Choosing Between John Tavares and Victor Hedman
What Garth Snow’s Pick Can Do for Islanders’ Future
May 31, 2009
When Garth Snow and Co. step up to the podium to kick off the NHL Entry Draft on June 26 at the Bell Centre, they’ll be heading up there with the name of a potential franchise building block in mind in center John Tavares or defenseman Victor Hedman. While the organization can’t go wrong with either choice, what would better suit their needs?
Up front, while they haven’t drafted any studs over the last few years, they’ve found some success on the podium of late, due primarily to the lack of it on the ice. Like most bottom-end teams, the Islanders have seen several picks get a head start on their NHL careers, most recently 2008 top choice Josh Bailey and 2006’s Kyle Okposo.
After suffering a reported lower body injury in training camp, Bailey made his debut in mid-November and would complete his rookie campaign with 25 points in contests. Okposo, meanwhile, led the team with 18 goals and was tops among forwards with 39 points, a total second only to defenseman Mark Streit among the Islanders overall. He also added five points and a plus-3 rating in nine games for Team USA at the 2009 World Championship in Switzerland.
Isles First Round Draft History on Defense
New York boasts just one homegrown draft pick on its blue line in the form of Bruno Gervais, a sixth-rounder in 2003. An abundance of forwards have been drafted by the Islanders in the opening round over the last decade; not since 1999 has the team chosen a rearguard on Day 1, when they used their third selection (10th overall) of Round 1 on Branislav Mezei. It’s been even longer since they focused on their back end with their first selection, taking Wade Redden second overall in 1995.
While Snow brought in Brendan Witt to fill the role of the defensive defenseman in 2006, the 13-year veteran closed out 2008-09 with a porous minus-34, last in the entire NHL. Playing for the Islanders surely didn’t help that number, but compare it to Mark Streit, who was plus-5 on a team that gave up the third-most goals in the league (274, an average of 3.34 per game).
Comparing Tavares and Hedman
One can’t put this year’s top-ranked North American and European skater side by side for evaluation given the difference in their positions. However, in order for the team to decide which better suits their needs, one can look at how either contributed to their respective clubs over the years.
Tavares
• Second in team scoring as a 15-year-old rookie with the Oshawa Generals in 2005-06; the club did not make the playoffs that year.
• 2006-07: Led the team in scoring in the regular season and playoffs. They finished second in their division (fourth in the Conference) and were eliminated in the Conference Semifinals.
• 2007-08: Second in team scoring in regular season, tied for first in the postseason; Oshawa was eliminated in the Conference Finals.
• 2008-09: Notched 50 points in 24 games after being traded to the London Knights and added 21 in 14 postseason contests.
• World Juniors: Scored five points in seven games in his WJC debut in 2008 before breaking through in 2009, piling up 15 points in six games.
Hedman
• 2007-08: Three points in six games with his junior team before joining Modo of the Swedish Elite League (SEL). There he collected four points and a plus-1 rating in 39 games.
• 2008-09: Amassed 21 points in 43 appearances while posting a plus-22 differential.
• Donned the Tre Kronor four times in three years: 2007 (U-18), 2008 (U-18, U-20), and 2009 (U-20); notched 10 points in 22 games combined.
Islanders Can Benefit from Duo’s Experience Against Older Players
Much was made about the OHL changing its draft rule to allow the entry of Tavares to the league as an “exceptional” underage player. And while that hype was buzzed about in North America, Hedman equally impressed on his side of the pond, more than holding his own against the men of the SEL over the last two seasons.
So, which youngster will hear his name called by Snow come draft day? While both would be perfect building blocks for a desperate Islanders franchise, as the team stands now it seems that they could probably use some Swede success on their blue line.
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