John Tavares - King Of Hearts

The long shadow of the best last Maple Leafs captain since Sundin

Yousuf Karsh, the resident Ottawa photographer was known for his portraits of shadow and light. The most famous in Mr. Karsh’s collection was his portrait of Winston Churchill, the great underdog leader in the face of fascism. An original print of Churchill was recently returned to it original resting place, on the wall in the lounge at the Chateau Laurier. Churchill’s scowling brow had been taken from the Chateau in an art heist with international implications. Now back in the Chateau along side Karsh’s other miraculous portraits of humanities best, we can visit with Churchill and muse with him about what might be required of us again. Leaders in an age of imperial tyranny. “Americans can always be trusted to do the right thing, once all other possibilities have been exhausted.” Churchill once wrote, as the U.S. watched on while London endured the Nazi Blitz. Canada already at England’s side, in the fight.

The Mounties might want to begin looking for whoever took the captain ‘C’ from John Tavares next. Who ever in Maple Leafs management preemptively un-captained Tavares and anointed Auston Matthews leader of the pack, is still on the run.

Tavares Overshadowed by the Young Star

In the early years it was Matthews that was casting the long shadow. The light shined brightly on Matthews deft scoring touch while ol’ Johnny T. tried to keep up. The pundit class suggested Tavares had lost a step and was on his way out, overpaid and underwhelming. Even after scoring the game winning goal to give the Maple Leafs their first playoff win since Confederation, the chorus of detractors sang on. Of the band of brothers in the Core Four, it was Tavares who came out for the second round encore, while the rest of the band played air guitar and never made it back from the dressing room.

In the off season the ‘C’ was handed to Matthews and Tavares did what any great captain would do, he took it like a champ. Humble, thankful and committed to the good of the team. But as the season got going it was clear Tavares hadn’t lost a step at all. In fact he looked as fast and as skilled as ever. Flashes of rookie pep popping up on rushes and back checks. That scoring touch from the high slot and in tight, still there. The ability to score the right goal at the right time still on the menu at Johnny T’s. Would you like fries with that shimmy shake?

What Makes a Great Captain?

Matthews has the talent. There is no debate. But Tavares has the will and the goods to get you there. Usually in these situations a player with the will and determination is describes as a ‘horse’. Humanities stalwart companion in taming the natural world to our will. Tavares plows the field, pulls the felled tree, leads the team into battle, with his Churchillian monobrow.

When Sundin arrived in Toronto it took awhile for the fans and media to see what he could become. Even with the legend of Salming still hanging in air, the Cherry types would ask if a Swede could be the Captain of the Maple Leafs? Over time Sundin showed he was on the level of a Wendell Clark and Dougie Gilmour. A playoff performer, with gravitas, ease, grace and a million dollar smile. His Mario like reach and big man scoring touch brought the Maple Leafs once again within a game of the Stanley Cup Finals.

In an age of one sport athletes and 365 days of hockey this and hockey that, it’s John Tavares whose poster hangs in the lobbies of local Ontario arenas extolling the benefits of playing lacrosse in the summer and how it made him a better hockey player. Well rounded and tough as nails. Lacrosse is not for the faint of heart.

How many star players can a team have? We all can’t be William Nylander who floats through life and to the game on the subway. Always at ease among strangers and the post game media throng. Grinning and smooth while scoring goals and answering dumb questions. 40 goals later and happily still the 3rd fiddle of the chattering classes. Nylander knows how to meet the moment and handle the pressure of the biggest hockey market, well, like a captain might. Same too is Tavares, in the shadows. Way to go Johnny, we say. Nice job. Serious and calm till the end. Leading by example. Tavares just wants to play for the Maple Leafs. Always has, always will.

A good, hardworking, dependable Toronto boy with a scoring touch in the playoffs. Boy, that’s really something. Someone should give that guy the ‘C’.