Islanders GM Snow knows what he has in Tavares
New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow has watched captain John Tavares quickly develop into the current face of the franchise.
Tavares, who will be 25 during training camp, secured his second Hart Trophy finalist nomination last season after setting career highs in goals (38) and points (86) to finish second in the Art Ross Trophy race. His spirited play helped New York (47-28-7) record its best regular-season mark since 1983-84 and figures to play a significant role as the team moves to Barclays Center in Brooklyn after spending 43 years at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.
"He's one of the elite players in this league, for sure," Snow told the team's website. "We were very fortunate to win the lottery the year that we had the first overall pick (2009). His hockey game speaks for itself. Anyone that watches him play realizes he's a special talent.
"But behind the scenes, the character that John is, it's probably the biggest attribute he's brought to our organization. He's a class act and a wonderful person. We're glad he's our captain."
Snow hopes that Tavares can get the Islanders over the hump after the team was ousted from the first round of the playoffs in two of the last three seasons. New York hasn't advanced to the second round since 1993.
"We lost a Game 6 two years back to Pittsburgh and lost a Game 7 to Washington last year," Snow told the team's website. "You hope that those experiences help a player grow, and that's what we're counting on."
(h/t New York Islanders)
