Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares recorded his 500th point with the franchise during Saturday’s game against the Seattle Kraken.

Tavares reached this milestone after scoring his second goal of the contest during the third period. It was Tavares’ third goal of the season, tying the game at 3.

The 35-year-old has been in excellent form to start the season, primarily paired with Matias Maccelli and William Nylander on Toronto’s second line.

This milestone serves as a real passage of time, as Tavares joined the Maple Leafs on Canada Day 2018 as the highest-profile free agent on the market. Tavares signed a seven-year deal worth $11 million annually, and then signed a four-year extension worth $4.38 million annually this summer to remain with the Maple Leafs.

Tavares is coming off an excellent 2024-25 campaign where he recorded 38 goals and 74 points in 75 games. As he nears the 1,200-game milestone for his career, Tavares isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. It’s been a truly remarkable career for Tavares, who has been in the public spotlight since emerging as a prodigy in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, before being selected first overall by the Oshawa Generals, and again went first overall in the 2009 NHL Draft to the New York Islanders.

The veteran forward remains 16th on the Maple Leafs’ all-time points list, with teammate Morgan Rielly in 15th place. There is a reasonable case to be made that Tavares could pass Ted Kennedy for 12th on the franchise’s all-time scoring list by the end of the season.

Tavares spent the first nine years of his career with the Islanders, and this accomplishments serves as a reminder that he may be remembered for Maple Leafs tenure, rather than the first half of his career, when he eventually hangs up his skates. He’s one of the best Maple Leafs of all-times, and Tavares will continue to ascend through several franchise lists this year.

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