Maple Leafs captain John Tavares has responded to former New York Islanders teammate Doug Weight's story about how Tavares, the then-NHL rookie, crashed Weight's car.
The former Islanders forward, head coach, and assistant general manager joined TSN's Mark Masters earlier this week and discussed what it was like having a young Tavares living with him while he was entering the NHL.
"Well, it's an amazing story about John because he's such a great athlete," Weight said. "Lacrosse, his hands on the ice, he's just phenomenal with the puck and he didn't get out of the driveway. So it was a rough one. And it's not a small driveway.
"So, [Tavares] came in, and in his innocent, 'Dougie, sorry.' I said, 'What?' 'I just ran into the tree.' [Tavares said] I'm like, 'What tree? How can you hit a tree?' So, rough beginning."
On Wednesday afternoon, following Maple Leafs practice, Tavares was asked about the incident and told the entire story with a smile on his face.
"I don't know exactly what he said, my wife told me about it. But I remember it being a very narrow passageway entering and exiting the driveway," Tavares recalled. "Not my finest moment, still. But as a young guy, you learn some things along the way and you'd love to have a few moments back and that's probably one I'd love to have back.
"But always grateful for Doug and also his family. They treated me tremendously and really, being around them, I think I see a lot of full circle coming around for myself with me and my family, my kids, and whatnot. Obviously a great friend and he likes to throw me under the bus every once and a while. *laughs*"
But did Tavares think Weight was embellishing the incident a little?
"I think so. That car was on its way out anyways," Tavares said with a grin. "Like I said, not my finest moment."
Tavares, when leaving the scrum, said to himself that he knew the questions about crashing Weight's car were coming at some point.
Though like Weight did with him, the Maple Leafs' captain welcomed two NHL rookies into his home earlier this season. Both Matthew Knies and Fraser Minten were staying at the Tavares household at the beginning of the year as they got used to life in the NHL.
"For me to come full circle in a way it’s great," Tavares said. "And for Fraser, just trying to figure out his living situation and getting him out of the hotel and he and Kniesy have really kicked it off playing together and spending time with one another and my boys love it."
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