Tavares help Islanders skate back to relevancy
The people who take over decrepit, broken-down houses and flip them into money-making properties don’t just exist in real estate. They can be found throughout the sports world where they are called “superstars.”
In hockey, John Tavares has managed to turn squalor into splendor. The 24-year-old captain of the New York Islanders has restored honor to the once-proud franchise, which had won four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983 but had fallen on hard times over the last quarter-century.
He had 38 goals, 48 assists and 86 points in helping the Islanders become one of the feel-good stories in the National Hockey League this season. Wednesday at the MGM Grand Garden, Tavares could be selected as the recipient of the Hart Trophy, which goes to the league’s Most Valuable Player as the NHL holds its annual Awards Show in Las Vegas.
Tavares is one of three Hart finalists, along with Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price. The Awards Show, which will be televised live on NBC Sports Network, begins at 4 p.m.
But win or lose the Hart today, Tavares is proud of his hand in making the Islanders relevant again.
“Both years I was nominated, we made the playoffs,” he said Tuesday (he was also a finalist in 2013). “Obviously, a lot of attention goes to myself. But we’ve had a lot of contributions from a lot of people up and down our lineup. This was a special year, from Game 1 to Game 82 and we had a good run in the first round.”
These are exciting times for the franchise. The team underwent an ownership change last October as longtime principal Charles Wang sold the Islanders to Jon Ledecky and Scott Malkin. A fast start ultimately led to a tie for second place in the Metropolitan Division as the team finished with 101 points. It was the first time since 1984 the franchise broke the century mark in points. And despite a depleted defense, the Islanders took the Capitals to seven games in the opening round of this year’s playoffs.
For the first time since those halcyon days of the four Cups, there is stability on and off the ice. All the years of drafting high have yielded positive returns as general manager Garth Snow has overseen the selection of 15 homegrown players through the draft. Snow also made some key acquisitions last off-season, bringing in experienced defensemen Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy, both who own Stanley Cup rings, while shoring up the goaltending with young veteran Jaroslav Halak.
“I think management has shown it is committed to winning,” Tavares said. “The moves they’ve made and building the team they way it has, it’s very encouraging.”
After 43 years at the dilapidated Nassau Coliseum, the Islanders are moving to downtown Brooklyn where the Barclays Center will be their new home. The team has played preseason games in Barclays the past two years, where capacity will be a cozy 15,785.
“It was a special place,” Tavares said of the Coliseum. “It was as loud as any rink in the NHL and we have great, passionate fans and we’re hoping to build on what we did last year in our new home in Brooklyn.”
And as the NHL looks at possibly taking an historic step today with what is expected to be plans to study expansion and perhaps give Bill Foley his franchise for Las Vegas this fall, one change has already been approved and it has created excitement for a franchise that has sorely lacked it for a long time.
“There were a lot of tough times when I was drafted,” said Tavares, who the Islanders selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft. “But I think everyone’s goal has been the same for the organization. It’s nice to see the progress that has been made and now it’s important to continue that progression. It’s a new time and a new era for our team.”
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on twitter: @stevecarprj.