Tavares says boot will come off injured right foot soon

Islanders fans who went to Friday night's draft party couldn't have been too thrilled to see John Tavares still wearing a walking boot on his right foot.

Tavares, who suffered a stress fracture while playing for Canada in the World Championships in Germany in May, said the boot is coming off in the next seven to 10 days and that he should be back on the ice soon after that.

"I've been working out in the gym for the last two weeks, mostly upper-body stuff, obviously," Tavares said before the draft party began at the Coliseum. "I've been able to do some lower-body stuff in the pool. It's been a help to be able to stay in shape."

Tavares, who was named to the NHL's All-Rookie team Tuesday, planned on taking three weeks off after the Worlds regardless, so the injury hasn't hampered him too much. He said he will be at IceWorks in Syosset the week of July 5 along with the bulk of the team's prospects, though he likely will work on his own, not with the group under the eyes of the coaching staff.

Tavares suffered the injury against Sweden and, after X-rays showed no break, played two more games. When he returned home to Ontario, he informed the Islanders' medical staff and visited Long Island for an MRI that showed the fracture.

"When it's all said and done, the temptation to go out and put the skates on has been taken away," Islanders coach Scott Gordon said. "Maybe that's a good thing. We definitely don't mind him getting away from things after a very long year."