Caption: Future Maple Leaf John Tavares is seen getting his jersey signed by George Armstrong, back in March 2005. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)
Just 14 years old when drafted by the Oshawa Generals in 2005, Tavares turned 15 shortly after the season got underway that fall.
He quickly made an impression, scoring 45 goals that season and being named the league's rookie of the year.
'Takes a bit of pressure off'
As a 16-year-old Tavares would score more goals than Wayne Gretzky did at the same age. (But it's a close comparison — Gretzky scored 70 goals at that age and Tavares netted 72.)
"It takes a bit of pressure off myself. I've been holding my stick a little tight the last couple games. Now I'm going to enjoy this with my teammates and my family."
A couple of months after his 17th birthday, the New York Times put him on the front of its sports section in November 2007. The story centred on whether he would be the next Gretzky-like player to reach the NHL.
Media Video | Archives : The up-and-coming John Tavares
Caption: John Tavares was a rising star when he was a teenager -- and he'd been getting noticed by lots of hockey-watchers including the New York Times.
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During his OHL career, Tavares would score more than 200 goals. And he would also play for the London Knights, after he was traded to that team in 2009.
Image | John Tavares at CHL Top Prospects Game in January 2009
Caption: John Tavares played with the OHL's London Knights after being traded to that team in January 2009, from the team that drafted him -- the Oshawa Generals. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)
In his pre-NHL days, Tavares also saw success on the international stage, helping Team Canada score back-to-back wins at the World Juniors.
Image | World Jr Hockey 20090105
Caption: John Tavares played on Team Canada when it won championships at the World Juniors in 2008 and 2009. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
When the time came for him to be drafted in the NHL, many teams wanted to have him on their roster — including the Maple Leafs, the team he had dreamed of playing for when he was young.
Media Video | Archives : Leafs dreamed of drafting Tavares
Caption: The Maple Leafs hoped to get a high-enough draft pick to get John Tavares in 2009.
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But the Leafs didn't get to draft Tavares. Instead, it was the New York Islanders who snagged him with the first overall pick.
And as expected, he made a big impact at hockey's top level: Tavares would score 272 goals over the next nine seasons, the fifth-most in the league during his career to date.
Image | HKN Draft Going No. 1 20100623
Caption: It was the New York Islanders who would draft John Tavares in 2009. He went No. 1 overall. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)
Media Video | (not specified) : John Tavares: I'm happy to call myself a Maple Leaf'
Caption: Fresh off signing a seven-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, John Tavares spoke to the media about his decision to come home and realize a boyhood dream.
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Media Video | (not specified) : Breaking down John Tavares' contract
Caption: Rob Pizzo breaks down how the Leafs were able to get the biggest free agent on the market, at a cheaper price than everyone else.
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As Tavares made clear on his Twitter account this past weekend, it was something he had been hoping would happen for a long time, too.
Embed | Twitter
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