Jun 26, 2009 8:52 pm US/Central
Islanders End Speculation, Select Tavares No. 1
Team In Need Of Identity Gets A New One With Pick Of 1 Of The Most Heralded Players In OHL History
MONTREAL (AP) ―
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The Islanders ended weeks of speculation by selecting OHL legend John Tavares with the first pick in the 2009 NHL Draft on June 26, 2009 in Montreal.
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
The New York Islanders have selected London Knights center John Tavares with the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft.
The Islanders chose Tavares, a high-scoring junior star, with the first overall pick ahead of 6-foot-6, 220-pound Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman, the top-ranked European prospect.
The Tampa Bay Lightnng took Hedman and the Colorado Avalanche followed with forward Matt Duchene, the first three selection going as expected.
Tavares, a 6-foot, 185-pound native of Oakville, Ont., led the Ontario Hockey League with 58 goals this season and broke Peter Lee's 33-year-old league record of 213 career goals.
Islanders GM Garth Snow kept the team's draft intentions a closely guarded secret right until he announced Tavares' name to the Bell Centre crowd as the team's fourth No. 1 pick overall in draft history, and the first since they made Rick DiPietro the first goalie selected first overall in 2000.
The expansion Islanders chose Billy Harris No. 1 overall in 1972 and followed that up one year later by selecting Denis Potvin, a Hall of Fame defenseman who captained the team to four straight Stanley Cups from 1979-80 to 1982-83.
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