Tavares show hits Toronto for first time

Perhaps the only bright spot that emerged from last season for New York Islanders was the chance to select John Tavares. The Toronto Maple Leafs won’t even get a high draft pick with a terrible finish.

Toronto-area native Tavares and the Islanders look to end a seven-game road trip on high note as they face the lowly Maple Leafs on Monday night.

A league-low 61 points last season put New York in position to draft Tavares with the No. 1 overall pick. The 19-year-old center, born in Mississauga, Ontario – approximately 18 miles from Toronto – will make his Air Canada Centre debut.

Tavares has nine goals and 10 assists in 23 games, and has the Islanders (8-8-7) thinking they can end a three-season playoff drought.

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