Officially, the New York Islanders organizational policy is to avoid using the "S" word in reference to John Tavares.
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| Tavares has made a huge impression with his skills, maturity and work ethic. (US Presswire) |
Meanwhile the Islanders are showing real signs of improvement, going 6-2-2 over the past 10 games and staying about the playoff cutoff line to this point. Yet for the time being, they would still rather let the rest of the hockey world use the word savior to describe this rookie's importance to the franchise.
It's not self-serving that way, you understand.
And besides, no one ever went wrong by toning down expectations.
"Savior is not how we approach it; it's not about John saving the franchise," says coach Scott Gordon. "We're going to grow as an organization with young players and he's part of that. But this is not going to be a one-year turnaround and we don't want any one player to think that's what he's here to do."
Understandably, the Islanders want to minimize the focus on the 19-year-old prodigy as much as possible while he gets his feet wet. Makes sense, too, since New York was the NHL's worst team last season, starting this one with far more youth than depth and an unstable goaltending situation that forced New York to sign veterans Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron while franchise goalie Rick DiPietro rehabs from his latest extended injury.
The Islanders also remember how tough it was early last season for first overall pick Steven Stamkos in Tampa Bay, so there has been a conscious effort to shield Tavares, given his background and New York's precarious future in its present location.
"I'm the youngest guy on the team so I know everybody here is just trying to help me get through my first few months and first season," Tavares said. "But I try not to put much emphasis on that because all I care about is helping the New York Islanders become winners. It's not about me."
Well, actually it is, because Tavares is a prodigy in the truest sense. He has played above his age class since he was 5. He was labeled a can't-miss type by pro scouts when he was 14. He broke Wayne Gretzky's career scoring records as a junior and he was so good that his agent tried to get him registered for the draft a year before he was eligible.
And now six weeks into his NHL career, the 6-foot, 200-pound center is helping the Islanders put visions of the playoffs in their heads as the league's leading rookie scorer.
"You look at him and you see that he obviously has the talent, but what I'm impressed with is how hard he works every day to be a really good hockey player," said veteran defenseman Mark Streit. "And I think here is a pretty good environment for him to progress, to grow to get used to the league."
"Instead of playing somewhere in Canada where it is hockey 24/7 and mentally tiring after a while, here he can play his best, leave the rink and have free time and his time on the ice. He's in his element."
Good thing for the once-proud Islanders. The organization has been in steady decline for nearly two decades, and owner Charles Wang has threatened to move unless its aging arena is refurbished. Plans to do so are in the works as part of a bigger development project, but local politicians have been hedging and the sense is that something that would excite the dwindling fan base might encourage them to move forward. Something like a budding superstar with a nose for the net and an outsize amount of hype that doesn't faze him.
"I've had to deal with it for a while now," Tavares said with a shrug. "I mean there's always going to be expectations and pressures on athletes, so it's something you have to get used to. I think I've handled it pretty well though. Now I just want have some fun and be myself."
That would mean putting up some big numbers for a team that has been starved for offense for longer than it cares to remember. New York has some good younger players in the lineup such as Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, Jeff Tambellini and Blake Comeau, but it is clear the plan is to build around Tavares. "He's a guy who when it comes down to crunch time can set the ball rolling," Gordon said. "It's something our organization hasn't had in a while."
And probably the reason that Tavares has not looked even slightly out of place jumping directly from junior hockey to the NHL.
"That's no surprise because I knew his 'compete' level," said linemate and roommate Matt Moulson. "I know how hard he works at developing his game on and off the ice every day.
"He's only going to get better once he figures out what he can and can't do and how much time he has. I think the sky's the limit for him."
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