"They drafted me, invested a lot in me as far as being part of turning things around," Tavares told ESPN.com on Sunday in a phone interview. "And I thought it would be something pretty special to be part of bringing the Islanders back to competing for the playoffs and hopefully competing for Stanley Cups every year. We know the history of the team; for many years there have been tough times.

"Really, I just want to be part of something special. There's still a long way to go, but certainly being here every day, I knew what the organization wanted to accomplish and how much they care. I really enjoy playing here."