(RESISTING…TAVARES…ERA…BEGINS…HEADLINE)
Oh, screw it: the John Tavares Era begins
2:45 pm – John Tavares jumped on the ice, put down his left foot, and then his right just like everyone else. He skated as 1-of-20 in Group 1 from 11:00 am until noon at Islanders Prospect Minicamp today.
Besides his obvious skill, the only eye-opener of the one-hour drills session was when he accidentally high-sticked fellow 2009 first round pick Calvin de Haan across the nose and near the eye. (Said de Haan, “My first thought was, ‘Oh crap, this isn’t good.” He’s fine). In line drills, Tavares centered Matt Martin and Rhett Rakhshani.
The first overall pick faced a media scrum for 5 minutes at 1:45 pm that included John Liu of TSN, cameras from News 12 and SNY, Post writer Dan Martin and Newsday journalists Arthur Staple and Greg Logan. A pretty good crowd for a Friday hockey practice in July.
“I want to be treated like everyone else,” Tavares said. “I’m here to learn just like everyone else. I just want to be a hard-working guy.”
Tavares looked good. de Haan had this insight when asked about his former Oshawa teammate’s skating. “He’s not the worst skater, believe me,” said de Haan. “He makes up for it with everything else. You know, with players like that, they’re (critics) always going to find something to pick on.”
Later, de Haan added, “John makes you a better player. He pushes you at practice to make you better. He’s a great teammate.”
Scott Gordon said he didn’t pay any extra attention to Tavares on the ice at his first Islanders workout. “Right now, he just wants to fit in and be one of the guys,” said the head coach. “This is a great opportunity for him to get a feel for things before training camp.”
Liu of TSN told Tavares that his jerseys and T-shirts were out-selling those of his future teammates at the shop in Iceworks. The 18-year old phenom looked a bit embarrassed, then said he was thankful for all the support in Islanders Country. “It makes me feel a little more comfortable, a little more at home,” said Tavares.
Comments. Non-John stories later today and all weekend.
56 Responses to (RESISTING…TAVARES…ERA…BEGINS…HEADLINE)
Oh, screw it: the John Tavares Era begins
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Alex says:
Boy does that jersey look good on him. Can’t wait til opening night.
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Giaco says:
Feels good seeing that pic of him in an Isles Jersey… first time in a long time i cant wait for the season to begin
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Isles6 says:
(Sarcasm button on) That headline is so weak…you realize that de Haan was also a first round pick…(Sarcasm button off), been a while, I bet since Howie Rose was looking more forward to the hockey season than baseball. I am also guessing that those home opening tix will be a might tough to get…based on the early response…even had a column in the Daily News today…
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Jared says:
Man, he LOVES that draft hat. He’s wearing it everywhere he goes, lol.
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isles99 says:
it looks pretty weired and surreal to see jt in an isles jersey..i know jt feels like long island is a long way away from toronto based on his last quote but he will feel right at home come october…..i cant wait till scrimmages start to see what he does
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Bobby says:
That sure is perty!
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nystrom23 says:
That picture is a beautiful sight for these sore eyes in front a computer all day
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Bryan says:
Thats a leading question about the merchandise that shouldnt even be brought up. Of course he is outselling the other Islanders. First off he is brand new so nobody has it yet and he was teh #1 pick. Who is going to outsell him, Freddy Meyer?
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David Volek says:
This kid is the real deal…….at his age, he knows all the right things to say. I’ll take him and his ability over last years Filatov any day of the week. Good move by garth……N American players win championships. You cant teach heart.
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Madchef says:
finally an islanders player that matters on a national level….when was the last time mainstream media gave a hoot about isles
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Travelchic59 says:
CB, so glad you will be covering mini camp. I’m happy I’ll be getting the REAL scoop from you on a daily basis.
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Matt says:
exciting!
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Thanks for the update, CB! Totally made this summer day a little better, realizing that there’s less than 3 months til opening night. Really looking forward to what the kid can do, and so far, can’t help but love his attitude and media responses. This is who we’ve been needing for a long time.
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Tavares #1 says:
I like that line also. Thanks Botta!
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Tom B says:
WOW look at that pic of JT!!! in Islanders gear on the ice. Almost brings a tear to your eye! YA!!! lets get it on!
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Strummer's Army says:
WOW! So sureal to finally see it. When I read about John when he was 14 I said that would be amazing for the Isles to get him. Then I got to know more about him and kept hoping but figured he’d end up somewhere else. When Crosby got drafted and they were writing and discussing who was the next guy with that kind of potential John was the only guy they mentioned and I again hoped. Last year when the Isles were horrible, I finally started to see it as a possibility and to now see hin on the ice is just plain a feeling of joy. Welcome John and all the other players and prospects we are happy to have you!
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Ann Aquarian says:
I can’t wait for the season to start.
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Jethro09 says:
Love seeing JT wearing an Isles logo. I can’t wait till he puts a three-spot up against the Rags this year!
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Law says:
Kinda OT, but in the first pic, JT is wearing navy (not royal) and orange gloves. Are the Isles tweaking their home and away uni’s? Maybe adding the orange back in?
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TuxTax says:
I keep on trying to picture what makes him soooo good. I know his numbers are spectacular, but as someone who lives on Long Island I have never really seen him play. Only clips and stills from the internet, and that puck juggling goal from Worlds. CB you say he looks good but How Good? or Who Good? would be the better question. I don’t want to expect anything from the kid, but I havent seen a great individual player come to the Isles in so long I have forgotten what it looks like…
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19 ISLE in NJ 22 says:
CB — Any 10 minute fire drill scrimmage (2 lines per side … running clock … no stoppages) at the end of the practice CB? Or was this strictly a work out, and then running lines in drills?
