WELCOME TO NEW YORK, JOHN TAVARES
Goal scorer selected first overall by the NYI

 

And the Coliseum crowd of 10,000 erupts like it hasn’t since the Toronto series.

 

By not saying for two months what they would do with the No. 1 pick, the Islanders were telling you all along.

 

Make no mistake, the selling of John Tavares begins tonight. (Updated 7:30 pm - NYI saying that if you buy a season ticket tonight, you’ll meet Tavares next week). Expect at least one mega sales event next week, along with a media tour. They won’t put JT on billboards, but the Islanders have two and a half months before camp to make “Seen Stamkos?” look like the publicity for a school play. And they will. Just watch ‘em.

 

This is a great kid and a potentially great NHL player. He will serve the Islanders and their fans well.

 

Now on to finding a dozen more players over the next year for the rebuild. The Islanders kept this a secret for a few weeks. For their next trick, they will attempt to assemble a team that can win a playoff round and then reach that consistent contender goal.

 

With Tavares, they are a lot closer. The celebration in Islanders Country begins.

 

("Hey JT, can you believe they thought me or Vic were goin' first"?)

 

Comments.

219 Responses to “WELCOME TO NEW YORK, JOHN TAVARES
Goal scorer selected first overall by the NYI”  

  1. 1 alex

    YES!!!!!

  2. 2 drp79

    AMEN!!!!!!

  3. 3 Isle_in_LA

    Wooh hoo!!!!

  4. 4 EdTurner

    Niceeeeeeeeeeee

  5. 5 Isle_in_LA

    My heart is pounding out of my chest…

  6. 6 EdTurner

    good move Garth (LOL)

  7. 7 bergie20

    ladies and gentleman, we have hope. wow, was logan off. welcome to the new york islanders john tavares!!!!!

  8. 8 Frei

    I’m in tears, literally!

  9. 9 Ajax

    YEAHHHHHH

  10. 10 potvin05

    I’m relieved. We finally do the right thing!!!

  11. 11 mikeeeeed

    hahhaha yes!! that was quick CB

  12. 12 volmeeezy

    thank godddddddd

  13. 13 Ron

    Avalanche can go pound sand - nice try with the misinformation!

  14. 14 tond24

    were back baby…

  15. 15 Jeff

    wow. cb you are the man!!!

  16. 16 jon from nj

    Thank god.

  17. 17 Chizzler

    THANKS GARTH!!

  18. 18 WarrenG

    I still nearly had a heart attack. ISLANDERS are now a team to watch per one of the speakers on VS!!!

  19. 19 The PolishPrince

    WoooooHoooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

  20. 20 MikeD

    We’re Back Baby!!!!!

  21. 21 german islesfan

    yeahh what a wonderfull night in germany :-)

  22. 22 Robert Corsarie

    Congrats to the Islanders!!! Great reporting by Point Blank!

  23. 23 Jon Mac

    THANK GOD!

  24. 24 anthony c

    OH HELL YEAH!!!

    On this day June 26th 2009 Will Be Known As The Rebirth Of The New York Islanders, And My Faith In This Team. LET’S GO ISLANDERS!!!!!

  25. 25 The Ice Man

    I am relieved, but now the hard part begins for young Mr. Tavares. He needs to come close to living up to the hype. If he does, the Isles are clearly moving in the right direction. Hopefully keeping the pick as closely guarded a secret as Snowy did will enable him to pull off another major move with the pick at 26 (likely via a trade to move up in the draft). Way to go Isles!!!

  26. 26 Marc

    Only if I had a video camera running when I scared the crap out of my almost two-year old daughter when I screamed in delight upon the selection of JT. She cried at first but was clapping when I told her everything’s wonderful in Islanderland Thank you Garth!

  27. 27 The Losers

    YEEAAHHH!!!! TAVARES!!!!!

    THIS FEELS LIKE A STANLEY CUP!!!! (Since I wasn’t alive for any)

  28. 28 Word

    Sweet relief!!! Couldn’t be happier’

  29. 29 BR

    Is it just me, or do JT and GS seem to have very similar, lower-key personalities?

