The Leaf: Blueprint S11 E4: The 500 Club

The Leaf: Blueprint S11 E4: The 500 Club

Pardon him. My skates. Where are your things? My skates. Uh, they’re here. I have them. Maybe they’re outside the door, right? Are they here? These beside her boots? Yeah, those ones are from last year. I don’t know if I trust those seals. Oh, what does that mean? My My seals are like 10 years old. Should I not trust them? Yeah. [Music] [Music] [Applause] We’re celebrating John’s 500th goal that he scored. I believe he’s the 49th player in NHL to reach that milestone. Obviously, it’s not a very common milestone to hit. Tonight, we honor John’s incredible scoring milestone, which he achieved as a member of your Toronto Maple Leafs. Yeah, it’s still sinking in that I’ve uh scored 500 goals. Obviously, there’s so much to it. Very proud of the milestone, but obviously so many people that are a part of it and that helped me along the way. So, it was great to reflect a little bit, appreciate the journey, and then obviously extremely grateful for an amazing ceremony that the club put on for me, and definitely to share it with my family and share it with my teammates. These things are heavy. I know. I know. Got it, Dad. Heavy one. It’s a heavy one. You liked it? No. It kind of creeped up on us. I just can’t believe how many years have gone by. So enjoy. [Applause] That’s what we want to hear. I don’t want to say in some ways it’s a it’s a relief, but it it’s also nice to get there and then I think the way I’m wired to kind of just continue on doing that game in Columbus. It’s such a great moment individually, but if he showed anything, he showed team is much more important than the individual accomplishments. It wasn’t the greatest game for us, but afterwards, my teammates, you know, Craig, they were phenomenal in the locker room. I think just acknowledging the milestone and saying some really nice words. And the days afterwards as well, just everyone taking the time to kind of congratulate me, thank me, and yeah, just give me a tremendous amount of support and congratulations for the milestone. So, yeah, it’s still sinking in. Really? Robbie’s rolling to the wall. Okay, hold on, Tony. Hold on. White. Show me the white and pause. It was a little bit more excitement for sure knowing that he’s going to hit such a huge milestone compared to, you know, a normal game. But obviously, every game is just as important for the team. Tavaris off the bench, works down the right wing and into the zone. Stops it up. Penalty coming here. Pass in front of the net for Dander. [Applause] It’s like a It’s like a dream. It’s like, you know, you’re a kid. You’re You never think this is going to happen, right? And my son did it. You know, he’s he’s done it. He’s still doing it. Pulling his way back at the net. Got it out in front of Morris. Score. [Applause] 500 51 gives the leads the lead souls. Oh, nice. Number 10, John. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] We’ve been friends since we were 10, 11 years old. Played minor hockey together. watching him in the NHL. I was just telling a fellow here, you really should have seen John play in the minors. After becoming the youngest player to ever be drafted in the OHL, Jon began to tear the competition apart. John Tarz has just established a new NHL record for most scored in a career. Cavveris continued his impressive form on the international scene, winning gold with Canada in both the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Championships, as well as having one of the most dominant World Junior performances in recent memory, capturing the tournament MVP. He’s always been so detailed and so driven to improve even as a kid. To see the career he’s had, you know, the expectations that he came in under makes you a proud friend. He’s the real deal. He’s an outstanding player. He’s a great finisher. He’s instant offense. He’s the whole thing. Way to go, Long Island. My most memorable is the first one we started in New York. The Islanders are on the power play. You always remember your first. So, scoring in my first game at home in Long Island against Pittsburgh, they just won the cup. So, you’re playing against, you know, Crosby and Malcolm and these great players and Stanley Cup champions. And, you know, you’re just entering the league. And just to kind of break in and get the first one right away was awesome. My first one as a Leaf too playing against Montreal at home and similar kind of a lot of attention and focus on me after signing here and amazing to kind of get one in my first game as a Leaf. Welcome back. I remember my first hat trick in Chicago as a Leaf. It was really really cool. Was a crazy back and forth game. Always will remember that. I’ll never forget to the reception I got after my first game in Long Island as a Leaf and coming home and the way the crowd acknowledged me and kind of took a few moments to show me a tremendous amount of support and then scoring a few minutes into the game and just kind of feeding off the energy and the emotion was really really cool. Obviously all the playoff goals are all really really special. Scoring the OT winner against Tampa to move us on obviously was an amazing feeling. Score. They score. Oh, Leo. They score. The Leafs have won it. They’re going to the second round. That’s the good thing, I guess, about hitting 500. You’ve scored quite a few. So, there’s quite a few memorable ones in there. So, grateful for them all. There’s a very few players in the league that scores 500 goals. And there’s been so many great players that goal scorers in the league that haven’t reached that milestone. It says a lot about the durability about John, how he handles himself, prepares for the games, being able to play for so many years, staying healthy and scoring that many goals. So, he’s not only a great goal scorer, he’s a fantastic leader for the team. The way he prepares himself and takes care of himself off and on the ice, and that’s why he’s