cup.
I would box up my Isles gear - my jerseys, hats, shirts, 4 cups banner, kids shirts and mail them back to wang and snow. (Would think hard about emptying my cats litter box into the package as well)
If they pick JT. I buy a JT jersey for myself, kids and cats (wife is a stinking leafs fan so its a no go)
Initial reaction, I’d curse something very profane out loud. But at the same time I’d be slightly encouraged. I’ve known of Duchene for more than a year (I’m an owner of a keeper fantasy league where we draft farm players and I picked up Duchene before this past season started). Not only would it tell me that He’s a player many see as becoming the best pro of this draft but I am a fantasy legend in the making (I’ve won back to back years in this very competitive league).
I think I’d only truly be disappointed if they pick Hedman. Nothing against him, I think he’ll be a dominating D-Man for years to come but the Isles need some fire power.
so what CB is really telling us is he thinks it’s Duchene but he isn’t ready to admit it yet? Hmmmmmmmm
I would be devastated, and it would take me a while before I could come back.
If the Isles were able to add something then maybe. However, it will be so difficult to see what could have been.
I’d probably place way too many expectations on him and I’d always consider it to be a fluke if he turns out to be the better player then Tavares or Hedman. Simply put, i don’t trust Snow & Jankowski enough to actually believe that they’ll be right by picking Duchene first. Frankly, picking him #1 overall would probably end his career before it even started. That is just WAYYYY too much pressure to put on a guy to start his career. The other 2 can handle the pressure of being the #1 because they are legitimate #1 type of players. Duchene isn’t.
Irrational, yes, but that’s how I’d react to Duchene the Islander.
I’d be upset for a little bit, much in the way all of us Isles fans were last year when they did not take Filatov. The team really would be passing up the opportunity to have a marquee name on the team that would ring a bell even with non-hockey fans on LI. While that doesn’t matter one bit for people on this site (since we will know any of the names Garth chooses to call), it does matter for the future success of the franchise and The Lighthouse. Tavares will be the Islanders Jeter, Manning, etc., and while Duchene may be the better pick, I don’t think he’ll have the same effect (at least for the first few years). Don’t forget that the Islanders took Pat LaFontaine one pick ahead of Steve Yzerman. There’s nobody you could love more than Pat as an Isles fan, but he only brought us to the finals once, in his rookie year. Had we taken Yzerman it may have been a different story. I think this situation is very similar, and however unpopular the pick of Duchene first is, the fans will undoubtedly get over it by opening night. While not as many fans may purchase season ticket packages with Duchene, nobody will abandon the team after following them so passionately this past season during their last place campaign. Additionally, for all the trade proposals, how do you not give up Bailey for the second or third pick? He was a top 15 player in last year’s draft. Had Duchene and Tavares been in that class, they both would have gone way before him anyway. Even if the Isles draft Evander Kane first overall this year, our fans will come up with some way to think he’s untouchable in a potential trade for Taylor Hall next year. So while I hope for Tavares, I’m expecting Duchene. It’s a win-win scenario. Even Victor wouldn’t be so bad…
CB,
After viewing Duchene I would still want JT. I believe he is an elite talent. Do we forget that he owns the junior scoring record, yes, the same junior that Gretz played in?????
MD is NOT!!!! a #1 overall pick, so if we draft him we better get him at num 3 with some add ons…Just take JT snow u big dope.
If the Islanders select Matt Duchene first overall it might push the lighthouse project forward because the Coliseum will be ripped down by all the fans who attend the draft party. In all seriousness, I dont understand how a player can gain so much momentum in such a short period of time. How he can be compared favorably to a player who won the MVP in a pressure cooker of a tournament in which he didnt even make the team. As of right now, they are saying Duchene is a complete player. However, i believe you draft skill in the early stages of the draft. If Duchene is a complete player now, how much more potential does he have? Tavares “heart” or “will” to win has never come into question. If that was a knack on him then it might be cause for concern, but when a guy is scoring 2 pts per game in the reg season and the playoffs and he is getting criticized he is obviously being way overanalyzed OR he is that good that scouts feel he can do even better. Fact is, the Isles need a true sniper, a natural goal scorer way more than they need a two way forward right now. Bailey is already regarded as a great character player who is responsible in both ends. Kyle Okposo will be a force who will be a player who will win at any cost. Tavares does not have to have that whole burden on his shoulders. Bring me the skill, the goals, the vision, the points and the rejuvenation of a franchise that Tavares will bring us!
I just don’t like how John Tavares was the overall #1 pick for the last 3 years in 2009 until the Islanders won the lottery in April. Can someone explain to me how all of a sudden Tavares slipped or the other players evolved?
I watched the World Juniors and I know its one tournament but Tavares played his heart out, scored goals, had assists, and led that team overall.
Hedman looked average and timid.
I know you can’t judge based on that but Tavares proved to me he can play under pressure on the world stage.
Hey CB, thing is i wouldnt digest it. I would be vomiting at the draft party and becoming a buffalo fan lol (nyr over my dead body!)
If the pick is Duchene I will be disappointed. We are sorely lacking elite offensive talent in this organization. There is overwhelmingly consensus in the hockey community that that is what Tavares will be in the NHL. Can we say for certainty that is what Duchene will be, considering the fact he didn’t even play on the first line at Brampton? Are we convinced Duchene can handle the pressure of being the #1 pick and face of the franchise? Has he been anywhere near the intense microscope that Tavares has been under? Maybe Duchene will eventually turn out to be a better all around player than Tavares, but this franchise needs as close of a sure thing as possible more than anything right now. Mr. Wang, please learn from your mistake at the 2000 Draft Table and don’t overthink this thing - take the consensus best available player: JOHN TAVARES.
If you look at it logically, and I use that term loosely when it comes to the Islanders, all signs point to them picking Tavares. The biggest reason for me is the fact that they are promoting the crap out of the draft party…and in their minds they expect 17k+ to show-up. All this KNOWING FULL WELL that the majority (close to 90%) of the fans want Tavares….therefore expecting Tavares to be an Islander.
By not picking Tavares they run a big risk of having a very pissed off fan base…so I hope that they are not that stupid.
However, if they don’t choose Tavares, what they will have done is knowingly mis-led the fans to believe they will pick Tavares by the way they are promoting the draft party and saying it will be an historic event in their history.
IMO, this would be a new low for misleading their fan base.
If the coliseum is packed on draft day…it will be in anticipation of the Islanders selecting Tavares…not Duchene or Hedman…and that speaks volumes as to the impact Tavares will have on this organization…including ticket sales.
JMO…
If Duchene was drafted by the Isles, I wouldn’t have too much of a reaction at all. In the grand scheme of things, it wouldn’t be that shocking.
This team has to do something really, REALLY outrageous to get any kind of noticeable reaction out of me. Barring any kind of a Milbury-type move, there won’t be much of a reaction.
I guess I’ve just been desensitized to the Islanders’ madness.
I gotta say, if the Islanders round up 17,000+ fans to attend a draft (more fans than show up at an actual game) - and they set them up just to piss them off, they collectively have the best sense of humor ever.
I’m hoping that this is not the case. I want Tavares more than I want anything else, but still, it would be kind of funny to see that many people mad. But don’t do it, Garth. Just take Tavares and give peace a chance.
I can’t help but agree with Isles_Goal. The team has done a great job of promoting this draft party. As we have heard, there are over 17,000 tickets out there. We know, being free, that some of these won’t be used - but let’s be conservative and say 8,000 show up. The Isles have the first pick (at about 7:15) and then won’t pick again for about 3 hours - so most people will be gone by then. This party is being held for one reason - make the pick, get the fans excited and get a number of those people at the party to invest in some form of ticket plan. John Tavares is the one that will do that. Hedman may be as good or better, but he does not have the same cache. The only way I see the Islanders not taking Tavares is if they get 2 of the first three picks (my preference) - but that is a long, long shot. I can’t see them having all those people down there excited, knowing most want Tavares - and not coming through. The fan base can only take so much damage.
… just one more thing; with that many mad people, the Islanders will NEED a new arena if they don’t take Tavares.
Also wanted to add: I dont understand the comments that Duchene may turn out the better player, but we need Tavares because of his hype. The kid is hyped for a reason. Because he is a special player. Not because he will score some goals and then fall off. These are 18 year old kids. Both who play two different styles of hockey. No one knows who will eventually have a better career. However, its obvious which one has the most upside.
If the Islanders picked Duchene and I stepped back and took it all in before I commented I would probably end up saying that Duchene was a great pickup in the draft, but we will never live down passing on Tavares.
The one thing JT brings to the Islanders, (MAYBE JUST MAYBE better as good as winning the Stanley CUP is gaining passion for our team again. Actually wanting to care what happens and getting excited again.
If this drama, anticipation, excitement we have all been experiencing waiting for the draft is any indication what this kid can do for the Islanders, I could care less how many goals he scores. He will have given us back something this franchise has been missing for along time. Something to care about. As great as these other kids on the team are/could be, none of them have captured my attention like this kid has.
That’s my opinion.
My reaction to drafting Duchene would not be good. I became a die-hard fan of this team when I was about 9 and we beat the Pens in the playoffs. I’m also an Oakland Raiders fan. I can’t take anymore messed up draft picks.
With that said, I highly doubt they’d take Duchene.
fwb said:
“This party is being held for one reason - make the pick, get the fans excited and get a number of those people at the party to invest in some form of ticket plan.”
EXCELLENT point fwb!!! Couldn’t agree with you more!! This should be such a no brainer…and a SLAM DUNK…but the Islanders have a knack of going out of their way to reinvent the wheel…when in fact it’s right under their nose. Besides the skills Tavares brings to the table…the Islanders Marketing Dept. should be salivating at the prospect of having Tavares do most of their work and improving their bottom line.