  30. 30 TavaresDaBust

    He will be the ALL TIME BUST!!!
    Idiotic move

  31. 31 gary9-19-22

    YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  32. 32 Swam

    Great job through the lead-up to the draft, C.B.

    And you called it!

  33. 33 Jay

    ahhhh sigh of relief

  34. 34 phishstyx

    Thank you a pure goal score!!!!!

  35. 35 alex

    CB U R THE MAN! U NEVER LOST FAITH MAN!!!

  36. 36 potvin05

    Of course……Botta right the whole time. Great job! Refused to bow to thew Duchene pressure.

  37. 37 bergie20

    wow the flyers just gave up a ton for pronger. great reporting chris! you’re the man. for the first time in a long time, we have hope. we’re back in business. it’s going to be a ton of fun to watch jt play for us. even pierre mcguire had to compliment us. now on to pick 26.

  38. 38 frank nyc

    Hollelujahhhhhh!
    That was tough…
    Welcome JT!

  39. 39 Pablo

    Said it earlier, thank god we got Tavares!

  40. 40 coral springs isle fan

    Burke just crapped his undies. Sellout guaranteed for the first home game against Toronto. I’ll be there no matter how much it costs. I am so pumped!!!!!!!!!! A big shout out to all of Islanders nation!!!

  41. 41 FIsles

    Great drama. A thing of beauty. What a day. Woohah! Tampa and Colorado get their great prospects too. Good luck, Vic and Matt. Welcome, John.

  42. 42 BR

    Ice Man - Excellent comment and agreed absolutely.

    I wonder how many ticket packages the team will sell tonight??

  43. 43 Ketch

    WOOOOOOO!!!!! We got it right this time…Chris, you’re a genius! What are the lottery numbers for the North Carolina (where I am) lotto?

  44. 44 Ryan

    welcome to long island john

  45. 45 Rex

    WHEW!

    He looked good in those colors, exciting stuff

  46. 46 TuxTax

    Duchene just did a little fist pump and mouthed YES guess he wanted to go to the Avs!

  47. 47 Jim

    Other than the Josh Bailey debacle, has CB ever made a wrong prediction?

  48. 48 Sally Williams

    Lovin this pick! Thanks Garth and welcome to John Tavares!!!!!!!

  49. 49 Daniel

    YES!!! what an amazing feeling! I literally jumped out of my couch with my arms raised. Thank you Garth and co. And Botta, good call!

  50. 50 Isles fan Ken

    Yes!!!! Thank you Garth! Welcome JT!!! Let’s Go Islanders!!!!!

  51. 51 THS

    THANK GOD! Logan has some explaining to do - I really bought it and was DOWN, but Garth has come through with the logical pick.

  52. 52 Ray

    Thank You Garth! I’m in tears at the draft party, literally. Thank You Garth!

  53. 53 Craig

    thank the hockey gods.

  54. 54 PNut

    and lots of people were fooled that we were taking Duschene!

    Lets Go Ta-var-es

  55. 55 thomas weil

    hello from germany. garth did the right
    thing. yes. we now have a bright future.
    get 1 more goo d-men, and we will make the
    ply-offs in 2009/2010

  56. 56 Paul23

    Way to go CB. I was with you all the way on this one. Now, go rub it in Logans face.

  57. 57 gary

    thats the biggest headfake by an isles GM in many many years–Garth starts out very good–Now impress me by trading down for another pick in the 10-17 range, if its warranted–Tavares seems very VERY mellow–Want to see some fire

  58. 58 Al S.

    One of the best days in Islander history, well done.

  59. 59 Marc

    Drank a bottle of wine within an hour, scared the crap of my almost two-year old daughter by screaming in delight, dealing with pregnant wife… and got John Tavares… PRICELESS!

  60. 60 Isles fan in Scotland

    Well done JT, Garth and all at the Islanders and well done to CB - you stuck to your guns especially in the final hours when the rumours were flying. You have cemented yourself as THE authority on all things Islanders!

