Broken foot shouldn’t keep John Tavares out of training camp

NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 10: Martin Brodeur #30 of the New Jersey Devils makes a save as John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders looks for the rebound at the Prudential Center on April 10, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Jim McIsaac

John Tavares put up a great performance for Canada under the dull spotlight of the 2010 IIHF World Championships, but the tournament wasn’t all good for the future of the New York Islanders. He ended up breaking his foot during the competition but fought through the pain in the team’s final three games.

The good news is that, according to the New York Post, it appears that Tavares will be able to make the team’s training camp. Here’s more from the Post.

The Islanders’ franchise star will spend the next month or so hobbling around on a cast on his right foot, but Tavares is expected to be ready for training camp despite the fracture diagnosed Wednesday.

Tavares, still 19, was hit by a shot from Sweden’s Jonathan Ericsson in the qualification round, Canada’s fifth game, and played through pain for the rest of the tournament, scoring against Russia as Canada was eliminated.

Long Island’s favorite hockey club is far from the East’s elite, but I must say that the team at least put up a good fight during portions of the 2009-10 season. It seems like much-derided GM Garth Snow is building the team up by slow and painful (yet prudent) baby steps. A lot of teams in the NHL made huge leaps in short periods of time, particularly clubs with high draft picks, so the days of futility might be fading away soon.

Positivity aside, the team - as it appears now - still has a long way to go, though. Tavares is a crucial piece of that puzzle, so the Islanders must avoid rushing him back too soon from the injury.