If they pick Duchene they can move for all I care. Why don’t they just do the right thing for once?
If the Islanders choose Duchene over Hedman or Tavares I couldn’t care less. I want to win, I want whats best for the team. I want to not receive that, “I’m so sorry to hear about your loss,” face from people when they hear I’m and Isles fan. Playmaking, goals, defense, I don’t care, I want to win.
the whole duchene thing is a big smokescreen to take pressure off of management , snow and all the toronot media.
TAVARES HAS 1 nhl player that he follows in his tweeter.. that’s a NY Islander named Brendan Witt. Tavares knows he will be an Islander. there’s no chance they are takibng Duchene. For some reason Snow is probably helping out Brisson sell his agent (Duchene) and get him picked high as well. I don’t even think Duchene is a lock in top 3.. KAne or Schenn maybe better, frankly MAgnus Svan-parvarri sounds more skilled as well. Duchene is a total Tom Fitzgerald/Stephen Weiss type player.. a 2nd liner. Could ou imagine little boy Duchene’s stats if teams zeroed in on him like they do Tavares?? he probably would’ve had 10 goals this year.. Tavares killed him stat wise even with all the media and pressure..
All relax..
I don’t know why CB is doing this now instead of Tav-GHedman.. maybe he’s letting us know “relax it will be JT” b/c therr is no wa they will pick Duchene
I hate when I hear something good about Duchene because it makes me think twice but I’m still all for JT…he’s been under the microscope for years and years for a reason.
My reaction of MD being picked first overall would be to boo and to walk out of the draft party. Either way I have season tickets for next year and I wouldn’t stop being a fan.
Matt Duchene: just say no.
73 Dr. Generosity (73): Dont get me wrong, Dr… I agree with you. I would not make the case that the Isles promotional department has that kind of influence, either. To the contrary, I think that if promo was doing somehting that the higher-ups thought was going to end negatively, it would be nixed without explanation and those in promo would have no say about it whatsoever. The fact that this promotional build-up is not only continuing but is growing means that the higher-ups know about it and they condone it. It would make no sense for them to allow such a thing to continue if THEY (the higher-ups) know all it is going to do is throw a big giant spotlight on fan dissatisfaction for the whole world to see. Thats what Im thinking anyway.
I can see it now, Gary Bettman walks up to the mike. Welcome to the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. I have a trade to announce. The NY Islanders have traded the 1st pick to the Colorado Avalanche for the 3rd pick, Kevin Shattenkirk and 2009 2nd round pick(#33 pick)
CB - would this be asking to much from the Avs to move down?
To answer your question.
When one of the 3 JT Duchene Hedman is drafted by the Isles… I will embrace him with open arms like I have with every pick they have made in the past. I’ll follow the team no matter who they pick and will always be an Islander for life.
That being said. If the stay at 1st it should be JT, if they want Duchene they should move down and add more prospects and/or picks if they can improve the Organization.
If we don’t draft JT, I hope there’s some serious security at the Draft Party. This could be ugly.
This has nothing to do with taking who Islanders management believe to be the best player for this team — this has to do with perpetuating the perception of ineptitude that runs throughout North America (e.g., Nilsson over Parise, Luongo trade to draft DP, etc.).
No one who’s already on an NHL roster wants to willingly join a team with a reputation of being the laughing stock of the league. We need to put away the moniker of The Gang Who Can’t Shoot Straight.
Garth, don’t overthink this one. Do what’s best for your team AND its fans. Take who most agree to be the top player available, make the fans rejoice, appease the nay-sayers in the media, and let’s get ready for camp in 3 months.
Five years from now, the #10 may be the best player … who knows. I don’t care if JT ends up being Alexander Daigle, I don’t see how we can pass on him.
IF the Islanders do not draft JT…
I’ve said it before… and others have said it too;
JOHN TAVARES will always be known as the ONE THAT GOT AWAY… and it will be hard to forgive the Islanders management for that!!!
chris botta, i have one question for you….you quote those around the game saying duchene would have put much better stats had he logged more minutes (hodgson and grachev are not on the team)….well, did those people aroudn the game stop and think that maybe duchene is getting the stats he is getting becuase team put their best defensive players against the hodgson line, that is duchene flies under the radar against lesser players whereas tavares continues to produce no matter who the other team puts on the ice….i wonder who will help win the stanley then when you consider that since nearly everyone here is conceding that duchene will get us the cup. i dont mean to be rude, but are you just spinning this so most of the fans here soften up and accept whats actually coming or is this pure speculation to get the conversation going? i know you probably wont answer this but i sincerely hope its the latter.
Isles draft Tavares and Canadian media goes “Can’t skate, they should’ve taken Duchene”
Isles draft Duchene and Canadian media goes “Who? Never heard of him!”
After just listening to snow on Jaffe’s show yesteray, how can you not think he is taking JT!!!! I can’t wait baby!!!!
what would my reaction be? Hm thats easy. Same reaction I had last year. Which was…totally pissed.
Neil that was one of the funniest posts I have ever seen on here
Silly Canadian media eh? lol
My reaction: Wow we really screwed up big time.
When I read Logie’s bit from Doug Weight on his comments on all three he spoke more about Duchene then the other two even though he just said “Hey”. That worried me. He compared him to Toews which is the only time I’ve heard that and Toews would be one of my dream (Getzlaf, Weber, Phaneuf, Lucic etc) gets on this team still how can you ever justify passing on JT? Snow has done overall a solid job in his time here so he deserves some trust but if you select Duchene #1 overall or even at 3 for a package it all better turn out the way you said because it could be the first domino in you losing your job.
JT
I wont be able to make a judgement about the kid until game 41 of the regular season. See how he does compared to tavares and hedman, then either praise the pick, or like will be done friday night if JT isnt picked, rip snow apart, say he has no clue what he is doing, and just realize its another day in the life of an islander fan
Strummer’s Army (105): Dont let things like that worry you, Strummer- youre talking about the writer and the articles subsequent editing. Its not like it was a transcript. You dont know how much Doug said about each player, you just know what the respective writer put in their article. And besides, I dont think Doug really knows any more than you do regarding the Isles pick to be honest.
I would still not like it if duchene is drafted over jt. Tavares is needed on Long Island. One of their biggest needs along with the other tons of needs they have is a goal scorer they dont have it. And if Snow passes on JT its going to be the biggest mistake hes made since DP’s contract. Tavares is the guy that needs to come to the Island and be a star. He puts people in the seats, pucks in the back of the net, and can maybe help out the process of the Lighthouse.
For the one-millionth time, Snow was NOT responsible for DPs contract
People have short memories.
Anything but John Tavares would be unacceptable in my eyes. I have been a loyal fan since 1975. I am a rabid fan. My patience are running thin. No I am not a scout but one thing is for sure, JT is the pick that makes the most sense for this franchise. No question about it.
I dont think they should make him the pick because the fans want him, i feel they should make him the pick because he is the best player available. PERIOD.
#63 Im in Tampa. I figure if they dont draft JT Center ice $$ and the Jt jersey i would buy. Will be enough money for me to buy a sweet pair of skates.
I would accept the fact that the islanders organization saw something in duchense that some of us fans didn’t.. I’d trust their decision.. I’d scratch my head really hard if they didnt move to the 2 or 3 spot, get some more assets to get him.. i certainly don’t think taking him with the 1st overall.. as for us fans, MAYBE some of us have a good enough knowledge to comment who the pick should be, but i think most of us want the concensus/BPA/sexy pick, whatever you want to call it but in the end, scouts get paid for a reason!!!
I feel like this draft will be like the 2006 NFL Draft. Everyone thought that Reggie Bush was the slam dunk top pick, but Houston took Mario Williams instead. Everyone was shocked at first, but Mario Williams has become a premier player, while Reggie Bush is still splitting playing time.
I think Hedman is the pick, and if Garth picks Tavares or Duchene, I am fine with that because I am finally confident in our GM to make the best decision for our team for the first time in my life (20 years)
when we pick duchene i would feeling sad and angry. with hedman my feeling would’nt much better. and with JT i would start a big weekend party. but i have trust in snow and say he comes home with johnny.
For anyone thinking that the Islanders may be trading their # 1 pick, anything is possible, but I wanted to point out something that was included in an e-mail I received from Chris Dey, thanking fans for getting tickets to the draft party. The e-mail includes a draft day schedule, part of which is as follows:
7:15 pm - Islanders make No. 1 pick
7:30 pm - Live interview with No. 1 pick
Again…anything is possible…but I just wanted to point that out. Take it for what it’s worth…
“Tavares will get you 40 goals. Duchene will get you a Stanley Cup.”
Yeah, what a BS statement that is. What is it exactly about Duchene that he could single handily get a team a Cup?
JT all the way.
Cmon all. Been a fan since 76. Was #1 beer vendor from 84-88 (thanks for the tips) Watch every game on the Center Ice. There is absolutely no way Taveras isnt the pick. The draft party, saying they will kepp the pick (MD isnt a #1 everyone knows it). #6’s grin at the lottery. Garth has done an awesome job..last years draft, Campoli/Comrie for a #1, why do you think all of a sudden he has his head up his butt. He is playing this so cool, not showing his hand but use your heads. There is no way that JT isnt the pick. Mr. Wang is gona have a big say in the decision and they are going to sell a puck load of tix next Friday night. Let go Islanders!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“As dangerous as this might be, we like to think Mad Mike has something going for him…This is it. This is my job. My job is squarely on the line. If we are not a
better team immediately, if we are not a better team over the long haul, then off with the head.”
JT and Zack Kassian will make me a happy guy.
That whole 40 goals vs. Stanley Cup thing is the most ridiculous statement I’ve heard all day. How the Hell are the Islanders going to win anything if we can’t put the puck in the net? We don’t have anyone who scores even 20 goals on a regular basis, and passing on a potential 40 goal scorer is going to help us compete when the Stanley Cup champs who score twice as much as us are in the same division? Take the damn home-run hitter.
