With the first month of the NHL season in the books, it seems a bit too early to be putting the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in the spotlight.
But it's not too early to discuss one of hockey's most coveted players in John Tavares. The 18-year-old has already been under the spotlight for a few years now, often tabbed as the biggest prospect since Sidney Crosby.
With all of his skills and accomplishments, Tavares has been a long-standing lock as the projected No. 1 pick in June. The Oakville, Ontario native turned plenty of heads in the OHL two seasons ago when he scored 72 goals and 134 points in just 67 games and broke Wayne Gretzky's mark for most goals by a 16-year old. And last season, he impressed the scouts again helping Canada win another gold medal at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
But his lengthy time on the Central Scouting List has also allowed can't-miss prospect Victor Hedman to challenge for the top spot. In fact, TSN's Pre-Season Top 10 for the draft, it is Hedman who starts with top billing.
That doesn't seem to phase Tavares, who is in the Top 3 in OHL scoring and faces the challenge of leading Canada to its fifth straight gold medal at the World Juniors in Ottawa next month. The NHL on TSN recently caught up with Tavares in a one-on-one interview.
NHL on TSN: Camp opens for Team Canada on Dec. 15 in Ottawa. You won a gold medal last year, now you have a chance to win gold on home turf. How pumped up are you about that?
John Tavares: "Very exciting, I think. People talk about the nerves and the pressure, but I think just to have the opportunity to represent your country, hopefully make the team once again and to play in Ottawa in front of Canada. I think it's a great thing. It's exciting and it's definitely special playing at home."
NHL on TSN: Every sentence that mentions your name nowadays also mentions the name of Victor Hedman. I know you played against him last year in the gold medal game and you'll play one another in a pre-tournament game on Dec. 19. Are you pumped up about those individual match-ups? Does that matter to you?
John Tavares: "It's always nice to play against some of the best players. You know the players you're playing with, you want to be a competitor and do the best you can, but I think my main focus is to help my team and contribute to my team. A tournament like that is so short and everything means so much, I think your focus is on yourself and everything you can do to make your team successful."
NHL on TSN: It's ridiculously early and we have the NHL standings in front of us with the Islanders, Kings, Thrashers, Coyotes, Panthers in the bottom five lottery positions. Do you watch those standings and will you be because you know you'll be in that mix?
John Tavares: "Well, you hear it every day and it's hard to ignore, but you really try not to get too focused on it. Anywhere I go, it will be a privilege and a great honour and I'll be happy to go to a team that picks me and wants me to be part of a team that can be successful and hopefully win a Cup."
NHL on TSN: With the Toronto Maple Leafs off to a surprising start, they're well out of position again. It's really early, but you grew up around here. Do you want to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs - would that be your dream?
John Tavares: "My dream is to play in the National Hockey League. I think anywhere I go, I'll be really happy and excited. If it's Toronto, it should be just as great because family and friends won't have to travel too far to see me. That would be a good thing."
NHL on TSN: So you're cheering for the opposition against the Leafs, then?
John Tavares: "Well, I'm a big Leafs fan. I'm glad to see Luke Schenn doing well, so it's nice to see them well and playing good."