  61. 61 gary

    can we get duschene now? lol

  62. 62 Devon

    This is the happiest day of my Islanders fandom since Bates’s penalty shot.

  63. 63 Quagmire

    Awesome - congrats to JT and welcome to NY! Very much looking forward to seeing him play. JT and KO - someone smarter than me with have to figure out a good nickname for whatever line they end up on.

  64. 64 Andrew in NJ

    Garth is a GENIUS lol!!!!!

    YES I AM SOOOO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!

  65. 65 BR

    Does anyone have the link to the draft party (ITV)?? I can’t find it.

  66. 66 ItsGoodToBeRich

    Finally!

    Now I’m not so mad about last year’s draft. We now have something to be real excited about.

    Great Job Garth!

  67. 67 Ann Aquarian

    Thank you, Garth!

    Good call, CB.

  68. 68 max

    YEAH WE FINALLY HAVE A GM THAT GETS IT

  69. 69 isles 14

    is it time for training camp yet?

  70. 70 isles3113

    WHAT A RELIEF!!!! i knew garth had it in him

  71. 71 jisles

    I think we can honestly say that this has been the best draft ever. garth and the isles finally did soemthing right. I am glowing right now. i am picturing tavares and bailey and ko wreaking havoc on opposing d and goalies. this is going to be a team that no body wants to play. if ricky can get his gamee back throw in streit on d and neilson as our two way center add a couple of more pieces and we finally have a team that can contend. I didnt think I would be saying that today. I am very emotional. with all the bs that has gone on for this franchise today is the day I believe they turned the corner and finally made the right decision. I dont expect tavares to be crosby or ovechkin but I do expect him to develop into a top 10 forward in the league and that I will take in a heart beat.

    lets go islanders

  72. 72 alex

    WE R THE CHAMPIONS!!!!

  73. 73 BK from the Shore

    I am proud of the Blue and Orange again… welcome JT!!!

  74. 74 Fearthewrecker

    I admit I wanted Duchene but now it is time to buy a tavares jersey

  75. 75 Billy

    Funny how the franchise and the first pick were left to the last second. They coincide together to give us Islander fans HOPE AGAIN. HOPE FLOATS!!!!!

    Welcome to Long Island JT!! You are gonna love Fire Island!

  76. 76 isles99

    the revititalization of this beleaguered organization begins!!

  77. 77 Strummer's Army

    WHOOOOO HOOOOOOO!

    Everyone exhale now! They did the right thing!

    OK, now that Philly picked up one of the meanest and dirtiest players in the NHL in Pronger (way overpaid) & psycho (I’ll beat up my own trainer during the game)Ray Emery in addition to all their other toughies the Isles better do a heck of a lot to toughen up and protect Tavares, Okposo, Nielsen, Bailey (and the smurfy defense).

    Next pick Zach Kassian!

  78. 78 doug

    Listen to this…my wife makes dinner early,my son and I go into the den and watch the draft…when Bettman takes the stage with the Canadiens…my power goes out…the first thing I say is that they’re taking Duchene…

    Luckily, my power comes on when the Islanders management are walking to the podium…a great day for Islanders fans…finally…

  79. 79 Devon

    LECALVALIER?!?!?!?!

  80. 80 TuxTax

    did burke just say lavalier to possibly the islanders?????

  81. 81 ItsGoodToBeRich

    Vinny To The Isles??????

    Info Please!

  82. 82 Ron

    Whoa - Brian Burke just said he heard Vinny Lecaviler is either going to Montreal or the Isles? WHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

  83. 83 JZimm

    We love you, Garth!!! You just made up for 9 years of absolute disappointment!!!

    Getting my jersey. We love you.

  84. 84 corey

    YESS! im so pumped now for this season haha

  85. 85 Jim

    The right pick I believe. New excitement. Not the savior but one of the cornerstones. It should be fun again to watch the deveolpment

  86. 86 Devon

    Was I the only one who heard a “Garth Snow” chant at the Draft Party?

