John Tavares Faces Another Setback with Team Canada Following Maple Leafs Playoff Exit
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
John Tavares was all geared up to go for Team Canada following the Maple Leafs' playoff disappointment, but once again got shafted by a bit of bad luck.
Though the Maple Leafs' season didn't end the way John Tavares had hoped, the pending free agent still poured in a very respectable campaign and was a big reason for the team's success in 2024-25.
But with his NHL season over, the itch to play was there still and it had the former captain ready to help Team Canada finish off their quest for an IIHF World Championship, much like David Kampf and William Nylander before him.
Team Canada Lets John Tavares Down...Again
It seems though he won't even get the chance, as it was revealed that while he was waiting to head to the tournament, Canada was defeated by Denmark, therefore ending their hopes at a gold.
Nick Kypreos of the Real Kyper and Bourne Show explained a bit more:
From my understanding, John Tavares was ready to go, he was at the airport. I think they booked him a flight but they booked it so after the Denmark game to make sure, and he was supposed to join. They lost, and he went back home.
In the quarterfinal game, with the score tied and only 50 seconds left to go, Denmark was able to find the back of the net thanks to the heroics of Nick Olesen, who potted the winner after being left wide open.
It was a bitter end for the star-studded Canadians, and now they'll have to regroup and figure what's next for them on international ice, that being the 2026 Olympics.
The loss also signalled the end of Marc-Andre Fleury's career, as he is retiring after this season and was eliminated in Round One of the playoffs, giving the tournament his last chance to play.
But it's also unfortunate that Tavares got shafted yet again this year from playing for Team Canada at the 4 Nations after careful consideration and even being snubbed from the 'snubs' list.
Canada came away with the win still, but for a player with such a storied international career and a ton of success at that level; it's a bit frustrating to see him miss out through no fault of his own.
Where Does John Tavares Go From Here?
Well, he's going to take a few days to decompress and let things settle down first, and then the real business begins.
Already in discussions with the Leafs about re-signing, Tavares' focus is going to be on contract negotiations next, and how he can help the team going forward.
If he keeps playing the way he did this season, then he'll be a huge asset (at potentially half the cost).
In 75 games this season, he potted 74 points (38G, 36A) which also led him to his second-highest goal total since signing in 2018.
For his career, Tavares has 1,114 points in 1,184 games (494G, 620A) and is one of only five players in history to have 200 or more goals with two separate franchises (New York and Toronto).
While it's definitely a possibility he chooses somewhere else to go come free agency, everything seems to be in line for him to stay for the rest of his career.
So hopefully, the only place to go for Tavares now is a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, with a chance to finally have a chance at glory.
| POLL | ||
MAI 24 | 599 ANSWERS John Tavares Faces Another Setback with Team Canada Following Maple Leafs Playoff Exit Do you think John Tavares deserves to be on Team Canada in the 2026 Olympics? | ||
| Yes | 395 | 65.9 % |
| No | 204 | 34.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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