John Tavares has achieved another incredible milestone in his 17-season NHL career.

He hit the 1000-point plateau in 2023-24 and with a third-period one-timer against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Toronto Maple Leafs centre scored his 500th NHL goal.

With four minutes left in a 6-3 loss, Tavares took a feed from Matthew Knies and fired a wrister from directly in front of Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins.

A moment for Johnny!

The 49th player in NHL history to score 500 goals 👏 @OREO pic.twitter.com/wyjxxI44ue

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 30, 2025

Tavares becomes just the 49th player in NHL history to score 500 goals. The only active players with more career goals than Tavares are Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos and Evgeni Malkin.

Tavares is in the middle of a renaissance stretch of his career. At 33 years old, he potted 38 goals last season. And this season, on a team-friendly contract with a $4.38 million AAV, Tavares leads the Leafs in goals with six through 11 games.

“(Tavares) has made some amazing history within this league,” Leafs defenceman Brandon Carlo said.

Tavares has split his entire career between the Maple Leafs and the New York Islanders, who drafted him No. 1 overall in 2009. He leads all players in that draft class in games played (1195), goals (500) and points (1127). He has now scored 228 goals for the Leafs in just 526 games for the organization. Despite being in just his eighth season in Toronto, Tavares already sits 13th in franchise history in goals.

The key for Tavares to getting to 500 goals has been his detailed preparation.

“He’s just a real example of what hard work and complete commitment will lead to, and he’s just been a great leader since day one,” said Morgan Rielly. “We’re always very happy for guys when you hit a milestone. But obviously that’s a big one.”

Whether it’s adhering to a strict diet, hiring a mental performance coach or, as Tavares said recently, bringing his own pillow on road trips to assist his sleep, his habits are as regimented as any NHL player.

“I am very grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to coach him and be around him,” Leafs head coach Craig Berube said recently. “He is a great guy, and what a pro. He is the ultimate pro. He never takes a day off. He just works and does his thing. His preparation is the same every day. It’s amazing, he’s so disciplined. He might be the most disciplined player I’ve ever seen in terms of that stuff.”

Through the chase for 500 goals early this season, the Leafs veteran has stayed true to character and has not tried to attract attention: “I’m trying not to make it the focus of my game.”

Instead, he said after a recent practice, his goal is to “just be in the moment and hopefully help contribute when the chance is there.”

Yet the same cannot be said for his Leafs teammates.

“We’re looking extra for him out there (on the ice),” Leafs forward Nick Robertson said. “I’m sure his linemates are thinking about it. What an accomplishment for him.”