  87. 87 vigs

    Gotta give Garth credit, he knows how to keep people on the edge of their seats and drum up attention for the Isles. Good job Garth, now go get us a defenseman, a power forward, a goalie…

  88. 88 Steve

    Good job Garth - would NOT want to play poker with ya! TAVERAS!!!

  89. 89 UIF

    The announcers showed part of why this made so much sense. When was the last time anyone in the hockey world said “Great job, Long Island” with a straight face?

  90. 90 anthony c

    Oh snap I just remembered that if the isles took tavares I would get an islanders tattoo. Looks like I’m getting some ink done very soon wooooo.

  91. 91 Miket

    what was burke talking about? CB any info?

  92. 92 anthony c

    And garth, I respect you now. And if I ever cross path’s with you, I’d like to buy a beer.

  93. 93 KO21

    This is a wonderful day to be an Islander…Its been a LONG TIME coming…

    Congrats to John Taveras and welcome to the Isles an most of all, CONGRATS to all my FELLOW ISLES FANS, I’m elated…

    Thank You Garth!!!!

    Lets Go Islanders

  94. 94 derek

    god bless you Garth!…i love you in a manly way…what a guy! lets go islanders!

  95. 95 Devon

    What would it take to get Vinny? 26, 37, and a prospect? Bailey and a 2nd?

  96. 96 Isle be Damned

    THANK YOU GARTH & RYAN.

    Welcome to Long Island John Tavares.

  97. 97 Hud

    59, too funny, the wine went down too easy, then, the Isles picked, and, I did not need anymore wine. The Flyers gave up a ton for Pronger, another Flyer to dislike! Go Isles from San Diego(please send the Isles to southern cal next year, it’s been too long)

  98. 98 Joe fred va

    My money is on the Canadiens getting Vinny, which is fine with me! We would have to trade our 26th pick for him. Congratulations JT, you have a pssionate fan base that looks forward to your success!!

  99. 99 KO21

    I have a feeling Logan only wanted to stir the pot and he really didn’t believe what he was saying…

  100. 100 RichM

    Anything on the Lecavaliar to the Islanders rumors? You heard Burke talk to Gainey about it on T V.

  101. 101 islesbl

    I would give the 26th pick in heart beat for Vinny !!!! Still agree, he’s going to the Habs….

  102. 102 Numbers65 Dynasty Era Fan in OHIO!

    YES! In OHIO, my neighbors must be wondering why I am screaming! YES!
    ISLANDER fans (at least 90%) breathed a collective sigh of relief after screaming for JOY!!! YES! JT already knew what to say(- excited for rebuild and new arena), so did Garth(-said ! A beautiful Islander moment- FINALLY!!! Garth looks like a genius now. Great move! Now I can’t wait till next year. Suddenly it feels good to be an Isles fan again! LET’S GO ISLANDERS!

  103. 103 Paul

    Now the Turn Around begins!
    It has been a long time coming
    Congrats my fellow Islanders Fans!

  104. 104 Ed J

    Woot~!!!!!

  105. 105 Tavares #1

    #57….he shows it on the ice. Where it counts.

  106. 106 Numbers65 Dynasty Era Fan in OHIO!

    Garth said he is a special talent and person and they did not consider anyone else! LET’S GO ISLANDERS!

  107. 107 Frei

    McGuire: “Now, The Islanders become a team you want to watch.”

    I’ve been dying for a player like this, literally, for years, for exactly this reason.

    Nice job cb, first, for being right (not that it was mystic fortunetelling, really), but even more for not backing off at the last minute, when it looked like all might be lost.

  108. 108 THS

    Eady on the Lecavalier rumors. Its coming from the same guy (Burke) who about 2 hours ago said we were picking Duchene - in his dreams.

  109. 109 steve

    all of Canada hates us now. gotta love it.
    Lets go islanders.

  110. 110 Ron

    You ain’t getting Vinny for the #26. Maybe the #26, next year’s #1 and one of our d-men other than Streit….and even that is probably a pipedream.

  111. 111 MickeyBoy7

    The Milburied days are finally over!!!

  112. 112 19404ever

    YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

    JOHN-TAV-RAES, JT JT JT JT JT JT JT JT JT!

