Former Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares delivered the game-winning goal in overtime against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, a goal that brought him within one of a major career milestone.
Tavares now sits at 499 career goals and has scored five goals and added seven assists through nine games to start the season. The 35-year-old center is producing at a top-10 scoring pace league-wide while continuing to anchor Toronto’s top-six forward group.
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His recent play has reignited conversation around his long-term role in Toronto and the quiet sacrifice he made to stay.
Darren Dreger appeared on TSN’s “First Up!” on Monday and discussed Tavares’ decision to re-sign with the Leafs on a four-year, $17.56 million deal, saying it deserves more recognition.
“If he truly explored the open market, just had it gotten to that point — he didn’t want it to get to that point,” Dreger said of Tavares’ team-friendly deal. “If it had been even remotely about money, he wouldn’t be in Toronto. He wouldn’t be. And he’d be doing the same thing probably somewhere else. This guy wants to win a Stanley Cup in Toronto. He’s raising a family in Toronto, and he loves the game.”
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Dreger noted the criticism that surrounded Tavares’ prior $11 million contract but emphasized that he consistently delivered value. Tavares scored 493 total points in 515 regular season games before signing his new deal last offseason.
“You go back to the previous contract at $11 million flat, and there was a lot of bemoaning over how Tavares was strapping the Toronto Maple Leafs as an organization,” Dreger said. “You could build a case for John Tavares being the most consistent producer for the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (91) during a stoppage in play.Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Tavares said in June, shortly after signing a four-year deal, that his approach hasn’t changed, emphasizing his commitment to performing as he ages out of the game.
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“I take a lot of pride in how I try to get better, how I approach the game and my craft and my passion and love for it,” he said. “I have a tremendous amount of belief in who I am and what I can do and just continue to play at an elite level.”
Throughout his 17-year career, including this season, Tavares has accumulated 1,126 total points in 1,193 regular-season games, while adding 53 points in 75 postseason appearances.
Tavares will have his next chance at reaching the 500-goal mark in front of Toronto’s home crowd when the Maple Leafs host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, with puck drop set for 6 p.m. ET.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the NHL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.