been able to score that many goals. Can I have a little bit of help? Put the pox in the net in the door. Ready? Mhm. You warm enough? Mhm. [Music] I had a rink in my backyard, so John and I would play one-on-one for hours kind of any chance we got. And I think that’s where most of the bonding happened. And I think most of our development as hockey players happened as well. So, just great experiences. This is our third year with the outdoor rink. The kids love it. It’s been a blast the last couple years and great to get it going again this year. It’s not It’s Did you have a good day? Yeah. You ready to go skate? Two two socks. Wacky wacky soft or what? Wacky soft because wacky soft. [Music] You like mixing and matching? Yeah, because I didn’t see the other. Couldn’t find the other one or just is it just fun? Is that good? I couldn’t find them. Is that good? You excited? First skate of the year on the backyard rink. When I first got it, I thought maybe it’s a little bit too soon for my boys especially, but they took to it right away. How’s the ice, Jace? How is it? Good. Here, hold my hands. skate. [Music] There you go. That was our first skate this year. Yeah. To have it just past the halfway point in November here is pretty pretty good. My boys been asking for it quite a bit. And my daughter Ray Lynn, she would get on the ice last year would want her skates on. She’d only go for a couple minutes. So, she was she was loving it out there. She didn’t want to come off. So, that was great to see. Just amazing what a year does and how much she was to kind of take into skating. Good job. Was that fun? Did you do it? So good. Play a game. Play a game. Yeah. Yeah. With us? Yeah. Yeah. Go for it. You want to play a game with me? You want to play a game? Boston versus Leaf. [Music] Number one rule, you got to watch out for your sister, please. She’s just learning how to skate. I totally lost your icing, please. No, Max. I’m taking the face off. This is how you take Okay, all of us can do it. It’s not a It’s backyard rink game. Well, then you’re on dad’s team. Max is your team. No, no, go on Jay’s side. You guys are on the same team. Look. Face off. Come on. Yeah, usually they always want to play some type of game and you know it’s pretty competitive. Sometimes I win, sometimes they win. Oh, what a pass. A high flipper. Oh, one nothing. They started out hot this year. Two nothing. Two nothing. Tough start. We didn’t play too long either, but they always want to get competitive, which is great. Love being out there with them and just getting to enjoy the game. [Music] Oh, icing. Icing. Yeah. Been my passion my whole life and it’s been awesome to see them take to it. This game tied up for the first, the second, and the third period. On we go to overtime. Avarus is by himself. The Leafs are changing. Johnny’s triple teamed in the corner. And he’s not going to come away with the loose puck, but he’s managed to push it free to the right side. Knander. He’s in. What a play. Holy mackander wins the game. Oh, what a play by John Tamarz. Willy’s play was all right. Typ typical Willie Styles. I mean, it was a spectacular move. So, I just was trying to buy time and you know, puck possession is so key in overtime. So, you’re trying to maintain possession, trying to wait for reinforcements come in. Guys were changing and I was at the end of my shift. So, I was just battling hard and just trying to do everything I can to keep possession. And then once I recognized that they kind of had all three committed into that area, two guys on me, another guy in the corner that I just had to get the puck free to the middle of the ice and that we would have a pretty good look on that and goes to Mo and then we get it in in Willy’s hands and that’s that’s the guy you want to have the puck in that situation. So thrilled it worked out especially some of the things haven’t gone our way as of late. So it was a big win. What do you think about John tying those guys up oneon-ree there? Yeah, that was that was wild. Uh, that’s dad’s strength. There might be something to that. There might be something to that. [Applause] Great job, Wolie. Hell of a game. Feels good. Good job. You guys played a good game tonight. This here, that battle at the end of the game, that’s what it’s all about. That’s wins hockey games. Threeon one. I was going to go with uh with Willie with the OT winner, but after that great team, way to stay together. Let’s keep going, eh? When you’re recognized by your teammates in a win, which every single win is so important and extremely difficult to get, and your efforts are recognized by your teammates, it’s as great of an honor as you can have. Nothing more important and meaningful than getting that from your teammates. How was that? First skate of the the year on the ODR. How was that? Good. Can you grab your shovel here, please? Just cuz it’s a little bit in the way. And then let’s put the shovels with the other ones. Okay. Right. Right. We’re going to go in for dinner. The game has always been really special to me. But it’s been even better being a parent, being a father, and sharing with them. [Applause] Was that fun? Give me five. So good. So good. Did you shoot the P? You use that. Did you shoot the puck? Did you play pass? Yeah. Amazing. That’s so fun. Okay. [Music]

From the roar of Scotiabank Arena to the quiet joy of a backyard rink. This episode celebrates John Tavares’ 500-goal milestone. We capture the pride of his friends and family at his ceremony, then join them at home for their first outdoor skate of the year. John sits down to reflect on the journey, breaking down his most memorable goals and what it means to share this history with the people who matter most.

00:56 – JT’s 500 Goal milestone Ceremony
02:53 – Leafs vs Mammoth
04:16 – Reflecting on 500 goals
07:16 – Tavares backyard skating rink
11:12 – Overtime goal: Leafs vs Blues
13:25 – John Tavares: Fatherhood

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