NHL: Tavares tops the draft

Islanders get top-rated prospect in the 2009 draft

Last updated: 27th June 2009  

<b>NHL:</b> Tavares tops the draft

Tavares: Modelling his new uniform

The New York Islanders have selected Canadian junior star centre John Tavares as the top pick in the National Hockey League Draft.

The 18-year-old scored 58 goals for the London Knights last season, breaking the Ontario Hockey League career scoring record set by Peter Lee in 1976 in the process.

Islanders general manager Garth Snow said: "He's an offensively-gifted hockey player. Whether it's shooting the puck or distributing it, he sees the puck at a different level than any other young player that I've seen in this draft."

Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman went second overall to Tampa Bay, meanwhile, and Colorado selected forward Matt Duchene.

But the biggest trade of the night involved the Philadelphia Flyers, who obtained All-Star defenceman Chris Pronger from Anaheim for right wing Joffrey Lupul, defenceman Luca Sbisa and two first-round draft picks.

Atlanta selected centre Evander Kane with the fourth pick followed by Los Angeles taking centre Brayden Schenn, the younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn.