October 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\nTavares 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Tavares) has made some amazing history within this league,\u201d Leafs defenceman Brandon Carlo said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The key for Tavares to getting to 500 goals has been his detailed preparation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just a real example of what hard work and complete commitment will lead to, and he\u2019s just been a great leader since day one,\u201d said Morgan Rielly. \u201cWe\u2019re always very happy for guys when you hit a milestone. But obviously that\u2019s a big one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very grateful that I\u2019ve had the opportunity to coach him and be around him,\u201d Leafs head coach Craig Berube said recently. \u201cHe 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\u2019s amazing, he\u2019s so disciplined. He might be the most disciplined player I\u2019ve ever seen in terms of that stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through the chase for 500 goals early this season, the Leafs veteran has stayed true to character and has not tried to attract attention: \u201cI\u2019m trying not to make it the focus of my game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, he said after a recent practice, his goal is to \u201cjust be in the moment and hopefully help contribute when the chance is there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yet the same cannot be said for his Leafs teammates.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking extra for him out there (on the ice),\u201d Leafs forward Nick Robertson said. \u201cI\u2019m sure his linemates are thinking about it. What an accomplishment for him.\u201d<\/p>\n