Let the sun shine through...

I am a simple fan that sits and observes his team from afar, and hopes as all Islanders fans do, for better days ahead. As the majority of Isles Nation is fixated with a Hemstead Town Hall meeting today, I cannot help but think of the John Tavares Press Conference tomorrow and what he will mean to this team over the next season.

As tomorrow’s welcome mat is laid out for John Tavares and everyone becomes aflutter, I find myself lost in thought in regards to what this team will look like and it’s potential with Tavares over the next season. Look, to me this team will be one of the 5 teams that will battle it out for Taylor Hall come June 2010. With the lack of FA signings how can it play out any differently? As an arm chair QB I tend to not only look at what the Isles do during the off season but what the other teams do around them. I see teams such as Tampa, Atlanta and LA, being much better than the Islanders next season. Teams such as Colorado and Phoenix will more than likely struggle to bring up the rear.

By no means is the frenzy over with in regards to free agency or possible off-season trades, but we now have a better view on where teams are trying to get to come October. This is where Tavares comes into the picture for the New York Islanders. As the Islanders trumpet a vital cog in their future wheel of success, as JT smiles and states how excited he is to try and bring back the winning days of old to Long Island, I cannot help but get a little giddy myself. Tavares is important to this rebuilding process not because of the 20-25 goals he will bring to the forefront for 2009-2010; not because he may make others around him better; and not because he is well spoken and media savvy. He is important because he represents hope to all Isles fans out there. His is a face of better days to come, and that will get our fan base energized, excited and the team should benefit at the turnstiles because of it.

The team is starting to take shape, it will still take its lumps, but with kids such as Tavares leading the charge, one can only hope that other Fanatics will be jumping on the bandwagon.