The New Face Is Ready

***Updated videos from todays early post

While I didn’t make it out to the John Tavares press conference due to work obligations. The event was streamed online and there were several hundred fans in attendance and it was a nice little nugget for the die hard Islander fans who have welcomed JT with open arms. Nothing eventful came of the presser but it certainly symbolized a new beginning. The great Chris Botta of Islanders Point Blank has noted that Garth Snow has a keen sense of the Islanders past and how the reign of Mad Mike usually coincided with going with the total opposite of the fan base wishes and he clearly has installed a more fan friendly approach. Though he still maintains a keep it in the house policy with regards to team matters.

The “Introducing John Tavares” event miles as well have been called the presentation of the new face of the franchise. Though he is still ten weeks short of his 19th birthday Tavares handled the festivities with all the poise of a 10 year vet and better than any Islander player of recent memory. His maturity level is astonishing to me. Sure he has been preparing for this since he was 15, but I saw a young man who in two weeks has shown he is more than capable of leading this franchise out of the doldrums than Rick DiPietro has shown in the last 9 years.

DiPietro, the last Islanders 1st overall pick came out of the gates with a flamboyant arrogance and gave the Isles a charismatic personality to build around but his discipline and maturity was questionable as he bounced up and down from the minors. Once DiPietro took the reigns as a number 1 goalie his disposition performed a total 180 and he became very serious and at times seemingly stubborn. He had run-ins with coach Ted Nolan over playing time and was even heard during a Mike Comrie interview the day before trade deadline day shouting “Mike Comrie is not going anywhere”. As if he was stating he’s running the show and too often that has been the case over the last several seasons. There is no doubting the goalies talent but there are serious concerns over his ability to stay healthy. Rumors are that DiPietro was pushing for the pick to be Victor Hedman, but as has been shown by the drafting of two goalies and the signing of Dwayne Rolson and Adam Munroe a new era has begun.

I certainly wish DiPietro good health and success but the Tavares era is upon us here on Long Island and I must say in watching John handle the whirlwind I am more optimistic than ever.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/ny-spmark0912954160jul08,0,7756352.column

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/ny-spisles0912954177jul08,0,7674665.story

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/blog/2009/07/john_tavares_draft_drama_was_n.html

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=436557&navid=DL%7CNHL%7CHome

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iI74YZIPnJMDgwXLHrkOH2qLuTJwD99AHM300

http://www.canada.com/Sports/Tavares+excited+help+rebuild+Islanders/1771668/story.html

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/blog/2009/07/john_tavares_meets_his_fans.html

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/blog/2009/07/john_tavares_is_introduced.html