TORONTO — John Tavares met Connor McDavid earlier than the phenom had ever performed a shift in junior. Chris Tanev has skilled alongside the famous person every low season for greater than a decade.
TORONTO — John Tavares met Connor McDavid earlier than the phenom had ever performed a shift in junior.
Chris Tanev has skilled alongside the famous person every low season for greater than a decade.
Each will as soon as once more attempt to discover a solution for the milestone-reaching Oilers captain Saturday when Edmonton visits the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Not many opponents have unlocked the method.
McDavid turned the fourth-fastest participant in NHL historical past to succeed in 1,000 profession factors Thursday, hitting the mark in a jaw-dropping 659 video games. The three Corridor of Famers forward of him on the record are Wayne Gretzky (424 video games), Mario Lemieux (513 video games) and Mike Bossy (656 video games).
“Insane,” Tanev mentioned of the 27-year-old’s exploits. “Loopy to do it within the first place, after which to do it as quick as he did is a tremendous accomplishment … you take a look at the names, they usually’re the perfect of the perfect.”
Tavares, the No. 1 decide by the New York Islanders in 2009, skated with McDavid in the summertime of 2012 earlier than the latter debuted with the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters.
The pair had been each granted distinctive standing to play junior a yr early, however Tavares may see the pressures had been completely different for the most-hyped prospect since Sidney Crosby.
“Numerous consideration,” Tavares mentioned Friday following follow. “A really distinctive, a distinct time when it comes to social (media) and people forms of issues.
“I do not need to say he was uncomfortable, however you may simply sense it was lots for a teen and a child. I feel he simply needed to play hockey.”
Now a three-time Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP and undoubtedly the face of the sport, McDavid has grown into his position — particularly after principally keen the Oilers to inside a victory of the Stanley Cup final spring.
“There’s an actual sense of himself and the way he carries himself each day,” Tavares mentioned of the highest decide in 2015. “How he offers with the media, offers with being within the public eye.”
Tanev works out with McDavid and a bunch of fellow professionals below the tutelage of former NHLer/health guru Gary Roberts every summer time north of Toronto.
He mentioned the on-ice classes are eye-opening, but in addition assist him at his personal craft as a shutdown defenceman.
“You need to go in opposition to the perfect, proper?” mentioned Tanev, who faces the likes of Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander in follow. “They’ll make you look silly every so often, however that is the way you study and turn out to be a greater participant.”
Matthews, nevertheless, seems set to overlook a sixth straight sport with an undisclosed upper-body harm that began with a day-to-day timeline.
If the sniper who bagged 69 objectives final season does certainly sit Saturday — Toronto’s captain has solely skated twice over the past 12 days, and never since final weekend — he may have missed two weeks with the crew not in motion once more till Wednesday.
Leafs head coach Craig Berube mentioned his 27-year-old centre hasn’t had any setbacks in his restoration.
“We need to get him 100-per-cent proper,” he mentioned. “We need to get it behind us so he can transfer ahead and we are able to transfer ahead.”
When pressed on the timeline, Berube added: “All people’s completely different … would I like him again? Ya, for positive. However it’s what it’s.”
The Leafs are 4-1-0 with out Matthews since he final performed Nov. 3, and a powerful 39-20-2 all-time within the common season to go together with two playoff wins.
The three-time Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy winner because the league’s prime goal-scorer would have gone head-to-head with McDavid on Saturday. Toronto will as an alternative should proceed getting issues executed by committee.
“Robust how agile he’s and the way sensible he’s and good with the puck,” Tanev mentioned of Edmonton’s No. 97. “You have to be sensible for those who’re gonna attempt to take a run at him.”
Berube, who suited up in opposition to Gretzky and Lemieux in his taking part in days, mirrored on McDavid hitting 1,000 factors.
“You take a look at in the present day’s sport and how briskly it’s and simply the construction of the sport, how groups play defence,” mentioned the coach. “I am not taking something away from the nice gamers that did it earlier than him … they might in all probability are available in in the present day’s sport and dominate nonetheless, but it surely’s very spectacular.
“He is simply unbelievable with the velocity and the agility he has, and the management with the puck at that velocity.”
McDavid has additionally executed effectively in navigating his stardom.
“He is discovered a fairly good steadiness,” Tavares mentioned. “What he does season-to-season, the kind of participant that he’s, all that he has on his plate … it is not simple, but it surely’s spectacular what he does.
“It is all the time one of many hardest challenges of the yr.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Nov. 15, 2024.
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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