For once in my life I would like to have the Islanders relieve my heartburn, not create more of it.
If the islanders don’t take tavares I will more then likely have a stroke. I almost had one because of last year’s draft so I wouldn’t doubt it happening this time around. And you know what garth snow’s comment would be about taking md, well here’s how I figure it would sound like. “He was hands down the best player available, and most of all he is a scott gordon type player”. Anybody remember him saying that kinda crap about getting a player when ted nolan was coach. It’s almost like listening to a broken record when you hear snow talk. Tavares or bust. Plus has anybody realized what would happen regarding the LH project if tavares isn’t taken. Since the coliseum draft party would turn into a riot, and that could then influence TOH to take a hard look and say “If this is how there fans really are when they make an unpopular decision, do we really want to have this team stay here while fans destroy public property”. Cause politicians will make it look like it look like we are a bunch of lunitics, all because of our anger about the moronic decision making that this front office has been making for close to 2 decades no matter who is running the show. I’m tired of being disappointed with this team. My anxiety only gets higher because of the way this team has been run, and the constant let downs. Supporting this team for nearly 18 years is enough for me. If Tavares isn’t on stage in a islander jersey next friday then im done. I just can’t do this anymore.
My initial reaction would be disappointment, were the Isles to take Duch over Tav. But in fairness to Duch, I’d hold off on passing judgment until he played in a block of NHL games. We can all read what’s out there, we can all watch the video clips of him in Juniors, but the NHL is the NHL and you can’t pass judgment until you see what he can do on the highest level. Islander fans have been called a lot of things, but one thing we don’t get enough credit for is our ‘hockey smarts’. We can tell when a guy ‘gets it’ and when a guy doesn’t, and if Duch was the pick, made the team out of camp and was showing us this all-around game we’ve been hearing about, he could easily win people over.
once the isles make the pick , the dude becomes part of the family -be it jt,vh,md
if its md -I hope they let him play 1 more year of junior
My reaction to chosing Duchene over Tavares or Hedman?
“you yelled ‘SURPRISE’ from the podium yet again Garth.”
But I’ll live, they just better know what the hell they’re doing.
Isles will take JT.
I also think they will trade from #26 up..
I hate that my team had to outright suck and finish last to even have a shot at one of the 3 kids, but it wouldn’t matter to me if they picked MD, he becomes one of the team, and I choose to keep supporting them….I hope that the management team has all their ducks in a row, and make the right pick for the team, not the pick the fans all clamor for…one player won’t bring the Cup or respectability, so to me who they pick isn’t as important as picking what they believe is a key piece to the puzzle…Milbury’s biggest flaw was dealing the prospects before they developed or matured and I’m praying that Snow and Co. will have the patience to let the pieces jell. Anyway, to me it’s about the team as a whole, I’d welcome MD in a heartbeat.
JT or bust..MD will be a good player but the Isles can’t afford to pass up on all the intangibles JT brings to the table..that said if MD is the 1st choice I am becoming a Devil fan so I can root for Parise to light up DP all season long..This team is exhausting to root for..
Not an argument against JT as he could just as easily play wing. But where is Nielsen on the depth charts of so-called experts claiming the Isles lack depth on all positions? He had a 46 point pace in an injury-riddled season. I just saw Strickland at Hockeybuzz (they have some quality bloggers affiliated) calling out his contract as worst in the league from an NHLPA standpoint. Sure, we could use a number one center, but with Nielsen and Bailey in the fold already I think either a stud on D and a scoring winger are greater needs. I honestly believe Nielsen can be a 45 assist, 60 point guy on a better team if the Isles can get better at dealing with the Mottaus of the league.
I guess I’m going against Duchene from a depth perspective then. And it all comes down to Tavares vs. Hedman. Big surprise.
if they are to pick Duchene and Tavares goes on to be who everyone think he is going to be I dont know how much longer I can stomach this. The last time this team had the 1st overall they screwed it up so bad it set them back a decade. Its like this team just cant get out of its own way
Absolutley not! It’s all about Tavares. We did not come this far to draft duchene. I am really getting weary from all this duchene talk. It needs to be the 26th already so we can take JT and be done with it.
I agree CB. There is no way you hype a draft party knowing 90% fans want JT and then NOT select him. This is all about marketing. Fans will be so pumped after the pick that some will sign up for ticket plans on the spot which is the whole point of the draft party. The big question is will I be able to get my JT blue third jersey at the party!?!?!
Reaction: a funny face…Duchene is a a good player so I would be excited to have him but there better be some sort of consolation prize for bypassing the best player of the draft.
I dont think the Islanders will be drafting Duchene. Lots of talk before the draft is healthy. No clear cut #1, gets everyone in Canada and here on the Isle talking constantly. Wonderful for the game, wonderful for Point Blank. CB - if it were Gretzky coming out this year, it would be hard to get the chatter going like this draft. I feel very strongly the Islanders will pick Tavares (I’ve always been a Hedman guy) and everyone will be happy. But I agree with one poster as I see a splash coming, whether a HUGE move up, or a trade they cant refuse.
I have always thought from the beginning that the Islanders brass would rather pick Duchene over Tavares simply because for the past couple of years all we have heard about was the Isles wanted speed and puck movers and from what I read Duchene is better at those skills. That being said I think Josh B. is that guy for us, now we need JT to put the puck in the net after Josh sends it his way.
I guess my reaction would be “whatever - we know we’re coming away with one of the big 3, whoever it will be will be great”. The real question for me will be how things play out with our other first rounder but that’s a topic for another day. Long story short, I’m indifferent… at least until 5 years from now when my hindsight will be 20/15 at worst
As long as they go with a goal scorer with their first pick I am fine with whom ever they pick. Duchene is bigger and stronger. I prefer JT because of all the hype but heck what do we all know. It goes to trusting the Snowjanks team.In all reality when Duchene scores his first goal of many I am sure Isle fans will not sit on their hands and boo. I personally think from what I have read that Duchene seems to be a great fit with what the Isles and Gordon are trying to build. Speed, two way play, aggresive forecheck, puck control. Hmmm?
Only the islanders would take Duchene over Tavares First overall….why…Just take JT….If he somehow ends up Being the next Alexander Daigle no one can kill them b/c everyone in the hockey world thinks JT is going to be a very good player.
I would be extremely disappointed. While I realize that the Isles could not get much from Colorado to move back to #3 if they really want Duchene I think you have to work that trade and get whatever you can. I have no problem drafting Duchene but you simly cannot do it with the #1 pick.
I don’t know anymore. i can’t handle this. my head’s gonna explode already.
one question to CB - “They draft two out of Tavares, Hedman and Duchene by making a trade …For the umpteenth time, I strongly urge against it. But they could do it.
sorry but somehow i missed it, why are you so opposed to this scenario?
I really can’t be swayed at all that Duchene or even Hedman will be better than Tavares in their careers … not one bit … the more I dig into the history of the past 4 years of these 3 fine gentlemen the more and more I see Tavares as the ONE true prodigy … His history shows that he rises to the occasion and plays beyond even his great potential … He doesn’t want to play in the NHL … he WANTS THE CUP!!! He thirsts for it just as us Islander fans … HE wants to BE AN ISLANDER!!! He wants to bring Lord Stanley Home to us … HE WANTS TO BE OUR HERO!!! I Love the Moxy on that kid … He’s already an Islander in Heart. There should be no debate on this.
1 week to go! JT BABY!!!! or bust
Unless we’re going to be thrown for a major curveball, JT will be the pick. If in fact Snow’s had his mind made up for a while it was likely only between JT & Hedman as Duchesne was not mentioned as a potential #1 overall pick until recently. In addition, if it’s true that all of the contest winners picked JT as their dream selection and 90% of fans voted for him, that’s more reason even though the pick should not be based on fan consensus. The only way I see Duchesne picked is if Snow trades down and gets a deal he can’t pass up. Hopefully Garth is just doing his due dilgence to see if he can gain assets while still getting the player he wants.
If anything this is some high drama. We will all be sitting on the edge of our seats when they are about to announce the first pick. Its gonna be crazy. Nice job Garth!
puckprospectus.com had an interesting article this week projecting all the forwards in the draft. They project JT to be comparable to Joe Thornton, and no one else in this draft is even close to him. I was surprised, given all the hype Duchene has been getting lately. A lot of people may not be fans of the advanced stats and projections all the prospectus sites use, but I think they do a great job, especially with the baseball stuff.
Neil at #107 that is hilarious. But what is even more realistic is…Islanders draft Tavares, Hedman AND Duchene and the U.S. media goes “Derek Jeter stubs his toe.”
until i read that article you linked cb, i would have said i would be ok with md, but that line…”I’m not a confident guy by nature, so I have to learn how to draw that out, because so much of this game comes down to confidence.” … well sir, i find that strange to hear from a guy that might go #1
They get 8,000 people at the coliseum for the draft and they pull a stunt like taking Duchene, you can say goodbye to the casual Islander fan. Some of the die-hards might be mad for one day and then they will go back to supporting the team but the casual fan won’t put up with that crap again. All this talk about Duchene is ridiculous. Yes he is a good player and yes it is safe to rank him as the 3rd best player in this draft but that is exactly what he is, the 3rd best player in the draft not the 1st or the 2nd.
my reaction for duchene or hedman is the same, devastation. it would take a lil bit of time to get over.
A no-brainer of a question….I’ll support the Isles whomever they draft. And then I’ll judge our picks 5-10 years out. Although I may roll my eyes with another “here we go again…” groan, we cannot tell who’s going to be better, who’s going to be a franchise rock, who won’t get injured, etc. I feel the comments here have lost perspective on what an utter crapshoot the NHL draft is, and that it’ll take time to tell who becomes the “better” player or any sort of a franchise rock. At this point, I’m leaning towards JT or Duchene, although I really am less concerned with who they get rather than how the guy develops.