    I’m 45 going on 18,gonna head over to the watering hole after this, as I type from my laptop. Get dem cold brews and wings ready! Well worth the trip from South Florida, Thanks Garth and ALL involved, now, let’s get the LHP underway and this year, and the next may years, Islander hockey will be one tough ticket! Sign me up for a 20 game pack right now! AND, most important, lets keep those stinkin Rags fans out of OUR building!!!! RANGERS STILL AND WILL SUCKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!

  113. 113 nystrom23

    Cb ur the mannn…and I’m gettin tix tonite

  114. 114 Neil

    It’s getting dusty in here…

  115. 115 JKP in Halifax

    Botta: 1
    Dreger, McKenzie, Logan: 0

    Good work on sticking with JT, Chris. You schooled the pro’s on this one.

    And thanks for helping us all through this the last couple months!!!

  116. 116 Ray since 1974

    MickeyBoy7 you are so right… this is the cleansing of the Milbury fiasco!

    A new start with JT!

  117. 117 Bryan

    Haha I did a shot when the announcers on versus mentioned the jets fans booing the ken o’brien over dan marino combined with the duchene reports. I thought it was a bad omen especially when I looked out the window and noticed the storm clouds were gathering over long island.
    I did another shot after they drafted JT, but this one was SO much happier. If tavares busts he bus

  118. 118 Frei

    Another thought… When we wake up tomorrow, John Tavares will be the Franchise, and (for the better imho) Rick DiPietro will not.

    To me, this means the Milbury era has officially past, its demons exorcised after a seeming eternity.

  119. 119 john

    Didn’t realize how much duchene wanted to go to colorado. I think Tavares is looking to be in the spotlight and wants to be the one they say turned the isles around. I think he is gonna be an animal, and I think he wanted to go to the isles cause its gonna show he has climbed the tallest mountains to be the best. I am so stoked about this, and can’t wait to go to games next year.

  120. 120 Bryan

    - if tavares busts, all of the hockey world busted also when talking about him, I can live with that

  121. 121 slsangus

    Two greatest statements in history:

    1. “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
    we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
    we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
    we shall fight on the beaches,
    we shall fight on the landing grounds,
    we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
    we shall fight in the hills;
    we shall never surrender.” - Winston Churchill, June 4, 1940

    2. “The New York Islanders select John Tavares” - Garth Snow, June 26, 2009.

  122. 122 Priest

    Welcome to the Island JT. I think I’ll get one of those jerseys this winter and maybe make a roadie down to see him & the rest of the team.

    Did Burke actually say it was Vinny he was referring too? I just got a teitter update from Darren Dreger that says “Toronto expecting Bouwmeester to get traded tonight”

  123. 123 IsleofNJ

    Was it my imagination or did Garth sound nervous reading off that pick?
    When I heard his voice shaking, I thought we were screwed.
    Amen on the RIGHT CHOICE !!!!

  124. 124 Brian B

    Hey CB….take a bow man…not because you were right…but because through all of this you were consistent, and you never believed any of the nonsense coming out. I felt JT was the guy all along…big part of it was because of the confidence you had in the pick…Long live Chris Botta.

  125. 125 Devon

    TRADE UP!

  126. 126 BR

    We get the 16 pick from Columbus!

  127. 127 Ron

    ISLES MOVE UP TO #16

  128. 128 Jeff

    cbj and isles trade.

  129. 129 db

    islanders move to #16

  130. 130 19404ever

    Almost forgot!

    Mr. John Tavares, welcome to the New York Islanders! The building may be old, BUT, you will get a first hand impression on what it feels like to play behind 16,234 at the Coliseum, I and all in Islander’s country and all Islander fans wish you the best and many years of health and productivity! Now, LET’S GO ISLANDERS!!!!

  131. 131 Jason

    woah….No. 16 pick!

    Here comes Landon Ferraro.

  132. 132 Hud

    Isles 16th pick now!

  133. 133 Adam

    16th pick….

