Position: Center
Height: 6'0"Weight: 201 lbs
Birthdate: September 20, 1991 (20 years old)
Birthplace: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Acquired: Draft - Round 1, 1st Overall, 2009 NHL Entry Draft
2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats: 79 G, 29 G, 38 A, 67 P, 53 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Top Line Center
Last year: Tavares started the season somewhat slowly after a solid rookie campaign, in which he looked extremely frustrated during the Isles massive losing streak. However, after a fight with Atlanta's Alexander Burmistrov, Tavares and the Islanders started to play much better. Averaging close to a point a game for the rest of the season, Tavares finished with 29 goals and 67 points. Tavares was then named to the Canadian World Championship team, where he was able to compile 5 goals and 4 assists in just 7 games. Throughout the course of the season, Tavares showed the potential that many hockey pundits knew he had. As he got more acclimated with the league and more confident with his skill, Tavares started to produce at a very high level. One of his best skills was making his linemates better, as P.A. Parenteau contributed with a 53 point season and Matt Moulson with another 30-goal campaign.
Expectations: Tavares started the new season by signing a six-year extension with the Islanders that begins in the 2012-13 season, keeping him part of the Islanders organization until at least 2019. Tavares was also recently named an alternate captain of the team, joining a leadership team of Mark Streit, Kyle Okposo, Steve Staios, and Brian Rolston. He will be expected to lead the team in points for the third consecutive season, while refining many aspects of his game to become a complete player. Given Tavares' work ethic and determination to win, this seems likely. Now the face of the franchise, Tavares will be expected to take the next step as he continues his path of becoming one of the true young stars the NHL has to offer. Luckily for the Isles, they can call him their own for the next seven seasons.
Projections: GP 81 - 35 G - 42 A - 77 P
Thoughts:
CH: Thus far, Tavares has really taken amazing strides as he evolves from OHL prodigy and #1 overall pick to NHL superstar. This season is when I believe we will truly start to see how good this player will be for a very long time. During pre-season, everything about his game looked better, especially his skating. We all know Tavares knows how to score. His offensive ability and awareness is off the charts, including his vision (one of his most underrated qualities). If he is able to refine his defensive and transition game, the NHL should watch out. Tavares is now much bigger than he was as a rookie, which was both expected and necessary for him to take the next step. Once he combines everything he has learned over the past few years with both his improved strength on and off-the puck and his incredible skill, the Islanders could be looking at an absolute force in the league.
AT: Tavares has really turned into everything this team could have possibly hoped he can be, and that's only in his second season after scoring 67 points. Going into his junior year, he's going to be expected to at least hit the 70 point mark if not far surpass it. Tavares is such a special player in that he truly works the hell out of any aspect of his game he knows he was lacking. For the first two years everyone commented on his skating abilities, yet in pre-season it looked as if he was Michael Grabner Jr. His hockey sense is Gretzky-esque, his vision on the ice is among the best in the league and he has the hands and accuracy to become a 40 goal scorer very, very soon. Tavares is an all around player who is becoming a superstar in this league, and he's someone who has more character than most players you'll meet. He is the headliner of this franchise, and he's done everything in his power to earn it.
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