Islanders draft Tavares

June 26, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

The suspense finally ended. And with it, there was no major surprise as Islander GM Garth Snow went up to the podium at the Bell Centre with the same poker face before announce the club’s first overall selection of John Tavares.

So, the top rated prospect who’s been talked about for seemingly ever fulfills his destiny. Can he save the Islander franchise?

No surprise either that the Lightning tabbed big defenseman Victor Hedman second. The Swede looks like a man next to Tavares and Matt Duchene.

Figure Duchene, who idolized Joe Sakic to be the Avs’ pick at three leaving Evander Kane on deck with Atlanta. Toronto desperately wants Brayden Schenn but the younger brother of Leaf defenseman Luke Schenn is expected to be off the board by five to the Kings.

There was one big trade with the much rumored and well traveled Chris Pronger sent East to the Flyers for a huge package featuring Joffrey Lupul (yes, he’s returning) which I predicted while watching the draft coverage. Lupul goes back to Anaheim with defenseman Luca Sbisa plus two first round picks for Pronger and forward Ryan Dingle. It seems like a very steep price to pay for the 34 year-old All-Star. They better win a Cup.

Meanwhile, it was reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger that Scott Niedermayer plans to return to the Ducks. And also, the Phil Kessel to Toronto for Tomas Kaberle appears dead because Boston thought they were also receiving the Leafs’ seventh overall pick. As if Brian Burke’s that dumb.

We’ll have much more on tonight’s first round later.