Tavares launched a new chapter in his NHL career on July 1, 2018, when he signed a seven-year, $77 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team that the native of Mississauga, Ontario, grew up rooting for.

The Maple Leafs got a player who had become one of the NHL's top stars during nine seasons with the New York Islanders, who selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft. He had NHL career highs in goals (47) and points (88) in his first season with the Maple Leafs and was named Toronto's captain Oct. 2, 2019, holding the position until becoming an alternate when Auston Matthews took over Aug. 14, 2024. Tavares finished that season with 74 points (38 goals, 36 assists) and signed a four-year $17.52 million contract to stay with the Maple Leafs on June 27, 2025.

On Oct. 18, 2025, Tavares became the fourth player in League history to get 500 points with multiple teams, joining Ron Francis, Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky. He scored his 500th NHL goal in a 6-3 loss at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 29, becoming the second player to reach the milestone while playing for the Maple Leafs (Mats Sundin on Oct. 14, 2006) and the 49th skater in League history.

Tavares become the 107th player and 13th active to score 400 NHL goals in Toronto's 5-2 win at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 15, 2022. He had two assists in his 1,000th NHL game, a 5-1 win against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 29, 2023, becoming the second player in Maple Leafs history with multiple points when reaching the milestone (Tim Horton, two assists, Nov. 19, 1967). Tavares was honored before the game in a ceremony at center ice that included his parents, wife, and two sons.

Tavares reached 1,000 NHL points with a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders at UBS Arena on Dec. 11, 2023. He reached the milestone with an assist on Morgan Rielly's game-tying goal with seven seconds left in the third period to make it 3-3.

Given his route to the NHL, Tavares' success was no surprise. At 14 he was granted exceptional player status by the Ontario Hockey League, allowing him to be eligible for the OHL Draft. He was selected with the No. 1 pick by Oshawa in 2005.

Tavares stepped right into the Oshawa lineup as a 15-year-old and had 45 goals and 77 points to win OHL and Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year honors. In his second season, he had 72 goals and 134 points, then had seven goals and 19 points in nine playoff games. He was named Most Outstanding Player in the OHL and Player of the Year in the CHL, which includes all three junior leagues in Canada. He also broke Gretzky's OHL record for most goals in a season by a 16-year-old (Gretzky had 70).

Tavares finished his junior career with London following a midseason trade in 2008-09 and set the all-time OHL goals record with 215, two more than the mark set by Peter Lee. He also led the OHL with 58 goals and 104 points.

Tavares' transition to the NHL was smooth; he had 24 goals and 54 points in 2009-10 to finish fifth in voting for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top rookie, and was named to the All-Rookie Team. Among NHL rookies he was tied for first in goals, second in points and third in assists (30).

In 2011-12 he played all 82 games and finished with 31 goals, 50 assists and 81 points. He became the fourth player in Islanders history to score at least 73 points in a season at age 21 or younger, joining Hall of Famers Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier and Denis Potvin. He also was the first Islanders player to score at least 70 points in a season since Alexei Yashin in 2001-02 and the first to have 50 assists since Pierre Turgeon in 1993-94.

His offensive talent, drive and willingness to play in all areas of the ice make the ultra-competitive Tavares a franchise center. On Sept. 9, 2013, he was named the 14th captain in Islanders history.

In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round in 2016, Tavares had the game-tying goal in the final minute of the third period, then scored in double overtime to win the series against the Florida Panthers. The Islanders advanced to the second round for the first time since 1993. Tavares became the first player in Islanders playoff history to score the tying goal in the final minute of regulation and score again in overtime.