And then there were Three...

24 hours before draft time. 24 hours before the most exciting moment in recent Islanders history. Garth Snow has been having fun hiding his #1 overall selection from the fans. Whoever he picks, it will be one of Matt Duchene, John Tavares, and Victor Hedman.

MATT DUCHENE

Age: 18
Pos: Center
Shoots: Left
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 200 lbs
Team: Brampton Battalion
ISS: 2

Stats
Duchene has scored 61 goals and 68 assists in 121 OHL games with the Battalion. He put up 28 points in 26 games in his playoff career.

Accolades
-Best Playmaker Award in the OHL Eastern Conference
-Best Stickhandler Award in the OHL Eastern Conference
-Led OHL in GWG in 2009 playoffs
-Appeared in 2009 OHL All-Star Game
-Appeared in CHL Top Prospects Game
-Gold in Under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
-Gold in World Under-17 Challenge
-Gold in Under-18 World Championships

Scouting Reports (islanders.nhl.com)
“Matt Duchene is a pure offensive player who also is a great penalty killer. He helps the Brampton Battalion in all facets of the game. A pure sniper, he plays the point on the power play and is a threat to score on the penalty kill, as well. He reminds me, probably most of the new breed of snipers, Patrick Kane, Sam Gagner and Steven Stamkos as he grows into his offensive position in the NHL.”
-Director of NHL Central Scouting E.J. McGuire

“Duchene has the ability to dominate a game. He is an excellent all-around skater with great speed. His playmaking, ability to see the ice and move the puck through traffic to create offense are outstanding. He has a very good shot, but I see his best asset as his speed and ability to beat defensemen to the middle or outside.”
-NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards

“The best prospect available in this draft might possibly be the soft-spoken Duchene. While his numbers aren't gaudy (a point a game over his two OHL seasons) they don't tell the entire story. Duchene is a marvelous two-way talent who has played second (and at times even third) fiddle in Brampton to Vancouver first-rounder Cody Hodgson and Rangers' selection Evgeny Grachev, two of the O's most exciting players. Throw in the fact the Battalion under head coach/GM Stan Butler have never been known to play a wide-open, firebrand style of game and you can understand our point. Duchene, in another team's system, could have put up eye-popping stats.”
-Red Line Report

Video Profile

JOHN TAVARES

Age: 18
Pos: Center
Shoots: Left
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 195 lbs
Team: London Knights
ISS: 1

Stats
Tavares has scored 215 goals and 218 assists in 247 OHL games. He put up 56 points in 38 games in his playoff career.

Accolades
-Holds all time record of goals scored in the OHL
-Named OHL's Top Prospect
-#1 Ranked Skater in North America
-Led OHL in goals
-Led OHL in points
-2007 CHL Player of the Year
-2007 Most Outstanding OHL Player
-2006 CHL Rookie of the Year
-Gold in 2008 World Junior Championships
-Gold in 2009 World Junior Championships
-2009 World Junior MVP
-2009 World Junior Top Forward

Scouting Reports (islanders.nhl.com)
“He is probably better than any other player in the Draft from the top of the circle down at being a threat to score. He’s an offensive player who is reliable in his defensive zone and getting better at that, but yet not asked to do that very frequently. He is pure offense and for his first years in the NHL will probably be asked to do just that…He’s a pure scorer who’s going to be an asset to teams for years to come. His numbers statistically speak for themselves. He is going to be, we predict, an All-Star caliber player for many years in the NHL.”
-Director of NHL Central Scouting E.J. McGuire

“The way he sees the ice and passes the puck through traffic, draw the comparison to whoever you want, but when you watched Wayne Gretzky, if you put your stick on the ice, you’d get the puck on your stick at some point…John is phenomenal at getting the puck through traffic to his linemates, getting to openings. The way he reads the play and can get to where he figures the rebounds will be and bangs in the rebound. He’s a real smart player."
-NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards

“He has great vision and anticipates plays before they develop. Has excellent offensive ability, with a quick hard accurate shot and is a threat to score anytime he has the puck…One-on-one he is absolutely deadly and is deceptive to read on what he will do with the puck. He has a very sublime hockey IQ. He definitely thinks the game at a higher level than anyone else in the Ontario Hockey League.”
-HockeyProspect.com

Video Profile

VICTOR HEDMAN

Age: 18
Pos: Defense
Shoots: Left
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 220 lbs
Team: Modo
ISS: 3

Stats
Hedman has scored 9 goals and 16 assists in 82 SEL games with Modo.

Accolades
-SEL 2008-2009 Rookie of the Year
-Silver in 2008 World Junior Championships
-Silver in 2009 World Junior Championships

Scouting Reports (islanders.nhl.com)
“Victor Hedman brings to his game unsurpassed combinations of size, explosiveness in his skating, quickness and offensive ability. He is indeed the whole package and that just might get him the number one selection overall.”
-Director of NHL Central Scouting E.J. McGuire

“For being that young, he’s very mature, and he’s big, but moves like a smaller guy. Very mobile, and his puck sense is excellent. Hedman is dominating the game, playing on the first defense pair on Modo. He’s playing around 20 minutes per game.”
-Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb

“An extremely gifted defenseman. Hedman is pegged as the next great NHL defenseman to come out of Sweden. He has great size and mobility and skating that is very good for a fellow of his stature. Furthermore, Hedman has a good understanding of the game, nice technical skills and is a skilled passer. He is more noticeable in the offensive end, where he likes to join the rush and create offense. His shot is accurate and powerful, which makes him a good option from the point. Aggressive and with a very obvious winning mentality, but considering his physical advantage, he could play the body even more.”
-EliteProspects.com

Video Profile