PHOTO BY SCOTT VANKOUGHNETT
With the NHL draft a few months away, it’s unclear whether John Tavares will be a perennial goal scorer in the NHL or not.
However, one thing is for sure. Tavares has become the new all-time leading goal scorer in OHL history by scoring his 214th goal of his career.
Tavares beat the previously established mark of 213 goals set by Peter Lee in the 1975-76 season on March 8 in a game against the league-leading Windsor Spitfires. That night, he led the London Knights to their first victory of the season over the Spitfires, 4-3.
Not bad for a kid who was the first player in OHL history to be given “exceptional player” status allowing him to be drafted at the age of 14 (usually the age of 15).
He began his career, drafted number one overall by the Oshawa Generals, as a kid expected to change the face of the OHL.
In his first season he scored 45 goals and was named CHL rookie of the year. His second, Tavares broke Wayne Gretzky’s record of goals in a season as a 16 year old with 71. His goal scoring prowess lead to comparisons of former NHL greats including Gretzky, Gordie Howe, and Bobby Hull.
Finishing with 40 goals at the end of last year, many thought that Tavares was getting bored with the OHL and needed a bigger challenge.
The challenge came when the NHL Central Scouting released its preliminary 2009 draft rankings. Tavares was no longer the top-ranked player. Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman had passed Tavares pushing him to the number two spot.
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PHOTO BY SCOTT VANKOUGHNETT
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| Tavares didn’t waste any time leaving his mark on hulking Swedish defenceman Vicktor Hedman |
Tavares put a halt on Hedman’s short-lived reign as number. one in the rankings, as he began to tear up the OHL once again, leading to his naming as Assistant Captain of the Canadian World Junior team.
With Hedman being named to the Swedish team, Tavares knew that in order to regain his number one ranking, he was going to have to outperform Hedman not only at the tournament, but head-to-head.
He responded the way a prospective number one pick should.
Tavares garnered tournament MVP honours, and did so in amazing fashion.
He lead his team to victories over Hedman and Sweden twice, once in the Gold medal game and once in exhibition. He also helped propel Canada to a stunning come-from-behind victory over the USA.
However, even though Tavares out-shined everyone in those three games, I felt Tavares’ biggest play in the tournament that he made came mostly un-noticed to the TV audience.
In listening to many scouts and media people in the past four months, the two biggest knocks on Tavares are 1. His skating, and 2. His ability to battle for the loose puck.
The latter was put aside at the end of the Semi-Final game against the Russians. Tavares battled to dig out a loose puck, and had the right of mind to throw it towards the net. Jordan Eberle was standing alone in front, and scored one of the most memorable goals in Canadian hockey history. Check out the goal here
Even with Tavares proving himself as the most prolific OHL goal scorer ever, there is some question as to how Tavares will fit in to the high paced NHL game.
After spending two weeks around him and talking to him at the Juniors, to watching him play on many different occasions this past season, its clear that no matter which team drafts Tavares in June, they will be getting a dedicated, hard-working leader with a unbelievable desire to win.
With Tavares changing the face of the OHL over his four-year career, I’m excited to see what he will do in what looks to be like a long NHL career
Topics: Gretzky, Howe, hull, John Tavares, London Knights, NHL, NHL Draft, Oshawa Generals, Record
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