If the Islanders do pick Duchene, then I hope that he turns out to the best of his draft class. What else can you do, but hope for the best and support the player that is picked? All along I have been of the opinion that the scouts should pick the best player available not a fan poll. However, with less than a week to go before the draft this just sounds like some contrarian thinking just to create even more drama.
The Duchene-to-Yzerman comparison always scares me because Yzerman scored 60 goals a year before becoming a “complete” player (besides we chose LaFontaine over Yzerman). From what I have heard about Duchene he isn’t a 60-goal scorer that can play defensively so it is unfair to even compare the two, but if he is the player that can lead the Isles to the Cup that’s what will matter most.
Re Draft Party: “not because of the presence of a few former and current players…”
Could this possibly include Billy Guerin showing up with Lord Stanley? Would make for some good entertainment between picks 1 and 26. Aside from getting the Cup back in the old barn for once, Isles fans could give him a proper farewell chant: BILL-E! GUER-IN!
MY GOD!! I can’t Take it! My Head is Spinning and the only thing that can stop it…… is “JOHN TAVARES”
AMEN!
1. Islanders - John Tavares
2. Lightning - Victor Hedman
3. Avalanche - Matt Duchene
End of story
Some thoughts on Snow:
1. He was great as a back-up goalie for us.
2. I was against him being named the GM. They should have gotten someone with some experience. However, he was the choice and immediately had my support.
3. He is unfairly linked to his predecessors (one in particular who will remain nameless).
4. He deserves a chance and has done nothing yet that has proven to hurt this team.
5. I disagree with his trading down last year, but Bailey was the pick and immedeately had my support. It is way too soon to tell if 08 was a good draft or not. My gut feeling is that it was not a good move (Filatov or Schenn?). Ihope I’m wrong,only time will tell.
6. I will continue to support Snow and any other player he gets, including this years draft…..to a point.
7. Just as under-performing players are let go, the same goes for GM’s. With Snow, we just don’t know yet, it will take some time.
8. Personally, I think Snow will prove to be a good GM.
As for now, just take Tavares.
Considering the Duchene-Yzerman comparisons, and my obsession with Yzerman…I would still be very happy with the decision. They only thing I know I would not be happy with is the reaction of other Islanders fans. The average Islanders/Hockey fan would be way too quick to LASH OUT and talk bad about the pick without taking a few moments to analyze it.
If md is taken first I’m pretty sure my full season tix will become a half season or even less. With the JT there is some that this will be watchable next year. I don’t think i can handle another season like last year
Hey Garth - Want to see the supposibly 17000+ fans revolt on Friday??? Then pick Duchene.
Maybe that is Wang’s plan to get a new arena. Pick Duchene and have the fans rip the coliseum to shreds.
@moose - welcome to the rebuilding process…it’s not going to be pretty regardless of who is taken this year.
I see ten to twenty OHL games each winter while i am away at school and I have to say that Duchene is going to be great. If you pick Tavares, you will get 40+ goal seasons, with limited defense and leadership. think of dany heatley, minus the size. heatley is great, don’t get me wrong, but Duchene will bring a leaders attitude, something the islanders have looked for for many years. Think of a hybrid Toews and Richards. If he had played with Gratchev or Hodgson, he would have had more points than JT. TRADE #1 FOR #3 AND A FEW BLUE CHIP PROSPECTS!
Taking Duchene makes sense especially if you consider Gordon’s system. He is a good skater and a 2 way player. He is compared to Yzerman and Sakic by some due to his leadership abilities. Whomever the Isles take, I will support that player. May we never get the 1st overall pick again!!!
Come on guys. This late spin by CB is all just to get us all going. If i could bet on it its JT all the way.
How else can you get 163 comments.
Isles have done a great job getting people guessing. Its been a media frenzy and great press for islanders.
I believe the possibility more of isles getting hedman. But saying its now between these two guys.
Its got to be Tavares.
It’s a shame to see such a storied franchise go to the wayside because of horrible decision making time after time…
Logan just posted a blog saying he is predicting that they take Duchene.
Logan is clueless!!! I find myself shaking my head after reading most of his stuff. Sorry CB I know he is your boy and all…
If Snow picks anyone other than JT next friday he deserves the “golden nads” award. The coliseum would come off its foundation, the fans would scream personal-foul, the hockey experts would look down their collective noses and the PB server would melt down. I for one would admire the courage and still look forward to an exciting next season. Go Islanders and keep the back page of the newspapers burning!!!
HELLOOOOOOO — Duchene did not even make the World Junior team for Canada. The very same team that Tavares lead to an unexpected gold medal in the tournament he dominated and was vote tournament MVP…drafting Duchene over Tavares would be insane.
the tavares fans (of which i’m a part of) have new man-crush material on nhldotcom to read, please garth, this kid “gets” it…
I found it interesting reading that article CB posted today on ESPN.com about duchene that the reason he wasn’t picked for the junior team was because of his shoulder injury. I didn’t know that. Found that informative because that was my one drawback with Duchene; wondering why he wasn’t on the junior team.
I would support Duchene if the Isles picked him because (by all accounts) he has tremendous potential as a first-line center, and I trust our scouts’ judgment more than my uninformed opinions on these guys. However, I think it would be poor asset management for Garth to pick Duchene number one without seriously attempting to move down one or two spots. Very few teams have Duchene at number one, so you need to explore moving down if he is your guy. I would love to somehow extract standout BU Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk from the Avalanche, but he may be too hard to obtain.
With all the talk about Duchene, I’d just like to throw out this little tid bit that has been rattling around in my brain for some time.
There is much discussion about Duchene being “stuck” behind Hodgson. If he was that good, wouldn’t any team committed to winning play their best player on their top unit?
With that in mind, Hodgson might be considered the better player. The Islanders had a chance to take Hodgson at 9 in last years draft, yet they took Josh Bailey.
If they felt Bailey was a better player then Hodgson and Duchene was not good enough to unseat Hodgson as the top line center, why take a player inferior to not only Bailey but also Hodgson?
The only way I see Duchene is if they get a deal to get another top ten pick so they can select Cowan, who I feel is the real reason for the cloak and dagger stuff. However, I feel we have enough picks to move down in the draft to get Cowan and Tavares.
Whoever the Islanders pick will end up being a great player. I’d support Duchesne - though I’d initially be disappointed it wasn’t Tavares. This is an instance where leaking the pick might not be the worst idea in the world. It’d allow the fans to get behind their new player instead of being blindsided and acting irrationally at the draft party.
Tavares will step in socre 20-25 goals and 50 points….Duchene will produce somewhere closer to Bailey maybe 12 goals 35 points.
By the time these guys hit RFA Taveras will already be a 35 goal 70 point guy…Duchene will be up to 25 goals and 50 points.
If Islanders were stocked with great players and needed the intangible all around guy….I could see Duchene….Isles only have KO, Streit, and Bailey. KO is a good player, but not a point a game guy. Bailey projects to be a second liner….Streit is what gives Snow credibility.
Isles need the STAR…..If they pick Duchene #1 without additional assets, the I will be more angry then when they passed on Filitov.
so in one morning you and Logan pump up Duchene and not JT - something must have happened recently - i think this is no coincidence. I’m not gunna be a happy islander fan in Montreal in 1 week when it turns out to not be JT
Okay, this is officially starting to seem like the classic “do you take the brand new car, or find out what’s behind door number two?!” scenario. Tavares has already proved that he has loads of talent, great skill and seemingly endless potential. But then Duchene, having missed the WJC’s and generally not been in the spotlight since the age of 14, arrives somewhat mysteriously and somehow commands the Isles’ attention, but is FAR from a sure thing.
Take the car!!!!
Question for all the Duchene haters. How many have actually seen Tavares and Duchene play? Maybe you should read up a little bit more on the kid because I’m betting no one here has acutally seen him play. He is the perfect fit for the Islanders system. There are really some of you who aren’t going to be a fan of the Islanders because Snow didn’t pick the fan favorite, who is by no way the consensus top pick in the draft. That is pretty sad. Maybe we should just trust Snow, Janks, and Gordon to take the player they think is the best.
Everyone hated the Bailey pick at first. Trust the GM and the scouts. Considering it’s there job, they prob know more than all of us.
I’ll repeat my post from yesterday:
Even if JT ends up never scoring a goal in the NHL, he is the right player for the Isles to pick on the 26th at #1.
For once, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING ISLES!
I think after an initial shock at the draft party Friday night, I would stick around and see how the second pick goes–if we move up, who we draft
Lets be reasonable, and honest–any of these three players a)becomes the face of the franchise the moment they are drafted, b)fills a gigantic hole on the team becoming a core and cornerstone player and c) will likely become a star or superstar in the league.
Bottom line, after the digestion of the pick is complete–I think we all need to take a deep breath and realize, we cant go wront with any of these three players.
Duchene didn’t make the World Junior team because he wasn’t good enough. He tried out and didn’t make the team. The “concern” about the shoulder was an exucuse offered by the Duchene camp.
Only in Islander country!!!!!
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Botta and Logan both have the same question at the end of their blog entries. Brisson talks about “one of my guys.” Logan sticks his neck out and predicts Duchene. This is beginning to add up.
Me, personally, I trust the scouting staff to do the right thing. If you’re not on board for the whole ride, quit the team now. The fact that you would do it over a draft before anyone takes the ice makes you one of the biggest cowards alive. It’s the name on the front, not the name on the back.
That is a wonderful article by Gare Joyce, but it was written 4 months ago. By including a link to such an old article for the first time, I am getting the feeling that you may be trying to prep the fans for a Duchene pick. Logan also predicted Duchene today, so something smells fishy.
