The crowd sent pulsating screams through the building the second general manager Garth Snow announced the Islanders selected John Tavares with the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2009 NHL draft. Before the announcement was shown on the lowered scoreboard, fans repeatedly chanted for the team to take the two-time World Junior champion who scored 72 goals in 2007.

Islanders management did not disappoint the crowd, taking Tavares over 6-6 defenseman Victor Hedman and Matt Duchene. Hedman went second to Tampa Bay while Duchene, a fellow centerman, was chosen by Colorado with the third selection.

A little more than 300 miles away in Montreal, Tavares put on an Islanders home dark blue uniform with 09 as the number. After posing with Snow and owner Charles Wang for pictures on the Belle Center stage, Tavares said he could sympathize with the nervous fans back in Uniondale.

“I was just like everybody else, wondering what the decision would be,” Tavares said. “I couldn’t be more happy right now and excited about my opportunity to play for Long Island and the Islanders.”

Snow turned his draft pick stockpile into another major draft day move, packaging the club’s No. 26, No. 37, No. 62 and No.92 selection to Columbus for the No. 16 pick in the first round and a third-round choice at No. 77. Snow then parlayed those two selections, along with the Isles first pick of the seventh round, to Minnesota for the No. 12 overall selection.

That string of moves allowed the Islanders to draft defenseman Calvin de Hann out of Oshawa. The NHL’s central scouting rankings rated Tavares the No. 1 North American skater, one spot ahead of Duchene. De Hann was ranked 25^th overall.

But Tavares was the story of the night, becoming the fourth No. 1 overall pick in franchise history. The 6-0, 198-pound center joined Billy Harris (1972), Denis Potvin (1973) and goalie Rick DiPietro (2000) on that list and should help a team that scored the league’s second-fewest goals with just 201 tallies last season.

“Our goal was to find the best player in this draft that will become an integral piece to us  winning a Stanley Cup,” Snow said. “John has been a game-breaking type of player at every level he has played and will add a scoring touch to our lineup.”

Tavares’ selection was two years in the making. Rumors about his game-breaking talent reached its apex in 2007 when Tavares reached the 72-goal plateau as a 16-year-old, breaking the record for his age held by Wayne Gretzky.  Back at the Coliseum, the team lowered the retired numbers of Bobby Nystrom, Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy so fans on the floor could have their pictures taken with it. Those same fans will hope Tavares can become a feared sniper and 50-goal threat like Bossy and help the Islanders return to the glory years that resulted in four Stanley Cups more than a quarter-century ago.

Tavares will need help and joins a team with many young players but not much proven talent. Former first-round picks Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo should benefit from Tavares’ acquisition, where the centerman will also be able to learn from returning veteran center Doug Weight as the Islanders try to make it back to the playoffs after missing out the last two seasons.

“You have the opportunity there to start with a young core of guys and grow into the future,” Tavares said. “You see how many teams have gone it before and you can see where it’s headed with the draft picks.

“There’s a great tradition there to bring the winning tradition back to Long Island. That’s what my goal is and I want to be successful at the highest level. I can’t wait to get started and it’s a great opportunity for me. I can’t wait to get started and it’s a great opportunity for me. This is really a humbling moment and it’s really special for myself.”

Tavares should generate interest with minicamps coming up at the team’s Syosset-based Iceworks practice facility. Tavares said the fan reaction had already impressed him.

“I didn’t see it but I heard things and obviously they are really interested in having me and definitely have the support of the fans and the community, that’s huge,” Tavares said about the draft party that saw 22,000 people order tickets and almost half that amount attend. “I’m very thankful to be going there and I appreciate the opportunity to be part of Long Island. It’s going to be great and I can’t wait to get things going knowing where it’s head. It’s going to be a great future for all of us.”

The Islanders passed on Hedman, the powerful Swedish defenseman. With the Isles front office giving no clues before the selection, there was a possibility the team could haven went with the potential lockdown defender instead of a skilled scorer. Instead, Hedman joined Tampa Bay, who picked Steven Stamkos first overall last year.

“I mean, it was great. The Islanders picked a good guy, as well, John, he’s a very good player,” Hedman said. “I’m just happy to become an NHL player and it became Tampa and I’m just as happy as I can be. Tampa is a great team and a great organization as well as in my thoughts, so I’m really looking forward to help the team next year.”

The Isles also had Duchene on the radar. Duchene and Tavares with roommates at the scouting combine, though neither knew what would unfold in Montreal.

“I had no idea until I saw Johnny go. I had no idea,” Duchene said. “ I was sitting there, going, well, this could be it right here and same with Tampa, no one knew. No one knew. My agent tried to get [Snow] to show his cards and he’s got the best poker face ever, so he held everything pretty close to the chest and didn’t tell anybody.”