MONTREAL - The New York Islanders have chosen to rebuild around high-scoring centre John Tavares.
Tavares was selected first overall by the Islanders at the NHL draft on Friday night at the Bell Centre.
The six-foot, 198-pound skater for the London Knights led the Ontario Hockey League in goals with 58 in only 56 games this season. He also broke Peter Lee's 33-year-old record of 213 career OHL goals as he finished his fourth year in the junior circuit with 215.
Tavares was named Canadian junior player of the year in 2007 when he scored 72 goals, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for goals by a 16-year-old.
He also helped Canada to consecutive gold medals at the world junior championship in 2008 and 2009.
The Islanders had kept the identity of who they would take with the first overall pick a closely guarded secret leading up to the draft.