My reaction - time to pick a new team to cheer for. Why is everyone saying that if we take Duchene we need to trade down adn get “this and that” for it. Well if Tavares is worth “this and that” to other teams why the hell would we not jsut take him first.
Also my second reaction is that if Duchene was taken first, JT and Duchene’s agent would definately loose business. I mean i know he is both their agent but he would of really screwed up with the media on this one. JT has been the consensus #1 pick for 3 yrs and at the end the agent lets the Canadian Media change it.
No matter who they take I will root for them. I’m not a scout. I havent been watching prospects play. I’m not the one with a plan to build an organization.
I will not abandon ship on the team if JT is not selected.
I have felt frustrated too many times so now I am desensitized to any more dissappointments.
My hope, as expressed in different ways over the past month or two is that Garth steals the show on the 26th and does some creative drafting that puts the Islanders on a strong path to recovery without selling the house.
I think its possible. Heck, if Burke can do it then it can be done!
I am hoping for a creative surprise by Garth come draft day that says we are in it to win it!!!!
Go Islanders!
I love how everyone says “let the scouts make the pick what do we know”
We all know most of the scouts who have been around a while love JT and they would pick him 1st. But our guys who have earned nothing and our GM was just given the job after being a backup know better then everybody else? It’s one thing if we have one of the best GM’S and scouting Dept. in the league, but we don’t so excuse me if I don’t feel all chummy about these guys. STOP ACTING LIKE YOU KNOW SOMETHING REAL GM’S AND SCOUTING DEPARTMENTS DON’T KNOW!!!! IT’S EMBARRASSING……
As many others have said, if the Isles go against conventional wisdom and do not pick Tavares, I am done.
Make the exciting pick for once! Have the fans blow the roof off with cheers, not tear it down with anger.
ITS GONNA BE DUCHENE PREPARE YOURSELVES
The article by Gare Joyce does not really entice you to want to select Duchene. He states himself that he was a “dangler”, he didnt make many friends in school, hes not a naturally confident person, he too was/is nursing a shoulder injury, only til this year did his #’s jump (while playing with Evgeny Gratchev and having Hodgson as the #1 pivot on the team). The only thing Duchene has that Tavares will not surpass him on is his speed. Tavares has been blowing away the competition playing on a subpar team which means he draws all the focus of the other teams defense. This is a brainless decision. If the Islanders were smart, they would pack the kiosks with Tavares jerseys as soon as they make the announcement. They’d prob set a record for most jerseys sold in a specific time period.
If and that is a BIG “IF” they want Duchene,then they would be stupid not to drop back in the draft.
To pass on Tavares is a mistake.
But to take Duchene #1 is a bigger mistake.
I have probably watched Tavares in about 15-20 games this year. He was injured at the end of the year, but still managed to put the puck in the net. Playoffs included. He couldn’t crash and bang as much but was still effective. He is a pure goal scorer.
I have seen Duchene probably close to 10 times, and he is good. But he does not stand out on the ice. He is a second line centre. Comparable to Bailey.
Watching the 2 teams play to be honest the best player on the ice might have been Kadri…lol. Full of energy, makes things happen.
Passing on Filatov last year for Bailey is one thing. Filatov is small… not a sure thing.
But to pass on another goal scorer for another Bailey type player is a mistake.
Fanbase = charlie brown
Snow = lucy
#1pick = the football
in all honesty, i dont remember, did charlie brown EVER get to kick the ball?
Can we stop with the comparisons of Duchene to Steve Yzerman. When Yzerman came into the league he was a purely offensive player for atleast his first 3 years. It wasnt until later in his career that he learned to be the complete player he was. He also had boat loads of skill to go along with everything else he added to his game. Duchene sounds more like Ryan Kesler than Steve Yzerman. Tavares has also been compared to Bossy. So who do you want, Bossy or Yzerman?
This article makes me feel CB knows something or has come to some type of conclusion based on talks he has had with someone regarding the eventual selection of Duchene. I’m not liking where this is all going.
I WILL absolutely not be understanding of any explanation Snojanks gives us if they pick him over Tavares.
I hope I’m dead wrong on this, but I will not be happy at all.
Why all the pageantry and build up? Just draft Tavares!
Any “fan” who says they’re going to leave the team and we might as well move to KC if the Islanders draft Duchene
a) Knows nothing about hockey
b) Is not a real fan
And to the Question of the Day:
I would be fine with anyone of them and I’d support them 100%
I would be happy with any of these three guys. If the Islanders do go with Duchene I think they will improve just as much as they would with Tavares or Hedman.
7. Just as under-performing players are let go, the same goes for GM’s.
Wait a minute, are we talking about the same team here?
You understand this backup goalie we have as GM, he was hired by Charles Wang. Do you understand what that means? That means that no matter what, he keeps his job, because even if he’s the worst GM in NHL history, firing him is an admission that a wrong decision was made, and Charles Wang does not regret his decisions, or admit that they were wrong, unless of course, you’re talking about his purchase of the New York Islanders.
Wang’s propensity for nepotism and egomaniacal experiments over established experience is quite well documented. The fact is that Garth Snow could run this team straight into the ground all the way through to China for a decade or more and Charles wouldn’t even consider firing him, because he thinks it would make him look bad. He’s never been one to judge someones performance based on success or failure.
I’d like to go to the draft party, but I dare not, because in all honesty, I don’t really know what’s going to happen, since everything around here is always a circus act or daredevil stunt.
Considering this team and how badly it needs goals and asses in the seats, that’s a pretty sorry place to be in just a week before a draft that will define the future of the franchise, and could, if handled correctly, move the team out of a decades-long darkness.
Take Filatov! Oooops, too late. Take Tavares!
Trading down to #3 to get Duchene would anger me. Picking Duchene at #1 would turn me into Christian Bale in the set of Terminator 4.
Mikey (171), we are seriously on the same wavelenght in regards to both Tavares>stamkos>Bailey>Hodgson>Duchene.
Next if Snow is insistant on drafting Duchene, we better be able to draft a second top 7 talent, and I actually prefer Cowen, as he would give us a big mean d-man.
Also to the poster comparing this to the texans drafting Mario Williams over Reggie Push. Remember that the Texans GM Charlie Casserly was forced to resign before the season even started.
And if we did pick Duchene, I could just hear msg now with the “Duch Bag” Chants
One thing is now completley certain, the Islanders have the entire hockey world right where they want it: divided 3 ways.
Islander Fanbse wants JT
Local media thinks it’ll be MD
Canadian media thinks it’ll be VH
This year is starting to look a lot like the 97 and 98 drafts. I just hope if it’s MD or JT, we don’t wind up getting the Marleau/Legwand but rather the Thornton/Lecavalier player… or that VH isn’t an underavhieving Brad Stuart type.
Or it could turn out to be like 2003 where we get either Nate Horton or Eric Staal and win either way.
One way or another, the next 7 days are going to be crazy.
CB, why don’t you ask Garth, “pointblank”, are you considering the fans reaction if the choice isn’t JT at the coliseum? Love to hear his answer
2009 - Tavares, John
2010 - Hall, Taylor
2011 - Winter Classic
dont try and reinvent the wheel!
pick jt and be done with it.
if they pick duchene i will be pissed until he
shows he is a good player. then i will get over it.
#191
From Bob McKenzie today on TSN website
Islander fan message boards and blog sites are jammed with desperate pleas to draft Tavares and threats of cancelled season tickets if they don’t. It could be quite an interesting scene at the Islanders’ “draft party” at the Coliseum if Snow opts for Hedman or Duchene over Tavares.
“Honestly, and this isn’t an indication of who we’re taking or not taking, but we can’t be concerned with public perception of what people think we should do,” Snow said. “We owe it to our fans and ourselves to draft the player who we think gives us the best chance to win the Stanley Cup one day. That’s the only consideration we have. That’s all that matters. And that’s what we’re going to do. Whichever player we pick, that’s the one we think gives us the best chance to be successful.”
A blockbuster is coming…i am almost sure of it.
everyone has to relax everyday were taking someone different. two days ago we were taking hedman yesterday it was back to Tavares and now today is MD. we will go through this whole circle again by next friday. Tavares is going to be the pick
Time to create a package to trade for the #3 pick
Matt is dead on about this one
Garth has no reason to tip his hand, all the talk and panic about the silence is being generated by the media and the Isles fanbase, not by Garth.
He is doing the smart thing by not tipping his hand, keeps all other teams honest.
Again Garth is doing the smart thing by not tipping his hand, he isnt doing anything
In fact he is probably laughing really hard at all the talk this has generated, it is great publicity for the Isles and he hasnt had to do much to generate it.
All the scenerios are being played out by the media and Isles fans, not by Snow. He hasnt once said a word about what he is going to do, so why assume he will.
Brillant move Garth!!!
“Magnus Svensson-Pajaarvi was the guy we targeted in this draft the whole time. We decided to trade down to 10 and get every pick in the second round to add depth to our organ-eye-zation” - Garth Snow
Draft JT at #1.
If you love Duchene so much, take all the rest of the picks this year and maybe next years #1 and trade them to colorado for Duchene.
Then you are set at center for the next decade.
Tavares, Duchene and Bailey.
if draft Duch over Tav, like always i would be annoyed beyond belief and than begin to rationalize that it could work out. come to think of it, thats what i do every islander draft.
Great article by McKenzie on TSN.CA which gives more hints that the #1 overall pick WILL NOT be Duchesne, as NONE of the so-called experts considered him a potential #1 overall pick until the Isles’ won the draft lottery. My bet’s on JT or a trade to get one of the other two guys and other assets.
