PuckSleuth
91Toronto Maple Leafs · Center · Shoots L
John Tavares
Age 36 · 6'1" · 211 lb · Born in Mississauga, CAN
Cap hit
$4.389M
4.2% of $104M cap
Term
3 yrs
Through 2028-29, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$5.577M
vs. $9.966M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
2
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
1
0 primary
Points
1
0.50 per game
TOI/GP
16:47
PP 3:57 · PK 0:00
xGF%
30.8
5v5, -17.5 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.31
per game
Faceoff %
—
12 W · 12 L
Plus/minus
-1
Blocks 3 · Hits 1
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 vs NYI · W 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16:58 | 4:26 | 0:00 | 3-5 | 100 | 0 | 1 | -1 | +0.07 |
| Sep 29 vs MTL · L 3-2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 16:36 | 3:27 | 0:00 | 9-7 | 100 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +0.54 |
| Apr 15 @ OTT · L 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 20:05 | 2:29 | 0:00 | 9-7 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.04 |
| Apr 13 vs DAL · L 6-5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 20:03 | 2:39 | 0:01 | 11-9 | 60 | 2 | 0 | +1 | +1.36 |
| Apr 11 vs FLA · L 6-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 17:01 | 0:21 | 0:00 | 14-9 | 75 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +1.07 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,137 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
42nd percentile
84th percentile
49th percentile
38th percentile
93rd percentile
38th percentile
34th percentile
56th percentile
23rd percentile
94th percentile
22nd percentile
74th percentile
43rd percentile
61st percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleOffensive-minded center
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Tavares drives offense through high-volume shooting and playmaking, creating chances from dangerous areas near the net. He's less involved in the physical battle and relies more on positioning than pure speed to generate chances.
- Shooting volume
- 87
- Playmaking
- 78
- Zone entries(est.)
- 72
- Forechecking
- 36
- Physicality
- 24
- Defensive impact
- 36
- Puck management
- 40
- Speed
- 52
Where he shoots from
Slot 64% · Mid-range 30% · Perimeter 6%(303 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Exceptional shooting volume at 87th percentile keeps defenses honest and creates chances
- Playmaking at 78th percentile picks out open teammates from dangerous scoring areas
- Slot shots at 64% of unblocked attempts shows elite net-front presence
Watch-outs
- Physicality at 24th percentile means he avoids the physical side of play
- Forechecking at 36th percentile limits defensive pressure in offensive zones
- Speed at 52nd percentile relies on hockey IQ rather than skating ability
Similar style: Nico Hischier (NJD), Trevor Zegras (PHI)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 82 GP
Season total +69.7, or +0.85 per game.
- Scoring
- +55.2
- Shooting
- +14.4
- 5-on-5 goals
- -1.6
- Defense
- -1.2
- Physical play
- +2.7
- Puck battles
- -2.5
- Penalties
- +0.6
- Faceoffs
- +2.1
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | New York Islanders | 82 | 24 | 30 | 54 | -15 | 22 | 11 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 186 | 12.9 | 18:00 | 47.5 | — |
| 2010-11 | New York Islanders | 79 | 29 | 38 | 67 | -16 | 53 | 9 | 24 | 0 | 4 | 243 | 11.9 | 19:15 | 52.5 | — |
| 2011-12 | New York Islanders | 82 | 31 | 50 | 81 | -6 | 26 | 7 | 25 | 0 | 8 | 286 | 10.8 | 20:34 | 51.3 | — |
| 2012-13 | New York Islanders | 48 | 28 | 19 | 47 | -2 | 18 | 9 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 162 | 17.3 | 20:46 | 49.4 | — |
| 2013-14 | New York Islanders | 59 | 24 | 42 | 66 | -6 | 40 | 8 | 25 | 0 | 4 | 188 | 12.8 | 21:15 | 49.1 | — |
| 2014-15 | New York Islanders | 82 | 38 | 48 | 86 | +5 | 46 | 13 | 31 | 0 | 8 | 278 | 13.7 | 20:40 | 52.2 | — |
| 2015-16 | New York Islanders | 78 | 33 | 37 | 70 | +6 | 38 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 250 | 13.2 | 20:00 | 54.1 | — |
| 2016-17 | New York Islanders | 77 | 28 | 38 | 66 | +4 | 38 | 7 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 260 | 10.8 | 20:25 | 50.6 | — |
| 2017-18 | New York Islanders | 82 | 37 | 47 | 84 | -12 | 26 | 12 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 257 | 14.4 | 19:56 | 52.9 | — |
| 2018-19 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 82 | 47 | 41 | 88 | +19 | 34 | 10 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 286 | 16.4 | 19:05 | 54.4 | — |
| 2019-20 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 63 | 26 | 34 | 60 | -7 | 24 | 7 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 197 | 13.2 | 19:33 | 55.3 | — |
| 2020-21 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 56 | 19 | 31 | 50 | +12 | 14 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 163 | 11.7 | 18:12 | 55.3 | — |
| 2021-22 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 79 | 27 | 49 | 76 | -8 | 32 | 10 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 237 | 11.4 | 18:04 | 60.6 | — |
| 2022-23 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 36 | 44 | 80 | -7 | 34 | 18 | 39 | 0 | 9 | 277 | 13.0 | 17:39 | 58.3 | +1.12 |
| 2023-24 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 29 | 36 | 65 | +2 | 30 | 9 | 20 | 0 | 6 | 279 | 10.4 | 17:52 | 59.3 | +1.01 |
| 2024-25 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 75 | 38 | 36 | 74 | +10 | 46 | 12 | 20 | 0 | 8 | 200 | 19.0 | 18:14 | 58.3 | +1.06 |
| 2025-26 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 82 | 31 | 40 | 71 | -28 | 28 | 12 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 192 | 16.1 | 18:11 | 57.5 | +0.85 |
| 2026-27 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0.0 | 17:12 | 43.2 | +0.31 |
| Career | 18 seasons | 1269 | 525 | 662 | 1187 | -51 | 553 | 167 | 392 | 3 | 86 | 3949 | 13.3 | 19:13 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.
Usage
Last game: vs NYI, Sep 30
Line 2 with William Nylander and Gavin McKenna (9:10 together at 5-on-5) · PP1
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Jim Hiller on the Leafs scoring twice for the third straight game in a loss to Ottawa: “I don’t love making excuses, but somebody said we had six or seven posts or crossbars”
mapleleafshotstove.com · Oct 4
- Will John Tavares Score a Goal vs. the Ottawa Senators on October 3?
Bleacher Nation · Oct 3
- Hiller sees obvious ‘big solution’ as Tavares, Nylander and McKenna look to get on track
TSN · Oct 3
- Jim Hiller on Daniel Alfredsson’s first game against the Senators from behind the Leafs’ bench: “It’s going to be a big night, let’s be honest”
mapleleafshotstove.com · Oct 2
- John Tavares | Post Game vs Montreal Canadiens | September 29, 2026
NHL.com · Sep 30
- Gavin McKenna has been given the perfect Leafs linemates
editorinleaf.com · Sep 18
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +1.03 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.2 mph
- 33rd pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 1
- Hardest shot
- 64.0 mph
- 37th pct
- Distance
- 5.1 mi
- OZ time
- 45.4%
- 71st pct
- DZ time
- 39.5%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 36, forwards typically produce 49% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 38, when the typical level is 36%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
3 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | TOR | $4.389M | 4.2% |
| 2027-28 | TOR | $4.389M | 3.9% |
| 2028-29 | TOR | $4.389M | — |
UFA after 2028-29. $13.168M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).