‘He’s going to go down as one of the greatest of all time’: Stars’ GM Bryan Murray
By Bob McKenzieBryan [email protected] story of John TavaresThe story that John Tavare, the new captain of the New York Islanders, will be remembered forever.
But it is also one of his most defining moments.
As a rookie, the New Jersey Devils captain had to overcome a string of injuries and a string, which stretched back to his days as a junior hockey player with the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs.
His career was cut short after the 2010-11 season, when he suffered a season-ending neck injury and missed the rest of the season.
Tavares was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2013.
He went on to win the Stanley Cup in his second season with the Isles, but it was a season filled with injury.
Trialist for the 2017 NHL Draft, he was selected by the New Philadelphia Flyers in the third round and signed a five-year, $40 million contract.
It was not the first time he had endured injury.
In his first season with Toronto, Tavares suffered a knee injury that forced him out of the NHL and the Maple Leafs for four years.
He was eventually traded to Philadelphia in 2016, and was named the franchise’s captain for the next three seasons.
Tadavares had a great career and his final years were spent playing hockey.
The star forward led the NHL in scoring in 2016-17, leading the league in points (1,079) and points per game (1.07).
He was also named to the All-Star Team in 2018.