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that headline sure beats “Tavares Sprains Left Knee” or “Tavares Questioned in BALCO Hearings”
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ahh,
it’s good to see JT in his whole hockey gear with that Isles Logo in action!!! -
bf51 says:
Glad he’s sporting an Isles logo now, but that is a horrible looking jersey.
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Alex says:
@ #10 …. Tavares is Canadian…not American. Thank god he isn’t a russian clown though.
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Vukota says:
Alex- Canada is part of N. America
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JD (e_godard) says:
The anticipation for this coming season is already killing me.
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Ugly Roe From Massapequa says:
Yeah, Alex…I would HATE to have a “russian clown” like Alexander Ovechchin on my team.
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Original Rob says:
As excited I am about JT, I think I’ll be purchasing a KO jersey rather than Tavares at this point. I love the way KO plays the game. Hopefully, though, after JT scores 40 goals in his rookie campaign I’ll be convinced to buy a second jersey.
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sean says:
Alex #26 – Canada is considered N American = North American
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Staten Islander says:
What a beautiful sight. i love it
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StevieL says:
Great picture! Man does he look good in that jersey! Hey CB, just curious, if it was just skating drills today, how does JT high stick deHaan? I would also love to hear JT’s take on deHaan as a player!
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CJCB says:
Just got to say good luck to John Tavares cant wait till opening day!!! I hope he realizes what a Lax haven Long Island is, especially over here in West Islip!!! I think he will love the Island and maybe he can take in some good Lax games while he is here.
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firel28 says:
Alex @ #26 Listen my fellow Isles fan its probably an honest mistake ..**#10 post wrote N America.++ Pissst, North America is a Continent.
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isles 14 says:
islander hockey talk in july.incredible.
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Mikko Makala says:
A non-John story? What are those CB?
I’d really like to know how some of the other kids looked, especially a certain first round drafted D-Man that I’m hoping will be a shutdown machine.
Thanks again for the hard work, CB!
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Jimmy Mac says:
What’s with the powder blue jerseys?
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Danielle says:
Somebody putting down other nationalities that doesn’t even realize that Canada is part of North America? No wonder we have such a wonderful international reputation.
CB, what do you think the expected public turn out will be like on Sunday?
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drive45 says:
Thank god deHaan is okay from the high stick. with the isles injury bugs, I would have expected to hear that he would be out for six months and JT would have twisted his knee in the collision. We’ve suffered for too long. Maybe this collision not turning into an injury is a sign of good luck for us going forward.
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Is it me or does JT also look unbelievable on tsn wearing that jersey?
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Long Suffering says:
Boy do I like this kid’s demeanor. Continued good work CB. Little known fact — among his many records, JT also holds the Canadien record for most goals in the World Junior Championships, with 12.
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Jim Clark says: Tavares’s jersey is the number one seller of the Islanders? Who is number two?
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Battfist says:
Let it begin…Tavares.
Good news on the DP front…
Puck yeah!
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Dave says:
How’d de Haan look?
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Joe G says:
It would be nice if Snow got Tavares some help now…Moen to Montreal. Snow just sitting back doin nothing. Tavares is going to be a big target once the season starts, it is absolutely unreal how Snow has done ZERO thus far in getting Tavares some protection as well as picking up another forward(TANGUAY!!!), would be a start
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vizoroo says:
Rhett Rakhshani Update:
DU 2008-09 15-22-37 +4
DU Century Club 101 Points (so far)
DU Captain for 2009-10 -
cgs878 says:
So JT was on the ice for his first practice and already got his first penalty? That’s not good. We don’t want to see him in the penalty box all season. He needs to skate skate skate!!
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Smokey says:
Met Chris Botta today. Easily the highlight of my afternoon.
At any rate, from where I was standing, de Haan was the most impressive player on the ice. You could see why the Isles liked him.
Most important thing I took out of the second group’s practice: don’t sleep on Travis Hamonic. He was in beast mode today.
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kreatiiv says:
i finally got a chance to see the isles tv behind the scenes at the draft and the more i see of this kid off the ice the more i love. he seems to be a generally nice kid… even as the #1 pick, it was him jumping to congratulate hedman and duchene and wish them well… he was proactively nice and that says a lot about a #1 pick that could have an “i deserve this” attitude. also at the end in the interview when he said going #1 to the isles was a dream come true…. the slight glance he made down at the logo on his jersey as he said it… not just a “camera comment” i think this kid really is sold on the history of this team and being the start to bringing it back to that level of quality, and with THIS team, not just any team.
i think this is a true winner right here, folks. hopefully he will inspire the others to the same….
i am getting a good feeling about our season and the future right now, which feels good for a change…. even if we end up in dead last again, i think we have the start to something here.
lets get on the ice!
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#48….Yea, I think he knows that.
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Frustrated Voter says:
Change we can believe in!
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Steve says:
It’s a shame that he hits the ice for the first time with a powder blue jersey, but I am excited he is fitting in just fine!
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Glen S says:
decent looking crowd today @ Icework’s thought it was closed to the public.
Whoop’s sorry I forgot that those who have money to buy season tix
got 2 go or am I mistaken!!!!!! -
steve says:
great article…..but did he score?!?
awsome!
you know, that line is actually pretty good. toughness and size from martin, tavares with his scoring touch, and rhett’s speed. all can score.