Comments on: BOB McKENZIE OF TSN: “If the NYI pass on Tavares, there could be high drama on the draft floor”

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:21:53 +0000

MUST READ!!!– Replying to (Post#189)”19 ISLE in NJ 22″ who asked give me facts why Hedman is the next Lidstrom?…MY ANSWER– Hedman has played in the WJC 2 years in a row..This yr he struggled because of injured shoulder..In 2007-08 season he also made the Swe WJC Team and was named to the All WJC 1st team!(an Amazing feat for someone that young)..This yr in the Highest league in Sweden, playing against Men, he won ‘Rookie of the Year’. He played over 21 minutes a game on a line w/ Mattias Timander. Here’s what the Top Scout at RedLine Report said about him: “Has as much pure talent as any Player in the last 4 Drafts. Incredibly fluid, mobile & has a great stride..Always has his head up looking for a play. Can take over & dominate games..Enormous point shot & has a great one-timer..See’s the ice beautifully. Oozes maturity & presence. Has already played 82 games against Men in Sweden. Makes crisp, confident passes, firm & on the tape. Superb poise & patience w/ puck, even under heavy pressure- doesn’t give up w/out a reason. Instinctive; makes great plays & reads in all zones & gets the puck to the right place at right time. Tremendous Defensive range & uses long reach well to break up the rush & disrupt passing lanes. Uses body, but isn’t overly physical yet. Tends to let feet get a bit lazy against the rush. Has the all around game to be a true franchise player.”
Projection: Elite, World class star two-way Defenseman
Style Compares to: A less edgy Chris Pronger

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:05:03 +0000

Forget drama at the draft, there will be drama with Islanders fans if they don’t take JT. As a lifelong Islanders fan I think I might be done with this team forever if they don’t draft the goal scorer. You can get solid defensemen through free agency and trades, top goal scoring is much harder to get.

By: Isle be Damned

Isle be Damned — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:25:30 +0000

while I am sure that Hedman will be a wonderful player and I know we’ll love him once he’s on the ice as an Isle, But, the Islanders NEED tavares. They need to have the entire sport focused on them, if only for one or two days. They need a star to combat the high priced Rangers and other talented teams in the Atlantic. they need someone to score goals.

Right or wrong, it will be embarrassing if the NYI do not pick Tavares. A perenial doormat always trying to prove they know something the rest of the league doesn’t know. That is why they’ve had such awful drafts the last 10 years. Do the right thing & make Tavares an Islander.

By: 19 ISLE in NJ 22

19 ISLE in NJ 22 — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:05:02 +0000

Other than Hedman being Swedish … What qualifies him to earn the comparison with Lidstrom? Please … facts only … What has he done in his short life career without ever skating in N.A. other than being schooled at the WJC.

Thanks … b/c I really would like to be convinced by the Hedman side with supporting facts. Oh, and his size doesn’t impress me after seeing him get leveled by several CHL players … including Tavares.

By: Julian R

Julian R — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:58:04 +0000

This is as excited as I’ve been about the Islanders in a long time. They better pick Tavares or else I will be absolutely crushed and just forget about hockey for a while. I’m scared though because the Islanders draft history has been spotty at times. Shouldn’t Ryan O’Marra be up by now? and what pick was he?? It would also be quite a different dynamic and franchise if we had Parise instead of Nilsson. So please Garth, make the right choice. Making the wrong one can really hurt the franchise for an even longer period of time.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:25:58 +0000

This is getting so out of hand. I can’t wait for the draft party and to see them call John Tavares’ name, but if people are prepared to abandon the Islanders completely if they choose anyone else, come on that’s ridiculous. Maybe pass on those season tickets, but how boring is life without hockey?! Even losing hockey is better than none at all.

By: Tom Barone

Tom Barone — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:28:15 +0000

Jordan #181
If the Islanders want Hedman, they have to take him #1 because Tampa wants Hedman in the worst way. And they are at #2.

You could argue that if the Isles really want JT and play Tampa they could swap places with Tampa and get a future or later round draft pick out of Tampa to allow them to move up to #1 and get their guy. Then the Isles can take JT at #2.

Ii wouldn’t mess around, I would just take their guy # 1 and move on to the other important picks they have.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:16:37 +0000

So… he thinks the Isles would/should select Tavares, but he thinks they’ll take Hedman. Huh??

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:08:37 +0000

To Respond to ‘Blizzard’—No, I would not have Passed on Parise..Actually I always say that was one of the biggest Isles draft mistakes ever. I went thru the Friggin roof when they picked Nilsson….I had Parise rated 5th overall in 2003, & I didn’t know anybody who rated him higher than that before the draft…I actually think small players are usually underrated..Did you read the PB post where they were saying that Duchene is much thicker, has bigger legs & hips, a better frame than Tavares? Did you see him w/ his shirt off at the Combine? I wasn’t saying that he can’t stickhandle, I was saying he isn’t as good a stickhandler as a Kovalev, Palffy, Duchene, etc..No Reputable Scouting source has called J.T. one of the best stickhandlers in the draft.. He’s a very good stickhandler,(10th best in the Draft-would be a quick estimate)..The bottom line is Tavares “Awareness” and Shooting Accuracy are probably within the top 5 best in the NHL; today..I think he will be a 40-50 goal a year guy…But that’s not a “Generational Talent”…He is not in the Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin category..He will be a Perennial All Star; that was my only point.

By: isles99

isles99 — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:59:19 +0000

the islanders website says over 16,000 people bought the free draft tickets…even if 6,000 of those people dont show up, 10,000 will be an amazing turnout for a draft party though im pretty sure around 12-14 thousand will come…..with that many people, the colessium will turn into iran if they dont pick tavares….do you want to be known as the team that passed up on tavares?

By: isles99

isles99 — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:59:19 +0000

By: Jordan

Jordan — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:50:16 +0000

I am all for drafting Hedman, but I do agree that if they draft him at 1, they are very stupid. They can stock up big time while dropping to 3rd and getting him becaause Colorado wants Duchene I am sure