Everyone saw the talent and the promise. It's why he was given the nickname of "The Next One" as a junior phenomenon. Whether John Tavares had the kind of work ethic—the thing that usually separates the good from the great in the long run—was the question when he entered the NHL as the No. 1 pick in 2009.
Nearly seven years later, the questions about work have been answered. And so, too, have the ones centering on leadership.
At least, they were for one former player-turned-analyst Ray Ferraro, who, along with broadcast partner Chris Cuthbert, met with Tavares before an April 24 Isles playoff game with Florida.
"I don't know John. I've met him just a couple of times," said Ferraro, the former NHL forward and Islander. "But when we walked away, I said to Chris, 'Oh my god, this kid is impressive.' His maturity, his overall view of what was going on—it was really, really impressive to talk to him."
This was before Tavares went out and scored the two biggest goals in the last 23 years of I ...
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Article written by Adrian Dater