John Tavares

John Tavares is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, serving as an alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who has achieved significant milestones as a scoring leader throughout his career. After being granted exceptional player status by the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2005, allowing him to be drafted a year earlier than typically permitted, John Tavares went on to be selected first overall by the Oshawa Generals, becoming the youngest player ever drafted in the OHL. In his rookie OHL season (2005–06), he scored 45 goals and 77 points, earning him OHL and Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year honors. The following season, he broke Wayne Gretzky’s OHL record for most goals in a season by a 16-year-old, scoring 72 goals and 134 points, and was named OHL Most Outstanding Player and CHL Player of the Year in 2007.

He transitioned to an alternate captain role for the Maple Leafs on August 14, 2024. Tavares further demonstrated his commitment to the team by signing a four-year contract extension with the Maple Leafs on June 27, 2025.