John Tavares: Hard Work.
by Dominik on Jan 28, 2012 6:30 AM EST
in Bits o' Islanders News
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Some of the big league news from the All-Star Break includes some tinkering trades and Ryan Suter explicitly stating he won't re-sign with the Predators before the deadline (despite happy talk, that can't be good).
But for Islanders fans, John Tavares' media stint can only further reinforce confidence in the 21-year-old's future. What's scarier for opponents than an already immensely talented player using each summer to get better?
The relentless self-improver was asked about his much-lauded offseason work that has paid dividends this year:
"[After my rookie year] I started to really understand what I had to do specifically to improve my game and grow as a player, to figure out what it was going to take for me to reach another level," he added. "I have worked hard at it. I take a lot of pride in it – and I'm starting to see the results."
Indeed. And Jack Capuano isn't just blowing hometown smoke -- other execs, players and scouts have noticed the same attributes Capuano speaks of:
Capuano said he never talks to Tavares about his creativity or really anything that has to do with his offensive game; he mostly discusses defense with him.
Soon enough those discussions won't be necessary either.
"A lot of his chances stem from his defensive zone play," Capuano said. "How he comes under the puck, and how he's getting puck possession and odd-man rushes, it all stems from defense and he's doing a real good job. I think that's overlooked sometimes when you see his offensive numbers.
"He's always been an offensive guy, but playing that 200-foot game, playing away from the puck, he's really improved."
We talk about some of this so much that it's old hat, but for my money the evolution has still been remarkable.
There are a lot of other quotes -- from opponents and a linemate -- in that piece by Dan Rosen that makes it worth your time. Not trying to go fanboy on a player here, but when you're observing something special it's enhanced by getting a lot of perspectives on what's going on.
* * *
Elsewhere: The Sound Tigers returned to winning ways, putting them in first in the very tight Northeast Division.
We'll have Part 2 of our roundtable up later this morning, but feel free to use this post to share other topics, notes and All-Star links and such.
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We all wax lyrically
About John Tavares but while he continues keep a level head, his feet on the ground, to work tirelessly to improve his hockey skill set & give our team a better chance of winning. I for one will continue to enjoy articles written about him & post what a great guy & player he is. Go 91 All Star game won’t know what’s hit it when you turn on the skill!!!!!!
3 Teams 3 Different Sports Same Torture!!!
by Kung Fu Panda 48 on Jan 28, 2012 6:41 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Nice to see
even Phaneuf pumping his tires, though some of his quote must have ended up on the cutting room floor:
We had to use every trick in the book to stop him in Toronto, and thankfully the refs let us get away with murder, otherwise he probably would have had 5-6 goals in the home and home.
by afrosupreme on Jan 28, 2012 8:08 AM EST reply actions 5 recs
Every trick in the book
like a stick to the face?
I love that quote.
BREAKING Tavares Press Conference
John Tavares: Everyone. Everybody. I wanna thank you all for coming here tonight and drinking all my gatorade. No, really. Uh… There’s a thing about being an NHL All-Star that… you’re never short of a few freeloading reporters, such as yourselves, to fill up your locker room with, so, here’s to you people. Thank you.
Mm… I’m not finished. To all of you, uh, all you phonies, all of you two-faced friends, you sycophantic suck-ups who smile through your teeth at me, please…. leave me in peace. Please go.
Stop smiling. It’s not a joke. Please leave. The party’s over. Get out.
by Isles2011 on Jan 28, 2012 9:17 AM EST reply actions 7 recs
It seems the apple falls very far from the tree, Mr. Tavares
Maybe that’s why JT is so underrated. The Islanders aren’t marketing him to the billionaire spelunking crowd.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
Kind of Upset he's only in Breakaway Challenges in the Skills Comp
Dude’s a sniper, he should be in the accuracy event and shoot 4 pucks at the same time and hit all 4 targets and be dubbed the greatest player ever. I guess to be fair to the other contenders they have to put him in an event where he’s not excellent, but just great. PIty.
You should've seen her face. It was the exact same look my father gave me when I told him I wanted to be a ventriloquist.
He's also the LH shooter
In the one timer event.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Jan 28, 2012 10:15 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Kinda hoping
This is a chance for him to show his personality.
We’ve seen his hard work now let’s see him have fun!
The one thing that has always impressed me
Is how hard he seems to work to improve. As a fan, I will never exactly know how much time he put into improving, but boy does it seem like a ton of time. Every year he gets better and every year he seems to impress so much more. Soon he will unstoppable; you know, even more unstoppable then he is now.
All Who Oppose Grabner Shall Perish.
This is why I hate hockey :(
http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=35&id=153029
Who is this woman and why is she on my television!
Mentions that his point streak is still in tact and then blows her comment about playing alongside Chara!
by Bleuchz on Jan 28, 2012 2:33 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
JT
I’ve been watching sports since 1976. I have loved and hated many athletes.
But I can honestly say none have ever meant more to me than JT. Not for what he’s done, but for what he symbolizes for the fans. When you see him play or talk, all you can think is we finally may have a chance. He’s a symbol of hope, for people who didnt have much hope before he showed up. The way he talks about Long Island and the people, the contract he signed. His work ethic, what he’s already done, and hope for what is next for him and us.
He’s not even my favorite player on the team, I like Hammer, but I know how important he is to the franchise and the fans. Never, ever, has a player been a symbol of promise like JT for me. I can only imagine what’s next. Can’t wait.
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 28, 2012 2:48 PM EST reply actions 4 recs
There are very few pro athletes
that I would ever let my son say he wants to be like and retain all his remaining teeth.
But if he tells me that he wants to be like JT and then actually goes out and works as hard (with or without the skill), I will die a happy man.
Amateurs practice til they get it right. Professionals practice til they can't get it wrong.
by Torgo on Jan 28, 2012 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
More than any player since - well, Pete (even more than Zigs)
JT has re-established the CONTINUITY; he carries on the Islander tradition just in his person and I daresay that he’s largely responsible for raising this team’s profile up again in the eyes of players, coaches, management and other fans league-wide…..
In memoriam: Virginia Ariel Cayon 1927-2011 R.I.P. Mom
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1979-80
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May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
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May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
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May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
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May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