  134. 134 AM

    16th..wooo

  135. 135 steve

    we just swapped picks with columbus to go to 16

  136. 136 Billy

    Wow Islanders get 16th pick??!!

  137. 137 Alex

    SNOW GOT THE 16TH PICK!

  138. 138 MACCH

    Islanders trade with Columbus!!!!!! 26 to 16

  139. 139 Devon

    Chi cken Parm
    Chi cken Parm
    Chi cken Parm

  140. 140 James

    who did we give up to get 16th?

  141. 141 tond24

    we get #16 KASSS

  142. 142 Justin

    Would Kassian be there at 16?

  143. 143 goisles01

    I was listening to the draft coverage on NHL.com when they broke in with an update that New York was reporting that the Isles were taking Duchene and there was a substantial package turned down in a trade proposal. I quickly turned to the Isles draft party to see the reaction of the fans. I saw Billy Jaffe reach for his cell clearly getting that message and I thought I was about to witness chaos. When Garth announced Tavares name I screamed in joy and had tears coming out of my eyes. Congratulations to the organization and the fans and a special congratulations to Garth Snow for keeping the cards so close to his chest and providing such drama to this event even to the last millisecond. My joy cant be contained!!!!

  144. 144 Adam

    Isles give up 26, 37, 62, & 92
    Isles get 16 & 77

  145. 145 Devon

    Wow, we gave up a lot.

  146. 146 James

    lol

    Isles get 16th and 77th

    give up the 26th, 37th, 61st and 92nd

  147. 147 MJS

    high priced move, but i guess not unexpected

  148. 148 Chizzler

    I love it! Awesome!!!

  149. 149 alex

    hmm interesting

  150. 150 Walygz

    Isles moved up to 16 !!!! Cost of 26, 37, 67 and 92. Also received the 62nd pick as well……

  151. 151 Strummer's Army

    OMG 16 is going to end up being Kassian!!!

  152. 152 Jason

    or…they take the No. 16 and another second rounder and move up to 7 and take that Magnes Sevenson-gebrlaneh guy - the speedy guy.

  153. 153 BR

    IsleofNJ - No, you weren’t imagining it. I noticed the same thing last year here in Ottawa (I was at Scotiabank Place). I’ve never met the guy, but my sense is that he’s a bit of an introvert. I don’t think he’s comfortable speaking in front of big crowds like that.

  154. 154 James

    remember we still have the 31st pick too

    going goalie there

  155. 155 doug

    Remember quality is better than quantity…this is turning into a great night for the Islanders…

  156. 156 Walygz

    Sorry, my numbers were off….listening and typing at the same time are not my strongest attributes.

  157. 157 Joe

    That was a great moment at the coliseum, thanks for doing something right Garth!

  158. 158 db

    why didnt they wait to see who would be available at #16 unless its part of the lecavalier trade

  159. 159 derek

    next pick is landon ferraro

  160. 160 Jon Mac

    Great trade!

  161. 161 Rengi

    What a great day !!! JT an Islander i was screaming in joy when i heard the announcement. Now also this great move down to 16. I hope we can get our hands on either Kassian or Runblad.

  162. 162 Stephan

    Kassian probably will go to Edmonton at #10.

  163. 163 Walygz

    With the move up, I think its either going to be one of the top defensemen that end up falling or a power forward.

  164. 164 Miket

    Landon Ferraro…or maybe the pick is traded to TB for Vinny

  165. 165 Long Suffering

    Kassian will be a BUST…we don’t want him

  166. 166 kreatiiv

    go garth!! doing well and now pick 16!! and another late first round pick…. i think garth is doing JUST fine at this job.

  167. 167 James

    Garth has shown textbook brillance in the draft

    When you are on the way down in terms of competitiveness, you acquire extra picks, like they did. Then when you are ready to build and go to the next level, you have extra picks to trade in order to move up in the draft.

    Great move Garth, lets see what happens from here.

  168. 168 Justin Marques

    Ferraro is a small center, they won’t take him. Look for either a strong winger, or a defenseman. It’s going to get even more interesting now! Forget about Lecavalier!

