Islanders use No. 1 overall pick on Tavares

General manager Garth Snow ended weeks of silence about the New York Islanders' draft plans on Friday evening, selecting London Knights centre John Tavares with the first overall pick at the NHL entry draft in Montreal.

Tavares, who was traded to London late in the season from the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League, scored 58 goals and 104 points with the Knights and Generals.

The 18-year Oakville, Ont., native finished his four-year junior career with 215 goals and 433 points in 247 games.

"I've been under the spotlight a long time and I understand it's only going to get bigger, but leaving home at 14 years old, away from my family, I knew this is what I wanted," he said.

"[I'm] definitely relieved now and excited to get started."

He goes to an Islander team that has had only a few bright moments since its dynasty days of the early 1980s, when Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Bryan Trottier and their teammates won four Stanley Cups in a row.

They recently added young talent like Kyle Okposo and their ninth overall pick from last year, centre Josh Bailey, who once played with Tavares on Canada's under-17 team.

"You have the opportunity there to start with a young core of guys and grow into the future," added Tavares. "Many teams have done it before.

"You can see where Garth Snow is going with a lot of draft picks and players he has. We want to bring a winning tradition back to Long Island. That's what my goal is."

No serious offers

Snow told Canadian sports network TSN he never considered any of the offers he received for the top pick.

"Nothing we would have even considered," said Snow. "John's a special hockey player and an even better person."

As expected, the Tampa Bay Lightning followed the Islanders by picking six-foot-six Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman, 18.

"I know the NHL is another level, but that's what I'm working toward — it's a challenge," said Hedman, who intends to join the Lightning next season.

In 43 games this past season with Modo, his hometown club in Ornskoldsvik, he collected seven goals and 21 points.

"In addition to his enormous size and great skating ability, he brings the Lightning a heightened maturity level for someone his age because of his two years of pro experience in Sweden," said Tampa Bay GM Brian Lawton. "He brightens up our weakest area and we look for him to be a defensive anchor for a long, long time in Tampa."

The 220-pound Hedman has been compared to Chris Pronger, who was traded to Philadelphia from the Anaheim Ducks prior to Friday's draft at the Bell Centre.

With the third pick, the Colorado Avalanche took centre Matt Duchene of the OHL's Brampton Battalion. He posted 31 goals and 79 points in 57 games this past season playing alongside Vancouver Canucks top forward prospect Cody Hodgson.

Duchene caught the attention of NHL executives in the playoffs when he scored 14 goals and 26 points in 21 contests.

Duchene admires captain Sakic

Considered the most complete player when compared to Tavares and Hedman, Duchene possesses the kind of game-breaking speed and talent that have some scouts comparing him to Steven Stamkos of the Lightning.

Duchene is hoping that Avalanche star Joe Sakic decides to play another season. Duchene has an autographed jersey of the captain in his basement.

"He's been my idol my whole life," said Duchene of Sakic. "He's someone I modelled my game and my personality after."

Vancouver Giants centre Evander Kane went fourth overall to the Atlanta Thrashers.

The 18-year-old spent two-plus seasons with the Giants and led the Western Hockey League with 23 power-play goals this season.

Kane had 48 goals and 96 points in the 2008-09 campaign after posting six points in six games with Canada at the 2009 world junior hockey championship.

Rounding out the top five picks was centre Brayden Schenn — younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn — who went to the Los Angeles Kings.

Brayden Schenn, who was coveted by Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, is likened by NHL scouts to Flyers centre Mike Richards, a gritty player with skill.

Schenn, 18, racked up 32 goals, 88 points and 82 penalty minutes this season with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings.

Canadian teams' picks

Toronto was the first Canadian squad to pick in the first round and in his first draft with the Maple Leafs Burke — to a chorus of boos from fans of the rival Canadiens — grabbed London centre Nazem Kadri.

Other first-round picks by Canadian teams:

• Ottawa, No. 9 — Defenceman Jared Cowan, Spokane Chiefs, WHL.
• Edmonton, No. 10 — Left-winger Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, Timra, Sweden.
• Montreal, No 18 — Centre Louis Leblanc, Omaha, USHL.
• Vancouver, No. 22 — Centre Jordan Schroeder, Minnesota, WCHA.
• Calgary, No. 23 — Defenceman Tim Erixon, Skelleftea, Sweden.