This has been said, but bears repeating …it’s funny how when the Isles have the #1 the guy who’s been the man for years is now all of a sudden flawed …
If the Isles take Duchene at #1 I would have hard a time justifying spending my hard earned money to watch …I’ve been paying to go to game my whole life - win or lose - and I defended Snow after last year’s draft …but after watching your team finish last overrall - and still attend games - you want to be rewarded with a guy like JT …
Anyone that says Duchene is better than JT to bring you a cup get a grip. Duchene will bring you a cup? Seriously - you mean the way TAVARES brought gold to Canada in the WJC? You mean the way Duchene brought Brampton the OHL Cup? Add to it he says he isn’t a confident person. If our organization was named anything other than the Islanders Tavares jerseys would already be on sale. If anyone knows JT or has followed him and his career and what he says - all he cares about is winning, he is only 18 - so its too late for him to work on his skating and defensive abilities. ISNT THAT WHY YOU HAVE PROSPECT CAMP and coaches? IF every 18 year old came to the team the complete package than why have coaches and developmental systems. And Finally - Duchene because he fits Scott Gordons system? Seriously? His system has more flaws in it than the US Gov’t. And when this team is stanley cup ready - you can guarantee that Gordon will be long gone from the picture.
They harp on Tavares skating and that its not that great for a center. I would think that we would put him on wing anyway so JT is the obvious choice. Everyone talks about the long term….I dont think this team has that much time to wait around
Alexander Daigle scored a lot in juniors too…
if the scouts who have seen these prospects play countless times, met them, and talked to everyone who ever coached them feel that Duschene will be the better player, who are we really to second guess them?
I have a funny feeling theyre going to pick Duschene. And I’m gonna have no choice but to trust and support management and the scouts
the daigle comparison is bunk. he got a big head after receiving a huge rookie contract (which is not allowed anymore) and stopped taking hockey seriously. he only wanted to be a celebrity. tavares wants to be the best ever and he’s not gonna slack off and galavant around. the kid has class.
to add: the reason there are capped entry level contracts now is BECAUSE OF daigle and his inability to earn his dough. and that’s also why yashin sat out a year with ottawa too, and we know how that panned out, lol
Anyone can surprise and turn out to be a superstar or a flop. You can’t compare these guys to past players. They aren’t them. Look at what they bring to the table and what they have done so far in their careers and try to project if they’ll keep developing or if they’ll level off. Some of them have the package that will translate well to the NHL, some don’t. Noone knows for sure. Hell, Luc Robitaille was knocked because of his skating and I think he did ok. Daigle was touted as a great skater and that didn’t translate to much success. Every case is different, some players compensate, others don’t. Just take the best player available and pray. No need to over-analyze anymore. If I were GM, I’d take Tavares because of all that I mentioned above. I’ll see next Friday what Snow does. Either way, I’ll still be a fan of the team whether I’m completely happy with the pick or not. I just hope Snow doesn’t outsmart himself like he MAY have done last year. Still to early to tell though. I wanted Filatov, but obviously Snow didn’t. I’m still hoping he proves me wrong. Well, that’s enough of my rambling and I think I hit my max of 3 comments anyway. See you in the next thread.
i told you months ago, they are going to pick duchene!!!he is by far the best player in this draft!!
“By far the best player in the draft” LOL!!! Usually those guys play 1st ine minutes in the WJC and win the MVP, not get cut from the team. Not only cut but wasn’t even the best player cut.
Please stop implying that people are going to riot if they don’t get their way.
This is Long Island, not LA, and we’re Islander fans, not Lakers fans.
Grow up.
Funny how we signed Duchene’s teammate/linemate from Brampton….
Duchene is the only guy I would chose over Hedman. He is only beginning his growth spert and talent spert and look where he is now. Hes the type of identity you want to build our team around if not Hedman. Duchene would be the leader/MVP/identity/face of our franchise for the next 20 years. Hes a guy you know would bring the cup here and Im all about that!
Bunch of geniuses.
Their names. That’s what you know about these guys; that’s ALL that you know about these guys. Just their names.
I bet that not more than ONE person out of the 200 or so of you who have posted comments on this subject have seen even one of these guys actually play in person, and what, maybe a dozen of you have seen a youtube highlight or two? And yet, you all know more than the team’s hierarchy and scouts, don’t you?
“No-brainer.” “Draft Taveras or I’m done.” “If it’s Duschene, I’m rooting for another team.” “Hedman is the one.”
Bunch of geniuses.
I can’t wait for the 27th.
Just to repeat 80% of the fan base. I want Taveres! If you watch his highlights you can see a level of talent that the Islanders need. If they decide to take Duchene at least get something out of it. Trade the first pick and get two early picks. Like if they could trade 1 for 3 and 4 or even 2 and 3…I say do it! I have faith in Snojanks that they will do what is best for the team but I sure hope its Taveres. I felt proud messing with some ranger fans about it. They would be so pissed if we take him.
Everyone on here knows that if it’s not the guy you want you are still going to be curious about how the other turns out. On opening night you are going to have the TV calling your name. There still will be a buzz. If the guy we pick is good and is not JT are you going to stop watching or attending games? The team is going to be better then it was last year with anyone of the big three on it.
There will be no rioting Dammit!!!! And Roe From Massapequa, get off your high horse just about every pro scout has Tavares as the consenses number one.
One more week of this. what are we going to have to talk about after the draft. It is no tlike we will lose any key UFA’s or sign kay UFA’s barring a komisarek.
lol Blizzard I think he is commenting on the juvenile reactions of many on here
the “JT or bust” or “If they dont pick JT I will root for another team” reaction is really overdramatic.
That’s Ugly Roe from Massapequa, Blizzard.
Please respect my ugliness.
Also he is dead on, so many on here feel they know more about who to pick than the Isles do, its the Isles organization that has been studying these guys for a long time. They are the experts, not any of us.
I would be fine with them selecting Duchene overall, I believe in their ability to choose the best player for the team. That said I still think there’s at least a 25% chance they get Duchene and Hedman.
If it comes down to leaving the draft with no taveras and no bailey , but hedman and duchene , be my guest
Maybe there plan to save money on the lighthouse project and just let the fans tear down the old barn. Suprise!!
I would be happy & excited over the pick.
This is not Mike Milbury - until proven otherwise I have faith that Garth and Jankowski know best how to make the Isles a better team.
If Snow does not pick Taveras, that means he will have serious doubts about him. The easiest and most popular route for Snow is to pick Taveras. If he does not do that, then I will applaud his courage for doing what he thinks is right for the organization. Snow and his scouts know more than all of us. Let’s see how this plays out. Let’s go Islanders!!!!!
I don’t know enough about these guys, but don’t the knocks on JT make him sound a little like Yashin? Yuck.
Wang to Snow (this is a joke)
W: I really want a new building what is your opinion on the time table?
S: I should just pick Duchene so the fans can destroy the Coliseum.
W: Garth, that should speed up the process. Good job thinking outside the box. Maybe we should send the scouting dept overseas to scout some sumo wrestlers to bring to training camp. HA
J.T. AND M.D.!! Watch it happen!
#216 the raiders took heyward bey over crabtree and they were stupid why if snow picks someone other then tavares should we think he knows best. i trust the 26 other teams that would of taken tavares first over our laughed at management and team. This team is a joke to almost the whole NHL its not time to overthink the pick and try to be smarter then everyone else lets just for once do the easy thing take tavares cause if they dont the pressure on MD or Hedman is going to be crazy and if either of them get off to a bad start while tavares is killing it then snow and his team will be hearing alot of the fire snow chants from the 3000 fans the actully show up to a game.
quote from Snow on a TSN article today:
How long has he known the player’s identity?
“Well, when we won the draft lottery (on April 14) I was asked if I knew who we were going to take,” Snow said. “I said at the time that I had a pretty good idea but that I wasn’t firmly committed to it until we went through the process of doing our due diligence on all the top guys. Let’s just say the process re-affirmed what I thought back then. We want the same guy now that we wanted back then.”
That throws Duchene out the window IMO.
I don’t know much about Duchene… but Tavares to me equates to a lot like Joe Thornton… hyped since he was 14 etc etc… Joe’s a great player… but he hasn’t even sniffed the Cup. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in the Draft Tavares camp… and look at his stats from this past season while in Oshawa and then London… his numbers really took off with the Knights… and he did this playing with a bad shoulder (and he had to miss a few games along the way due to it).
Let the Isles pick who the pick… we as fans need to stand up and applaud the kid and make him feel welcome.
I’d be embarrassed if we pulled an Philly Eagles when they drafted Donovan McNabb and booed the team selection.
I am going to make sure I am a watching the draft with no objects close by I can throw. Last year I broke my TV remote when I threw it twice during the trade downs by Snow. After taking some time to get to know Bailey and hear some of the logic of the trade downs it wasn’t so bad. He is slowly becoming one of my favorite Islanders. If history repeats itself this year where they go against the grain I will be a little more prepared. I think my recoup time might be a little longer this year though if they pass on Tavares that is going to be a deep wound.
If the Isles pick anyone other than Tavares i.e Duchene, it better be with the 3rd overall pick and a 70+ point established player. If that’s not the case then it’s gotta be Tavares all the way.
What I do like about all 3 kids is the desire they have to be the best. Each player may have a weakness, but with hard work and determination, they become better. You must look at what each players strengths are and ask yourself, can this be tought or is this just natural (such as goal scoring). JT is a goal scorer. I personally don’t think that is something that you can teach….it’s instinct. You can teach a player to skate, pass and shoot. You can’t teach a players how to be a leader or goal scorer. I believe the right choice is Tavares.
Today, in Logan’s blog, he is predicting the Isles will draft Duchene.
Wasn’t Josh Bailey supposed to be our leader/playmaker/two-way PK man? How can you draft that type of player 2 years in a row? This team needs a pure goal scorer. What are the chances they make another deal with Ottawa, Heatly?
CB Is it true Colliton signed in Europe?
The bottom line with this and every draft is to add the best organizational depth we can. While it is the fans nature to have a knee jerk reaction, and God knows i am guilty of it, we need to have faith in the plan in place right now. Since day one, coming into a dicey situation at best, Garth Snow has proven he was well worth the opportunity afforded him. Whether it be Tavares, Duchene or a trade down to add the Schenn brothers(hmmmm?), we at least need to have the patience to see this through until training camp.
I just hope that if what appears will be a pro-Tavares fan base gets disapointed with the pick next Friday that we dont start off on the wrong foot by booing or grumpily welcoming a teenage kid who will be the face of the franchise for the next few months at least!
before i wanted tavares. now as long as they get a player who wants to be with them and performs well, i will be ok with it. Just choose who is right for the team
I am sick of people saying “you havent seen much of these guys, let the experts liek snow and his scouts pick the best guy”. Well you are right I havent seen much. I did watch most of the world juniors. And during that I saw 1) JT step up huge against competition that was better than he faced during his time in juniors. 2) Hedman do nothing spectacular against competition that was less than he faced in mojo. 3) Duchene nowhere to be seen because the experts in Canada didnt feel he was good enough for the team.
Yes this was just a small sampling of their play. But it along with 1) JT’s stats. 2) Duchene’s stats on a better team. 3) other scouts comments 4) the needs the islanders ALL POINT TO the fact that if Snow doesnt take JT the isles will have made a huge mistake. Plus any rags or leafs fan would love for us to take duch
It’s easy to become infatuated with the flavor of the month (Duchene) when Tavares has been around so long, people have been talking about him since he was 12, people have been projecting him #1 overall for 5-6 years, ect, ect, ect…Now the draft is upon us and all of a sudden ’so called’ experts prefer Duchene over Tavares….maybe that’s because there’s nothing for them to gain at this point by predicting JT will be better than Duchene, and everything to gain by picking Duchene. I’d like to see how many of those people would still publicly say Duchene is better than Tavares if a gun was put to their head OR if in 5 years they would lose their job if they were wrong.
To answer your question CB…I would be furious….and honestly speaking, I would probably take a 1-2 year sabbatical from the team.
#225- Logan also predicted Filatov last year. Let’s hope he’s just as accurate this year.
snoow said on a interview on tsn that he is picking the same player he wanted since they won the lottery there is nooo way he wanted duchene since jump street so that elimantes him and he said in a naother interview i see what pitt washington and chicago done so that should eliminate hedman who is the odd man out??? not to also mention eh said to nhl.com he was excited to be in the drivers seat so if you ask me it is tavares
Denis Potvin said it himself when he spoke to CB… Snow, Jankowski and the scouts know best. They’ve been studying these guys for a long time. I am behind the organization with whatever they do come 6/26. I just hope that they make the right decision… which won’t be apparent until a few years from now.
Should Snojanks choose Duchene, the Islanders will continue to be the laughingstock of the NHL and be on the receiving end of some harsh criticism by the press which will be warranted. It’s nothing personal against Duchene as many feel he will become a very good NHL player but to select him without the credentials that JT has built over the past few years would be a breach of common sense.
As for the comment “Tavares will get you 40 goals. Duchene will get you a Stanley Cup” - a stupid statement to make at this time as nobody has a clue how their careers will pan out and the influence they will have on their respective teams. The Isles lack scoring so badly that they need a pure goal scorer. There will be other Duchene’s out there next year or via trade when the time is right.
All that said, if Duchene is the pick then I will root for him like anyone else on the team and hope to be pleasantly surprised. I can’t boo the guy … he hasn’t done anything wrong!
I really hope this is just one of those snowball tricks where you throw a high arching snowball(Duchene) to veer our attention for the next week, then on the 26th we get a fastball in the ear when they pick the most logical choice. If Tavares was not available I would be more than happy to take Duchene, but cmon we NEED A GOAL SCORER!!!! As stated by our very own point leader Mark Streit! Streit slapshot from the point…Tavares puts home the rebound! I’ll take 20 of those next season!
If the Isles don’t take JT, the draft party will be the worst promotion since the Indians 10 cent beer night. I do not see how a team can hold an event like this knowing they are going to alienate almost all their fans, it just makes no sense. I know fans don’t know all the scouts do, blah, blah, blah. It’s just a horrible business decision to knowlingly invite all your clients out, know what they want, and give them the exact opposite.
Snow made comments today in a NY Post article saying he has his mind made up…and has had in made up for a while. He said the player he had in mind on the night on the draft lottery is the player the they are gonna pick now. He said they had to do their due dilligence and that after all the meetings, interviews, visits, etc. it just reaffirmed whom they are taking. He only mentioned Tavares and Hedman the night of the draft lottery. Snow also said he can’t see himself trading down. So it cannot be Duchene. Unless Snow is a liar. And I don’t think he is.
I think this just affirms my belief that the Isles will take Tavares, because according to SnoJanks, Hedman dropped down to 3. Also, JT is the guy SNow favored all along and thats why he sent Dougie Weight out to breakfast with him.
JT all the way baby! He will be an Islander next year!
CB, be honest with us… “be afraid, be very afraid” are you pushing Duchene just to keep us rolling until draft time, or do you honestly think they may draft Duchene?
The pick will be Tavares no doubt about it, even if Islanders believe all 3 players are equal or near equal in talent, look at all the excitement that is being generated this year over one player. That being said if they do go with Hedman or Duchene that would mean they have the courage of their convictions and for that you would have to respect their decision. I believe the pick will be Tavares, they are only holding out announcing it due to the excitement its generating, keeps the Islanders in the news…If they had already selected Tavares then Tampa would be getting all the headlines about who they are going to take etc…by keeping this a secret they are keeping the draft talk and focus on our team, well done now lets select #91 and get ready to rock and roll…
question, people talk about how drafting John Tavares will help business. This may be true in the long run if he becomes the star many believe he will be. The thing is, when/if the islanders are in the same position next year as they were last year (30th place) will people still go to games?
greg logan also said he is convinced matt duchene will be the islanders pick.
Before anyone freaks out from what Doug F. wrote. It’s important to note that the article states a Tavares and Hedman jersey are hanging there as well.
If it were Milbury making this pick, I’d really be nervous but I think the new regime is far more intelligent, more savvy and considerably more committed to the long term.
The latter point is why I believe Duchesne will be the pick a week from today. I believe the scouts have become enamored with his overall game and have seen consistent improvement leading them to believe that, in time, Duchesne will be the better player.
My personal preference is Tavares since I believe he brings more immediate visability and pizzazz to a moribund franchise but I don’t plan to yell, scream, protest, raise the roof or — perish the thought — go to the dark side (Ranger fandom) if Garth and Jankowski opt for Duchesne.
239 read the whole article…it says there are 3 jerseys one of each of the top 3….its gonna be jt or a trade..snow is a dope for messing with us.
#239 - you forgot to copy and paste the rest of the paragraph..
“A blue Matt Duchene Islanders jersey sits in an office at Nassau Coliseum. A sign that the Islanders are going to make the forward the top pick in Friday’s draft?
Not exactly. It turns out that there is a John Tavares jersey underneath that one and a Victor Hedman sweater buried below.”
Which means Snow probably showed each players their jersey’s when they came for the visit to LI…
The reason CB is going back to Duchene now is based on the article in NY POST. Snow himself compared this move to 3 teams…. Chicago, Pittsburgh and Washington.. where the stars are the offensemen it is obviously gonna be an ofensemen. CB’s job is to just keep us excited so instead of singing and closing this out with JT, he brings back Duchene. but #235 hit it on the head. At the draft lottery snow said one of the 2 (Hedman and Tavares) he knows will be the pick, and he confirmed that one of those two have not changed. It will be John Tavares!!!!!
Doug F…. right after that statement it also says that there is a Tavares and Hedman jersey as well… it is just a line to get people to continue reading
In my opinion I want to see a trade that would give us Hedman and Tavares/Duchene…
If Duchene was drafted at the one spot I would be a little dissapointed.
If the Isles take Duchene they will be the laughingstock of the NHL. They do not have the track record to suggest that they know something everyone else doesn’t. It would be a tough pick to defend, and personally, I don’t feel like following Tavares for the length of his career always wondering what could have been. Also, would they really pack the NVMC with people they know want Tavares, then not take him? JT!
With all of the talk about drafting “in a bubble”, is this just a smokescreen so that if the Islanders take what many to consider to be the consensus number 1 in Tavares they can objectively say that they chose the best player period, regardless of draft ranking or fan polls?
I would love to know what CB’s grade for passing on Filitov for more picks and Bailey…I havent followed Filitov but I heard he’s looking like a possible bona fide AllStar caliber foward in the NHL…
I like Bailey tho, for sure, but we need a #1 center…I think Bailey will be a good #2…
Well then I would never trust Garth again, because he said he would draft the best player available and JT is obviously the best player in the draft. The entire hockey world is waiting to see if Garth makes an ass out of this team this year.
“havent followed Filitov but I heard he’s looking like a possible bona fide AllStar caliber foward in the NHL…”
um..hes played all of like 2 games in the nhl..i think we might have to wait a little longer than a season to anoint ANY of these trades wins or losses.
Well, at least that is what the scouts preach, of any time that is.
I want JT. But I guess it won’t matter who they pick in the long run. As long as they are confident in the pick. After I digest it of course.
they are going to pick the wrong man. DRAFT TAVARES!!
242,243 & 245…I was just messing with you…I did read the whole article. I just hope Snow takes the jersey with Taveras on the back of it to Montreal.
Filatov, 8 games played last year 4 points all goals, 3 in one game, not sure if that is a possible bonafide allstar based on those numbers alone.
Hmmm.