  169. 169 PNut

    trade
    Isles get in ‘09 16 + 77 for their 26 37 62 and 92
    that leaves Snow and Co
    2 1sts (already Tavares)1st + 16th
    2 2nds 31st and 55st
    2 3rds 77th and 91st

    [[[we lost 26(round one), 37(round 2), 62(round 3) and 92(round 4)]]]

  170. 170 James

    well the 31st will be for a goalie I would think

  171. 171 BR

    This trade up is fascinating. About as far as our most trusted experts (CB) thought we could get. There should be a few guys like Ellis, Glennie, Despres, Runblad. Jesus, who are we taking?

  172. 172 James

    Ellis is a stud from what I have heard too, would be great to get him at 16

  173. 173 James

    Burke cracks me up

    Of course Burke isnt going to say “no we would have rather had Tavares but we didnt get him so we picked this kid”

    LMAO

  174. 174 MJS

    Burke is such a douche. He said that he could have gotten the first pick from the Isles, but Snow was asking too much… I hope he trips and breaks his pinky toe

  175. 175 Marc

    Burke is an ass… just said he could’ve drafted JT if he traded Schenn. Just suck it up, you got Snowballed!

  176. 176 tond24

    love cats that declare players a bust…read a report we need a tough guy ala roenick..getzlaf..get kass

  177. 177 Marc

    Burke is an ass… just said he could’ve drafted Tavares if he traded Schenn. Just suck it up, you got Snowballed!

  178. 178 greg

    Boooooooooooooooooommmmmm Wwwwwwooooooooooooooo

    yes, finally.

    Monday, I will not get flamed by rangers fans, but they will see their demise.

  179. 179 the bomber

    give up 31 get to 11 and get me jordan schroeder

  180. 180 dose

    congratulations to US!!

  181. 181 #13

    If Snowy manages to pick up Chicken Parm Jr. as well, I could care less about the remaining picks. That, to me would be a successful draft! God, we are gonna be respectable again, this feels weird, somebody slap me for christs sake!

  182. 182 James

    No dont give up #31, we need to draft a goalie

    Now if we can get a good one at 55 then maybe

  183. 183 dose

    jisles on Jun 26th, 2009 19:33:17 said:
    I think we can honestly say that this has been the best draft ever.

    it ain’t over yet.

  184. 184 Brian B

    yea burke…we would’ve traded our pick for the guy we passed on lasy year…

    that would’ve been worse than selecting duchene

  185. 185 derek

    jordan schroeder’s a little wimp landon ferraro all the way!

  186. 186 Frustrated Voter

    Take that Kate Murray!

  187. 187 IslesFanInAtlanta

    What a day… for the first time in a LONG time I actually FEEL good to be an Islanders fan. This is monumental.

  188. 188 Austin H

    YES!!!

  189. 189 kbulger22

    Someone mentioned omens earlier… anyone check out the sky over Long Island around 8:30? Looks like the storm cleared out, and what’s left of the sunset has turned the sky ORANGE and BLUE… I’m not waxing poetic here, it’s literally ORANGE and BLUE.

    The hockey gods like us today… they really like us.

  190. 190 vigs

    little parm is a reach at 16. He’ll go in the early 20’s. The isles will take Moore or Despres if they fall that far, if not, they will take Kassian or Ashton. I doubt Shroeder falls that far.

  191. 191 NYI FAN

    #189, great call! I’m looking out the window & thinking to myself, after the storm, a great sunset to end a great day, orange & blue, INDEED!!

  192. 192 James

    Ellis is gone

  193. 193 James

    Isles move up to 12???

  194. 194 Hud

    We have 12!

  195. 195 James

    Isles #12 for #16 and #77

  196. 196 James

    Hmmmm not sure about that pick though lol

  197. 197 vigs

    WHYYYYYYYYYYY?!!!!!!!!! Why not Moore or Despres?

  198. 198 tond24

    why move up so much..not sure

  199. 199 vigs

    Why the hell did they move up more for a guy that would be there at 16?

  200. 200 tond24

    im with you this is a lil kooky dehann would be there at 16 he would be there at 26

  201. 201 James

    well we got JT lol, either way that is still great lmao

  202. 202 Reesein Queens

    Sky blue and orange here in Queens, too. A good omen. The sunset was golden and I think the Islanders’ future is, too. I had a terrible day and this has erased it. THANK YOU for picking Tavares. I was a kid growing up in Ranger country when they won four in a row and I look forward to seeing Lord Stanley’s trophy brought to the Island and hoisted again sometime soon. I’ve alway been a fan, win or lose and this feels like a longoverdue reward for all the frustration that we’ve endured as fans. LET’S GO ISLANDERS!!!!!

  203. 203 vigs

    @200. Agreed, most mock drafts had him at the end of the first or even dropping into the early 2nd

  204. 204 tond24

    is this right we trade 26(1st) 37(2nd) 62(3rd) 92(4th)to move up 10 spots for a guy ranked outside the top 20..HUH

  205. 205 fafa

    THANK YOU GARTH wish I was at the Coliseum!!!!!!!!

  206. 206 Mikey

    Just when I think we are making smart moves, we do the unconventional. Trade 5 players for Calvin De Haan! He would have been there at 16 and maybe even in the 20s. Very poor asset management. If that’s the guy they wanted, they could have stayed pat at 16. Horrible

  207. 207 John G.

    I was there, let me tell you it was awesome. I yelled soo much I got light headed and almost fainted!!!!!! Great nite, if you were not there, you missed out. 1st best, drafting tavares, 2nd, meeting bobby nystrom, 3rd, meeting billy jaffe

  208. 208 cusi

    smart move.
    better move having a islander rep speak french to the crowd.
    not so sure about the second pick.

  209. 209 Alan

    comment #61- Don’t worry about it - we got our man now - be chill

  210. 210 Newf

    Not bad. We drafted 13 last year. Can’t have too many in system. Get who they wanted. Obviously they liked him.

  211. 211 geduffer

    We got Tavares, which is cool. Let’s give Garth a pass to see hoiw Calvin deHaan works out. If he really turns out to be a Tomas Kaberle comparable, the reach is justified. Columbus just took John Moore.

  212. 212 Martin the french Canadian

    Chris is the man !
    Thank you mister Botta !

  213. 213 Battfist

    This should motivate DP.

    TAVARES!

  214. 214 michele

    For one night Islander fans are happy..Lets hope these cheers and smiles on our faces carries for many, many years..

  215. 215 isles316

    I don’t think De Haan is there at 16 and thats why they took him at 12. Moore moved way down.

    Guys, Tavares??!?!?!!! We have a special player and everyone says how great a guy he is which in hockey is very important.

  216. 216 RPchief

    Colisuem was rockin, Biggest day for the Isles since they last won the cup..Welcome JT

  217. 217 jethro09

    for anyone who wondered why we needed to draft Tavares, just read these message boards. Phenominal night. Got JT, got a good “D” prospect. This draft had to be about quality over quantity and it has been so far.

  218. 218 19 ISLE in NJ 22

    CB …. Just got back from NVMC …. 2hours and 50 minutes to get there … only 1 hour and 35 mins to get home (traffic in the thunderstorm last 35 mins).

    Let me tell ya … I’m glad Snow kept it a secret … There were people like yourself and myself that were pretty sure of it … but it was still exhilirating feeling.

    My 11 year old and 9 year old nephews holding their ears … I explained to them it was this loud when the Isles played Toronto in the 2002 playoffs so to get used to the noise … so that was a good call by you on the noise level.

    John TA-VAR-ES!!

  219. 219 Irish Isle

    To be there last night was unreal. The chants of John Tavares in the parking lot were awesome. To the organist playing John Tavares, before the pick was made was sucha tell, but sweet.
    I had a feeling that the Isles were targeting DeHaan, but I didnt think they were going to move up all the way to 12 to get him, I was kind of hoping for Zack Kassain.’ Hopefully the Scouts saw something in him when they were scouting Tavares that they felt wanted.
    Oh and I bought a John Tavares jersey last night.

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