John Tavares

John Tavares (born September 20, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League, where he is an alternate captain. The New York Islanders selected him first overall in the 2009 NHL entry draft, and he played nine seasons for them, five as captain, before captaining the Maple Leafs from 2019 through 2024. Before reaching the NHL he played major junior hockey for the Oshawa Generals and the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, having gained exceptional player status at age 14, and he was named Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year in 2006 and Player of the Year in 2007. Internationally he won gold at the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Championships, was the most valuable player of the 2009 tournament, and won Olympic gold with Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics despite an injury that kept him out of the final two games.