Why Maple Leafs' John Tavares Wants To Represent Canada At World Championships
Tavares last played for Canada at the World Championships in 2024, after Toronto was eliminated by Boston in the first round of the playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares appears set to join Team Canada for the World Championships in Switzerland. One day after saying "things are trending" in the direction of playing for Canada at the Worlds, TSN's Darren Dreger reports that Canada has secured Tavares, along with Mark Scheifele, Robert Thomas, and Ryan O'Reilly. "Obviously want to be playing for the Stanley Cup," said Tavares on Thursday during the team's locker cleanout day , "but anytime you get the opportunity to represent your country, and certainly the stage that I'm at, you don't take it lightly.
"And I think for me, it can only benefit me to go play and help Canada, but also, I think what's ahead of me in my career. " Tavares was one of the Maple Leafs' most consistent players this season, despite his goal total taking a slight dip. The 35-year-old played in all 82 games for Toronto and was the only one to do so.
He tallied 71 points — 31 goals and 40 assists — in that span. This will be Tavares' fifth go-around with Canada at the World Championships. Two years ago (2023-24), he captained Canada at the tournament, tallying two goals and 11 points in nine games.
Canada fell 4-2 to Sweden in the bronze-medal game and failed to capture a medal. Tavares also played in three World Championships while with the New York Islanders, from 2010 to 2012. In 2010, the center finished with the most goals in the tournament with seven.