Islanders' Tavares skates, no date on his return
Despite a pair of injuries to key players, the Islanders and second-year center John Tavares are hoping to lose their reputation as a team that is perpetually rebuilding. Credit: AP
No firm date has been established for the return of John Tavares, who returned to the ice for a brief non-contact skate Tuesday before the Islanders practiced at IceWorks in Syosset.
It was Tavares' first on-ice appearance since he sustained what the team called a "mild concussion" in the season opener against Dallas Saturday. Tavares left that game late in the first period of a 5-4 loss to the Stars after an open-ice collision with winger Adam Burish. The 20-year-old center and first overall pick in the 2009 draft has not practiced with the team since.
It originally was thought that Tavares would play Friday in Pittsburgh. Coach Scott Gordon doubted that would be the case.
"I don't think Friday, maybe Saturday ," he said. "It all depends on what happens in the next few days. I didn't see him after he skated, but the fact that he was out there is good."
Tavares was scheduled to skate this morning. He will not travel with the team for its game at Washington Wednesday night or against the Penguins.
General manager Garth Snow said on Monday the organization would proceed with caution on its second-year center. "We'll take our time," he said. "John has a long career ahead of him, so we'll do what's right for him and this organization."
Tavares declined to be interviewed.
