True story: My first-ever NHL game was a NY Islanders game.  In 1990.

The year John Tavares was born.

 

We love an over-achiever here at WUYS, so we’re naturally fond of John Tavares.  He was just 5 days too young to qualify for the 2008 Entry Draft (at 17), and the NHL would not change the rule.  The Maple Leafs tried to snap him up with an AHL contract, but the AHL declined too.  So John was selected first overall in the ’09 draft, followed by last week’s Foxy Friday Matt Duchene.

Tavares has 25 G/36 A this year.  His line with PA Parenteau and Matt Moulson has combined to provide 44% of Islanders offense this season (67/142 goals, 107/252 assists – that’s just 4 goals shy of the Giroux-Hartnell-Jagr line).  John won gold at the ’08 and ’09 World Junior Championships (MVP in ’09) and represented Canada in ’10 and ’11 at the Worlds.

At the 2012 All-Star Game, he played for Team Alfredsson wearing his usual #91.  I kept thinking he was Stamkos.  Bonus: draft video [link], because there’s something about watching an attractive guy get dressed.  It’s almost as pretty as this breakaway challenge goal:

We have one college friend who is a die-hard Islanders fan: he loves Tavares, and good thing.  John signed a 6-year, $33 million contract extension in September.  Chuck would like to point out that Tavares is half-Polish, and thus at the top of any list she will ever make.  I’m just going to go with this:

And this:

Do you see Tavares, Stamkos and a huge tub of ice cream?  Because that’s what I see.  I may be dreaming of three amazing things together in the same place at the same time.  Oh wait…

John has a lot of bromances friends, so it’s safe to assume we would like him too.  In fact, he might be campaigning for the WUYS Hall of Fame by being photographed with EVERY Fox Friday in history.

More proof?  Here’s Tavares with Luke Schenn, Jordan Eberle, Henrik Lundqvist, Matt Duchene and even Intern Jeff Skinner.  Plus (for Gator) with John Carlson.

John’s is in his third NHL season.  The Islanders have finished near the bottom of the Eastern Conference each time, and look to do the same this year.  The Isles need depth – they rank 27th in Goals For and Goals Against.   But if you’re rebuilding, Tavares and his linemates are the guys you want as foundation.  They have firepower to match (if not outscore) any top line in the League.

The Islanders (who have Spongebob on their homepage, I laugh every time!) play tomorrow at 1 PM against Boston.  Chuck, do you see a young Chris Drury in this?

Tags: john tavares, New York Islanders