John Tavares’ NHL Career Is Undervalued and Underrated

Only once in his 17 seasons has Tavares missed the 20-goal plateau. That came back in 2020-21 when the NHL season was shortened due to COVID. Still, in 56 games that season, Tavares scored 19 goals – finishing third on the team in goals behind only Mitch Marner (20) and Auston Matthews (41).

Over his career, Tavares has eight seasons of 30 goals and a 40-goal season within that. He’s scored 525 goals over 1,266 regular season games and is tied for 38th on the NHL’s all-time goals list with Marian Hossa.

Having scored at least 19 goals in all of his first 17 seasons in the NHL, Tavares is just one of five players to achieve that mark, joining Hall of Fame players Alex Ovechkin, Marcel Dionne, Jaromír Jagr and Mats Sundin. On top of that, outside of the the four active players ahead of him on the all-time goal scoring list (Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos and Evgeni Malkin) and Patrick Marleau, every other player in the top-37 are Hall of Famers – something worth noting in this particular conversation.

Tavares In Rare Company During Two-Team Career

Outside of his goal scoring consistency, Tavares stands with rare company in two other NHL categories. He’s one of four players with 500 points for two separate organizations and one of two players with 250 goals for two different teams.

On October 19, 2025, in an overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken in Toronto, Tavares recorded two goals helping the team earn a point. At the same time, he recorded his 500th point with the Maple Leafs, marking the second time in his career he’d hit that milestone with a franchise – having secured 621 with the Islanders over nine seasons.

With the milestone, Tavares became just the fourth player in NHL history to record 500 points with two separate franchises joining Wayne Gretzky (Oilers and Kings), Mark Messier (Oilers and Rangers) and Ron Francis (Whalers/Hurricanes and Penguins).

In March 2026, Tavares also scored his 250th goal with the Maple Leafs. Once again, it marked the second franchise he had scored 250 goals with – having tallied 272 career goals with the Islanders. At that time, he became just the second player in NHL history to accomplish the feat, joining Messier who did it with the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers.

One Argument Against Tavares’ Future Hall of Fame Bid

Taking all of this into consideration, along with the fact that the veteran is coming off a 31-goal, 71-point season in which he played the full 82-game schedule, there’s really only accomplishment that is keeping him off the radar of some for an eventual Hall of Fame nod – a Stanley Cup.

But, given the recent inductees, a Stanley Cup is no longer a necessary determinant. In fact, given where Tavares ranks all-time in goals, points and games played, statistically he should be inducted down the road. Even if he’s not first-ballot worthy, he matches up to some of the NHL’s all-time greats.

Assuming he can put together another strong season with the Maple Leafs in 2026-27, a 20-goal, 70-point campaign would leave him sitting in the top-33 in goals and top-44 in points all-time. Still, he remains a question mark for some when it comes to a spot amongst hockey lore – a career undervalued based on what he’s accomplished.