Three years ago, John and Aryne Tavares started a family tradition.
They packed up the kids — Jess, Axton and Ray; dad painted the three names on the knob of Sharpie’s hockey stick — then got in their car and fled north to a spot in Ontario. Provincial Park. It’s different every September.
From Labor Day weekend to the next, they’d hide out in hockey-obsessed places, Sleeping at the rink The clan leader cannot find ice, but he can find peace.
It’s fun and easy. It is restorative and exploratory.
Before Tavares entered the final season of his contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the family traveled to Kilbell, Georgian Bay.
“It’s been great. We’ve had great weather and it’s been a great way to recharge after a really nice August up north in Muskoka, training and getting ready for the season. Just taking a little break, Unplug and be with them all the time. Go out in nature and explore different places,” an upbeat Tavares explained during a talk at training camp.
“We’re camping,” he added a little sheepishly.
“You know, three under five, it has to be that way. My in-laws have been doing it for decades. My wife grew up doing it. I always say in the summer to unplug, keep your feet on the ground and stay in a place, slow down and be in the moment as much as possible, especially with three young kids, and keep up with them.”
Jess and Axton are improving on their kayaking skills. Jess, the oldest, can now ride a bike, so he rides around on two wheels. They will go hiking as a family. Mix in some fishing. Don’t be in a hurry to drink coffee. John is teaching the children how to make a fire.
“Sure, make some s’mores. The kids love doing that. Just slowing down. It’s a really slow time in the morning. We’re there with some family members and some family friends. So, they can hang out with them too Play, it’s very meaningful, very impactful.”
Then Tavares paused and said something beautiful: “It’s so nice when the day feels so long.”
These days, they feel inadequate for Tavares’ 34-year-old body.
The Maple Leafs, first in the Atlantic Division, played just nine games in 16 days and skipped six flights.
The 2024-25 schedule was shortened in part because of February’s Four Nations showdown and the showcase for the Canadian roster Tavares desperately wanted to assemble but has yet to materialize.
After Tavares enjoyed a night Sunday, with his natural hat trick propelling his team to a comeback victory over the Buffalo Sabers, it was nice to hear those around the new alternate captain slow down and cheer him on come on.
“He’s the ultimate pro, man,” Max Domi said. “He’s been a big part of this team. It’s been a long time. We all love Johnny. Really happy for him. He’s taken his chances time and time again throughout his career.”
Tavares may have only appeared in two second-round playoff games, but he scored the game-winning goal in the first round both times. Only Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl (seven) has more game-winning goals this season than Tavares (six).
But it wasn’t just the hat trick that won Sunday’s game. Tavares, who was buzzing all night, was no slouch on back-to-back plays and threw defenseman Baum Byram out in spin loop Too bad Elliott Friedman packaged Byram and traded him to the Canucks (blink).
“He just keeps working. I don’t know what to tell you,” coach Craig Berube said. “This guy carries a heavy stick. Smart. Competitive. Even at this age, he’s constantly working on his game and he’s still doing a good job. You know, it’s great to see him. He It’s been great for us all year.”
Amid three pressures that could have derailed him — the captain’s firing, the national team’s disappointment, the uncertainty of Toronto’s future — Tavares thrived.
He has 41 goals and 77 points.
His field goal percentage (15.2) and playing time (18 minutes, 13 seconds) are both at their highest in six years. His faceoff win rate is 56.5%, which is higher than his career average (53.6%).
Additionally, Berube trusts him more defensively than Sheldon Keefe does.
On Sunday, for example, the coach threw Tavares into Tachi Thompson’s heavy top line to free up Auston Matthews’ unit’s offense.
At even strength, Tavares is starting the majority of shifts (52.5 percent) in the D zone for the first time in his 16-year career, and he’s still tilting the ice in the right direction.
Tavares is no power merchant, tied with top prospect William Nylander in even-strength goals (11) and one behind Art Rose threat Mitch Marner in even-strength points (23). ball.
Tavares has 21 blocks in 30 games – an indicator of his recognition for Berube Way – which would give him a career-high in that category, while his +5 rating is Best result in four years.
What the 34-year-old won’t do, however, is tell the story of how he stumbled upon the Fountain of Youth during a hike through the woods.
“I was just playing,” Tavares said, following his hat. “I’m confident in my game and my ability, whether it’s scoring points or making an impact on the ice. So, continue to do whatever I can to help this team.
“Throughout my life I have always been able to attack, score goals and I want to continue to do that when the opportunity arises.”
Of course, Tavares’ PDO is on fire (103.6). But any good luck is earned.
Tavares was the only Maple Leafs star to continue playing hockey after Theresa May’s Game 7 loss in Boston, and he captained Canada at the World Championships overseas. Then it was straight back to the workshop.
An honest self-evaluator, Tavares knows skating has never been his strong suit.
So he and Maple Leafs development coach Patrick O’Sullivan emphasized acceleration and adjusted his stride. (“We just continue to push the envelope and continue to believe there’s more,” Tavares said.) Tavares believes those hectic shifts on Olympic-sized ice at the World Championships in Prague made a difference in his step. help.
The center and O’Sullivan also pored over video together, studying various situations and methods on both ends of the ice to perform at their best under duress.
But this summer, Tavares worked more on his offensive execution — a response to “only” 29 goals in 2023-24 and, more importantly, the Maple Leafs’ series with the Bruins. Averaged only 1.7 goals per game.
“Especially in the first half of last year, I felt like I got a lot of good looks, a lot of good opportunities, but I wasn’t as sharp as I could be,” Tavares said in a pre-season interview.
“There’s a lot of talk about playoff performance. It’s not something I’m focused on, but we know how important scoring is — that’s been a challenge for us the last couple of series.”
Tavares is a true believer in customs, rituals and traditions.
The offseason focus could provide momentum for 82 games, and the confidence and performance from the regular season should show in the postseason.
“Big games, big moments,” Tavares said, “you want to be relied upon.”
