John Tavares was born on September 20, 1990, in Mississauga, Ontario. Tavares played two seasons for the Toronto Marlboros U15 and U16 teams and 345 points in 162 total games while winning the OHL Cup championship at the end of the 2004-05 season. In 2005, the left-shot forward was the number one overall draft pick of the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
In his first season with Oshawa, Tavares scored 45 goals with 32 assists in 65 games and won CHL and OHL Rookie of the Year. Tavares was the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player during the 2006-07 season while registering 72 goals and 62 assists in 67 games and then totaled 19 points in nine playoff games. Tavares was named CHL Player of the Year as well. During the 2007-08 season, Tavares scored 40 goals with 78 assists in 59 games as the Generals’ Assistant Captain and won the World Junior Championships Gold Medal with Team Canada.
Tavares split the 2008-09 season with Oshawa and the London Knights and registered the most goals (58) and the most points (118) in the OHL.
John Tavares Stats & Salary Cap
The New York Islanders Drafted John Tavares in the First Round of the 2009 NHL Draft
John Tavares was the ninth overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft by the New York Islanders. Tavares was scouted as “a franchise center with great offensive instincts and anticipation of the play. He is the OHL’s all-time goal leader with 215 in 247 games. He won gold twice at the World Juniors before making his NHL debut and later won gold at the Olympics and World Cup. After 9 years with the New York Islanders, John joined his childhood team, the Toronto Maple Leafs” by Elite Prospects. On July 15, 2009, Tavares signed his entry-level three-year contract with the Islanders for $11.25 million.
John Tavares’ NHL Debut to Today
On October 3, 2009, Tavares made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins and scored a goal and assisted on another in 22:05 of ice time. Tavares won the Rookie of the Year Award in the NHL that season and scored 24 goals with 30 assists while playing all 82 games. On July 1, 2018, Tavares signed a seven-year, $77 million contract with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. Tavares has been a six-time NHL All-Star and scored his 1,000th point on December 12, 2023. Through February 18, 2025, John Tavares has played 1,157 regular season games and has registered 1,085 points while also totaling 46 points in 62 postseason contests. Tavares will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Season 4. Episode 39. The Off Season – Bruins Benders Podcast
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