Revisiting John Tavares' 9 Seasons with the Islanders – Hockey Writers – New York Islanders

The 2000s were a dark time for the New York Islanders, so when the team received the first pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, the outlook for the franchise changed dramatically. Following a season with 58 points, 104 points in the Ontario Hockey League, and eight goals and 15 points in six games in the 2009 u20 World Junior Championship, John Tavares became the best player, Victor Hedman and Matt Duchene next. to follow. On draft day, general manager Garth Snow wasted no time, selecting Tavares first overall.

Tavares' Rookie Season

Tavares made his NHL debut on Oct. 3, 2009, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Islanders didn't give him time to get used to it, playing him over 22 minutes in his first game. Fortunately, he rose to the occasion, scoring a goal and an assist. He got his first NHL point with an assist on the Islanders' 5-on-3 power play, where Mark Streit hit a slapshot from the spot to tie the game at 1-1.

After starting the second half tied, the Islanders went on the powerplay 6:46 into the period. After some chaos in front of the net, Tavares got the puck and put it back to 2003 first round pick and future Hall of Famer, Marc-Andre Fleury. The Islanders went on to lose the game 4-3 in penalty kicks, but it was still a night to remember for Tavares and the Islanders.

Tavares started his rookie season with three goals and seven points in the first six games before hitting the ice. From December 12 to March 6 he scored only two goals in 34 games. He finished the season with three goals and eight points in his final eight games, making his rookie season total 24 goals and 54 points in 82 games.

Related: Revisiting Robin Lehner's Season with the Islanders

Tavares ended up failing to win the Calder Memorial Trophy. Buffalo Sabers defenseman Tyler Myers, 19, won the award after an 11-goal, 48-point season. Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard, 25, finished second, with Duchene just behind. Tavares came in fifth place, receiving two second-place votes and 18 third-place votes.

Tavares helped the Islanders improve as a team, going 34-37-11 and finishing fifth in the division. This was an increase of 18 points compared to last season. In the 2010 Draft, the team selected Nino Niederreiter with the fifth overall pick and Brock Nelson with the 30th pick.

Highlights of Tavares on Long Island

After his rookie season, Tavares went on to play eight more seasons. He finished his career on Long Island with 272 goals and 621 points in 669 regular season games.

Tavares' 2012-13 campaign, arguably his best as an Islander, saw him score 28 goals and 47 points in 48 games due to the season being cut short. He finished third in the Hart Memorial Trophy voting, receiving 38 first-place votes, 38 second-place votes, and 33 third-place votes. He led the Islanders to a 24-17-7 record before falling in Round 1 to the Penguins in six games.

Before the start of the 2013–14 season on September 9, Tavares was named the 14th captain in Islanders history, replacing Streit, who had served as captain the previous two seasons before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. Tavares went on to captain the Islanders for five seasons.

One of Tavares' best seasons of his career was 2014-15, when he scored 38 goals and 86 points in 82 games, leading the Islanders to a 47-28-7 record, third best in the division. However, the team fell short again in Round 1, this time to the Washington Capitals in seven games. He finished third in the Hart Memorial Trophy voting, again, this time receiving four first-place votes, 41 second-place votes, and 63 third-place votes.

While Tavares' 2012-13 and 2014-15 seasons were each arguably his best with the Islanders, he will always be known for his 2016 Playoffs performance. Following a 33-goal, 70-point regular season from Tavares, the Islanders faced the Atlantic Division-winning Florida Panthers.

The Islanders took Games 1 and 3 to start the series, while the Panthers took Games 2 and 4. In the Islanders' win, Tavares had a goal and five points, averaging just over 21 minutes per game. Back in Florida in Game 5, the Islanders earned a win in double overtime, giving the team a chance to take the series, at home, in Game 6.

In a game that has become one of the most historic games in Islanders history, the team entered the final minutes of the third period with a 1-0 lead. With the net empty, defenseman Nick Leddy carried the puck into the Panthers' zone. He advanced to the net where he was again directed by Nikolai Kulemin. Tavares got the puck and pushed it in, tying the game with 53.2 seconds left.

After a scoreless first overtime frame, the Islanders and Panthers headed to double overtime for the second game in a row. Just over a period later, Alan Quinne's pass to Kyle Okposo gave the Islanders a chance to attack. Tavares then took the puck and took a shot from the hash marks, hitting the pads of Roberto Luongo. Tavares collected the rebound, went around the net, and scored, which sent the Islanders to the second round and ended a 23-year drought.

The radio's iconic call, Tavares' foggy visor, Nassau Coliseum background music, and Islanders fans chanting “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.” To this day, regardless of what happened later, that moment gives all Islanders chills. The 23-year wait was over, all thanks to one man: John Tavares.

The Islanders went on to lose to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 2, something the team would be very used to. Tavares had a goal and an assist in Game 1 against the Lightning but scored to end the streak. His six goals and five assists for 11 points in 11 games during the 2016 Playoffs saw him set career highs in the playoffs in each offensive category that still hold true today.

Tavares Leaves Islanders

All Islanders fans know what happened next. After two seasons, Tavares hit free agency, and on July 1, 2018, he became a Toronto Maple Leaf. In retrospect, losing Tavares did more good than bad for the Islanders. The team built a well-rounded forward core and went on a deep playoff run, achieving far more success than Tavares ever had in Toronto.

For Tavares, he may not have found the team success he was hoping for with his change, but his offensive totals improved, at least initially. He set high scores in goals (47) and points (88) in his first season with the Leafs and was named captain in his second season. Unfortunately, five seasons later, he lost his captaincy to Auston Matthews after 440 games with the team.

Tavares' Career Accolades

At 33 years old, Tavares still has gas left in the tank, but he still has a strong career. In 1,109 regular season games, he has 456 goals and 1,040 points. In 62 playoff games, he has 23 goals and 45 points.

Tavares ranks eighth in Islanders history in goals (272), sixth in assists (349), fifth in points (621), third in hat tricks (eight), fourth in game-winning goals (42), and first in overtime goals (11). ), and first in overtime points (23). He has been an NHL captain for 10 of his 15 career seasons and is a six-time All-Star, five of which were with the Islanders. He was on the NHL All-Rookie team in 2010 and the NHL First All-Star Team in 2015.

Love him or hate him, Tavares' impact on the Islanders will be unforgettable. He brought the fan base many unforgettable memories, and even with a painful departure in 2016, he will forever hold a place in the hearts of the fans.