Duchene is prototypical forward under Gordon’s “over speed” system…
Hedman’s is proven against the big boys in Sweden and his size on blueline a huge asset…
and Tavares skips the pushups segement of the workout at the combine…
This is a crapshoot. I still want JT, but can’t knock Garth on any of the 3. If it’s Duchene, that tells you how committed to Gordon’s system the Isles really are. Then we better sign Komis or Boowie.
This will be a long seven days.
Umm me thinks CB is working on something big…….
TSN Canada has an article by Bob Mckenzie today, Garth says he is not concerned with public perception.
One good quote from the article:
“Islander fan message boards and blog sites are jammed with desperate pleas to draft Tavares and threats of cancelled season tickets if they don’t. It could be quite an interesting scene at the Islanders’ “draft party” at the Coliseum if Snow opts for Hedman or Duchene over Tavares.”
If you are a fan you will root and support Duchene although not my first choice. Remember passing of Tavares could lead to FIRE SNOW chants. We have been burnt soooo many times at the draft including last year! Hodgson would have been a better pick. We need something positive to get people on side no thinking outside the box. Do that with our other picks please!
Haven’t finished reading yet but so far this whole comment thread is hilarious!!!
Did you ever watch an army of ants on a mission? That’s sort of what I’m reminded of. Thanks to all for making it fun today..usually this draft stuff is boring to me, having never seen these kids play.
P.S. - Remember, we couldn’t get what we wanted for Guerin. If they’re planning on taking Duchene they might not be able to get anything either. But good effort nonetheless. I feel that should be noted.
And thanks to CB for nudging the frenzy along.
Can’t wait to read some more later. ROFL!
To those criticizing the 200 fans on this thread demanding that Tavares be drafted, and saying we haven’t seen any of these guys play, that is BS. Everyone here has youtube and internet, and we have all seen the amazing Tavares highlights. Who hasn’t seen the play where he taps the puck from mid-air behind the net, to himself in front of the net, and then bangs it in, all while getting leveled by a defenseman? Awesome! I personally find the highlights refreshing, since the only highlight the Islanders have ever shown for the last six years is Bates penalty shot.
I’m laughing so hard my stomach hurts from hearing all the sumo wrestler for goalie jokes and all the jokes that if Wang wants to get the demolition of the coliseum done cheaply, all he has to do is have Garth draft Duchene first instead of Tavares and the fans will riot and demo the coliseum for free…
Stop… your making me laugh too much.
ENOUGH ALREADY!!!
Duchene is not going to be taken 1st! Did anyone read the article on TSN? Snow said that they guy they thought they would draft when they won the lottery is still there guy. There is no way that Duchene was that guy two months ago!
To answer the question, how would I react if the Isles choose Duchene??
I would be sick to my stomach, I would be ashamed and embarrassed…The pain will linger for a while unless Duch comes out of the gate scoring goals and Tavaras struggles…I just cant believe its even a question but the Isles have a history of doing the wrong thing…I hope Garth will turn a corner and show us the “Mad Mike Milbury” era is completly behind us and we can rest assured our GM is competent…
If Garth takes JT, I believe Isles fans will have a renewed confidence in Isles brass competence…
Please Garth, give us what we crave, a bona fide finisher of which we haven’t had since Ziggy Palfy..
So if we draft Duchene, winning the lottery was absolutely no help because we could have picked him at #3.
Why do I get the feeling that some of top Canadian Sports Media guys were sitting around drinking after the draft lottery and they came up with a plan to see if they could make Snow draft someone other than tavares.
Hopefully Snow drafting JT will be his way of giving a big fat middle finger to the toronto press and burke.
Guys listen it has to be tavares for a few reasons
A.snow said he is choosing the guy he favored since they won the lottery so that has to be tavares or hedman because duchene wasnt even cionsidered then
B.sno also said he is excited to be in the drviers seat and was happy they won the lottery if they didnt odds are they wouuldnt be able to draft tavares
C.he said in the post that he has seen what pitt washingtion and chicago has done and wants to resemble that
so a elimantes duchene
and b and c elimante hedman who is the odd man out???
Tavares or Bust!!!
I know it doesn’t make sense to pass on Tavares.
But if it is Duchene… at least drop back and get something else to sweeten the pot.
Tell Burke to get us the #2 or 3 and his first rounder next year.
Or Colorado or TB to give us their 2nd rounder this year.
Just don’t take Duchene first overall.
That is a mistake.
My reaction would be, can we have a draft mulligan? ahahha Seriously though, this duchene kid disappeared in 3rd round of playoffs just like the rest of his team. The yzerman comparison is tough to ignore so i’d just concentrate on that.
But……..through a little research, i got bored after i went back to 1984, but in the last 25 years the last time a d-man, let alone a team won a stanley cup by being 1st or 2nd is Pronger and it obviously wasn’t with the whalers.
Disaster awaits without tavares, i’m freaking out hard that Snow won’t take him. But what about signing duchene’s linemate? Thats a little too coincidental.
This Duchene stuff is pure nonsense. People want to act like we’re comparing a Div 3 all-star against a third string HB from USC here. They’re in the same league, one had 31 goals, the other 58. Oh, he’s a better skater than Tavares. Somehow that’s supposed to translate to a more succesful NHL career when all it got him at the OHL level is an absolutely average career. I love how the same things that supposedly make Duchene great somehow don’t apply to Tavares. Duch is a winner and a leader. Meanwhile he’s running around Brampton with an A on his chest while Tavares is the captain of the gold medal Canadian junior team. Duchene is supposed to be a complete player but where are the goals? He’s going up against second and third OHL defense pairs and putting up less goals than Tavares when he was 15, putting up less goals than Tavares had in his 24 game Knights career. I understand that out of 60:00 you’re going to have 59:45 of non goal scoring action so some people tend to over value other aspects of the game. But the name of the game is to score more goals than the opposition. And when the Isles are down 3-0 like Canada was to the US in the WJC this year. You’re gonna want a player who can put the puck in the net, not one that can skate fast and block some shots. Where was Duchene and his top notch skills when Windsor was handing it to them 10-1 in the finals? London would’ve smoked Brampton easily in the playoffs if they had played. At least they gave Windsor a series.
Saw somewhere - mind you not Eklund but on the internet - that the Blue Jackets, who have no 2nd round pick, want one and it seems the rumors of the Islanders dealing the 26nd pick AND one of the 2nd rounders for the 16 pick is hot. The Jackets want #31, the Isles prefer #57 (last 2nd rounder) of course. A match in the middle, maybe ? The article goes on to say that Snow is pushing hard to move up and has those 2nd rounders as bait. Perhaps him and ex-Isle Scott Howson can get together.
not only did london give them a series every game went to overtime. tavares should be the pick no doubt about it.
From Snow’s mouth:
“Honestly, and this isn’t an indication of who we’re taking or not taking, but we can’t be concerned with public perception of what people think we should do,” Snow said. “We owe it to our fans and ourselves to draft the player who we think gives us the best chance to win the Stanley Cup one day. That’s the only consideration we have. That’s all that matters. And that’s what we’re going to do. Whichever player we pick, that’s the one we think gives us the best chance to be successful.”
Johnny Jet - I know Hodgson had a great World Jrs and season. But we all just don’t know if he would have out preformed Josh Bailey being that he was with the Big boys and had 96 pts his draft yr. So to say “Hodgson would have been a better pick” is just unfair.
My reaction would be to liken the selection of Duchene over Tavares the way Jim Devellano handled not being able to draft LaFontaine and drafting Yzerman.Wish success to them both and hopefully after 22 succesful years and 3 Stanley cups the Islanders and their fans could be proud of the selection of Matt Duchene.
CB, what ever they do with number 1 pick I believe they are in a perfect position to move up with thier later picks and go after a guy like Jordan Schroeder.I feel that Schroeders talent is getting slightly over looked as the draft nears.If they can add him with either Tavares/Duchene to go with Bailey and Okposo the recent dismal past could start to look like a very bright future.
u cant say that duchene will get us a stanley cup. yzerman, messier, sakic all had a great supporting cast to lead. duchene is not gonna come in as a teenager and turn it around himself. i rather have a guy who eventually will put up 40 to 50 goals. u cant pass up a superstar for a guy who is a good leader. u can sign a veteran for leadership
so bd gallof has tavares at 1 cowan/hedman at 2 and duchene at 5. logan has duchene at 1. and cb has tavares at 1 and duchene at 2 and hedman at 3. which one of these bloggers is doing the wrong thing. i say its logan. tavares will be ours on the 26th. cb i need a blog to refute the logan bullcrap please hurry im drowning.
I would be very interested to get Chris’ take on the quote posted by West Coast Fan(307). I think that quote strongly implies that Duchene is the pick.
i think the most telling thing would be on the lottery day kenny morrow was very ecstatic to be picking #1 and that day garth snow said we have someone in mind we like over the other (meaning tavares over hedman because duchene was not really in the picture in april)and when we do our due diligence we will make our final decision. now why would ken morrow be so happy about picking first if the guy they wanted they could have got at 3rd. and #2 2 days ago garth snow says the guys we had ranked 1-2 on lottery day havent changed so unless duchene was #1 on lottery day then the pick is tavares. since i have never seen a mock draft on any site have duchene at #1 how could they have him at #1 in april. if snowy is telling the truth which i believe he is the pick will be tavares as it should be.
considering the fact that john tavares scored more goals during his 20+ game tenure as a knight thank duchene did all season going against teams’ second best defensive pair and forwards unit…picking duchene would be simply moronic….and i dont udnerstand who made up the myth that tavares cant get us a cup…plus i get the strong impression that cb has nothing to write so he makes up this story to get us all excited until friday when there is absolutely nothing to report….snow says he has favored one player since the begg (after the world juniors)…it has to be tavares becuase duchene was not even in the conversation then…and btw, the last time we didnt pick a player because of his skating ability was zach parise….tavares will haunt you guys the same way if he isnt drafted