Lighthouse Hockey, a New York Islanders community

"The biggest thing is we don't want him to feel like he's got to be the guy every night. We want it to be a smooth transition for him ... He's a pretty mature kid. He's been through a lot ... I'm sure if there is anybody that is going to be quick to handle everything, it'll be him."

"Every time you go into a city, or a new community where you don’t know too many people, it’s always nice to be welcomed by the people you are going to be dealing with everyday and it’s going to be great to interact with them."

According to Dey, more than $79,000 in ticket plans (not including renewals) were sold in the first hour after the pick, along with $15,000 worth of Tavares merchandise.

[Duchene and Tavares agent Pat] Brisson said he usually knows by now, adding that Garth Snow's cone of silence act is something he's never experienced in 20 years at the draft.

"I'm told fan polls and surveys and such won't affect the decision. But honestly, I think the environment surrounding the pick will be super-heated by June 26th. Who knows whether Charles Wang will suggest that Tavares could be awfully good for the box office? ... If they go a different direction, it will be out of a very strong conviction because they'll need a lot of backbone to back it up and explain it to the fan base."

"I want to be an Islander. Can you please make that clear?"

Frankly, as it became apparent the Islanders had a strong shot at the No. 1 pick this season, my feeling was that they needed Tavares more than they needed anything else. But lately, I'm not so sure. Comparing notes with NHL players, broadcasters and personnel experts I know, it's much closer to an even split on the Tavares vs. Hedman question. I haven't yet got a sense of where people stand on Duchene by comparison.

"Matt Duchene is a very good player who has progressed a lot. His all-around game is very strong, and he continues to get better. Let's not forget John Tavares has been coming through for years ... Remember that Mike Bossy was not a great defensive player when he was drafted, but he sure helped his franchise."

"When Snow said Monday that he would listen to trade offers as a matter of due diligence, that was before he knew exactly where he was picking. Now that he controls the No. 1 spot ... there's a big difference."

Listen, the way -- I won't even mention the name -- but the way he does his business is the polar opposite of the way I do things. I'm not going to sit on a soapbox, a grandstand, and announce any of my intentions. We like to keep our business in house, and whether it's talking to another manager... one of my players, one of my coaches, in my office, it stays within the four walls. That's just the way I am ... the way we operate.