Maple Leafs honor John Tavares for 500th NHL goal ahead of game against Mammoth

Tavares was met by his wife Aryne and their three children, along with parents, Barbara and Joe. Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving presented Tavares with a commemorative gold baton to celebrate the achievement.

“You play this game to win as a team, and it’s all about the team,” Tavares said after scoring his 500th goal. “And you know, you’d like it to have had more of an impact in the game. But in the days and moments to come, I’ll definitely appreciate it more.”

Tavares is a legend of the Maple Leafs franchise and set the standard for the organization when he signed with the team on Canada Day 2018. He is the fourth player in NHL history to reach 500 points with two different franchises, and he has been the Maple Leafs’ most consistent player through the early part of the 2025-26 season.

“He’s so professional and dedicated and he loves the Leafs,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Tavares after the Oct. 29 loss. “He loves the team and he just comes to work every night. He never takes a night off. He doesn’t take a day off. Like, he always just does his thing, works and is very competitive.”

Tavares is without a doubt one of the best players of his generation and has likely punched his ticket into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He’s still an excellent player at this stage of his career, as Tavares is tied for second in the NHL with 11 points at 5-on-5 on Wednesday’s list.

PRESENTED BY VIVID CHAIRS