Maple Leafs honour John Tavares for 500th NHL goal prior to game vs. Mammoth
Tavares was met by his wife, Aryne and their three children, along with parents, Barbara and Joe. Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving presented Tavares with a commemorative gold stick to celebrate the accomplishment.
Special night for a special player 🔵⚪️
“You play this game to win as a team, and it’s all about the team,” Tavares said after scoring his 500th goal. “And you know, you’d like to have had it made more of an impact in the game. But for sure, in the days ahead and moments ahead, I’ll appreciate it more.”
The Leafs honour John Tavares, who scored his 500th career goal last week
📽️: Sportsnet | NHL
Tavares is a Maple Leafs franchise legend, setting the standard for the organization upon signing with the team on Canada Day 2018. He is the fourth player in NHL history to record 500 points with two different franchises, and he’s been the Maple Leafs’ most consistent player through the early portion of the 2025-26 season.
“He’s so professional and dedicated and he loves the Leafs,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said about Tavares following the October 29 loss. “He loves the team, and he just comes to work every night. He doesn’t ever take a night off. He doesn’t take day off. Like, he’s always just doing his thing, working, highly competitive out there.”
Tavares is firmly one of the best players of his generation, and has likely punched his ticket into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He’s still an excellent player at this stage of his career, as Tavares is tied for second in the NHL with 11 points at 5-on-5 entering Wednesday’s slate.
