John Tavares of the London Knights was selected first overall by the New York Islanders at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal on Friday. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL.
John Tavares Selected First Overall at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
June 27, 2009
Montreal, QC – John Tavares of the London Knights became the third straight Ontario Hockey League player to be selected with the first overall pick at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. He follows Steven Stamkos (Sarnia Sting) chosen last season by the Tampa Bay Lightning and Patrick Kane (London Knights) who was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007. Both players are currently enjoying NHL careers.
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Including Tavares, a total of seven OHL players were selected in Friday night’s opening round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft to lead the Canadian Hockey League. The other players selected include Matt Duchene of the Brampton Battalion (third overall to the New York Islanders), Nazem Kadri of the London Knights (seventh overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs), Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires (11th overall to the Nashville Predators), Calvin de Haan of the Oshawa Generals (12th overall to the New York Islanders), Zack Kassian of the Peterborough Petes (13th overall to the Buffalo Sabres), and Peter Holland of the Guelph Storm (15th overall to the Anaheim Ducks).
After much speculation surrounding the first overall pick, it was the name John Tavares that sounded throughout the Bell Centre from the podium from Islanders’ GM Garth Snow to the delight of the fans in attendance and to those watching back in Long Island at a Nassau Coliseum draft party.
“This is obviously a great moment for me and a special feeling” said Tavares, the OHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. “Just all of the hard work and things I’ve gone through in my life and all the support I’ve had from my family is just a great moment for everybody to be sharing, I couldn’t be happier right now and am excited about the opportunity to play for the Islanders.”
Matt Duchene who scored 79 points in 57 games with the Battalion this year was one of the names many considered would be announced as the first overall pick but finds a home in Colorado with the third overall selection. “It’s like a storybook, it could not have turned out much better” said Duchene, who hopes to crack the Avalanche lineup next season. “I think my skill set is definitely ready, we’ll see what happens and how well I handle it.”
Nazem Kadri quckly followed Knights' teammate Tavares at the draft and joins a Maple Leafs team just a couple of hours away from his hometown of London and a supportive family. “It means a lot, it is a special thing for me and my family and they didn’t want me going too far away from home, I can’t wait to get to that training camp” said Kadri, who credits his junior experiences where he scored 78 points in 56 games this year with the Knights. “I’ve been fortunate to have some amazing coaches in my junior career, and they have taught me what to do and how to carry myself as a pro hockey player.”
OHL Defenceman of the Year Ryan Ellis caps off a tremendous season being drafted following an OHL and Memorial Cup Championship with the Spitfires. “It’s been crazy and a long year but from start to finish it’s been unbelievable” said Ellis who led OHL defencemen with 89 points in 57 games. “It’s great there’s been a lot of top picks that have come out of the OHL, it just goes to show how our league has developed, I wish everyone all the best.”
The New York Islanders made a trade with the Minnesota Wild to move up to the 12th spot where they selected defenceman Calvin de Haan who has the opportunity to play alongside former Generals’ teammate John Tavares once again. “It’s going to be great, we had some good chemistry going before the trade and hopefully that can translate into the NHL someday” said de Haan, an OHL rookie who was ranked 25th by NHL Central Scouting coming into the draft. “It feels pretty unreal right now I don’t even know if I am in reality, it feels good for sure.”
Power forward Zack Kassian of the Peterborough Petes was immediately picked after de Haan was chosen by the Buffalo Sabres. “The work is just starting, it is a whole new chapter I am going to have to get bigger and stronger, faster and more consistent, everything in my game is going to have to improve to make it, but I am willing to work at it in the summer and try my best at camp” said Kassian.
The final OHL player selected, Peter Holland of the Guelph Storm, who went 15th overall to the Anaheim Ducks and is the first of a few Storm players expected to hear their name this weekend. “The future looks bright in Guelph right now with all of us expected to be drafted here, we are all trying to put together a really good team next year and hopefully make a run at the Memorial Cup next season” said Holland.
Here is a complete list of all OHL players selected in the opening round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
1. John Tavares (London Knights) – New York Islanders 3. Matt Duchene (Brampton Battalion) – Colorado Avalanche 7. Nazem Kadri (London Knights) – Toronto Maple Leafs 11. Ryan Ellis (Windsor Spitfires) – Nashville Predators 12. Calvin de Haan (Oshawa Generals) – New York Islanders (from Minnesota) 13. Zack Kassian (Peterborough Petes) – Buffalo Sabres 15. Peter Holland (Guelph Storm) – Anaheim Ducks
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft resumes Saturday morning, June 27, at 10:00 am with rounds two through seven. Be sure to follow www.ontariohockeyleague.com for more information.
