Team In Need Of Identity Gets A New One With Selection Of 1 Of The Most Heralded Players In OHL History Rangers Grab Speedy American Center Kreider At No. 19 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 kept everyone guessing, including John Tavares himself, right up until they made the high-scoring center the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft. The Islanders chose Tavares, an 18-year-old junior star with the London Knights, with the first overall pick Friday night ahead of 6-foot-6, 220-pound Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman, the top-ranked European prospect. The Tampa Bay Lightning took Hedman and the Colorado Avalanche followed with forward Matt Duchene, the... [read full story]
