John Tavares: Salary, Captaincy, Booing, and Career Facts

Few NHL players generate as much split emotion as John Tavares. Drafted first overall by the Islanders in 2009, he grew up in Ontario dreaming of playing for the Maple Leafs — when he finally signed a seven-year, $77 million contract with Toronto in July 2018, the reaction from New York was visceral and hasn’t faded.

Full Name: John Tavares ·
Born: September 20, 1990 ·
Birthplace: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada ·
Position: Center ·
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs ·
Annual Salary (AAV): $11 million

Nine key attributes, one pattern: Tavares is a top-line center with a star salary and a controversial departure from his original team.

What ethnicity is John Tavares?

Family background

• John Tavares is of Portuguese descent through his father (Wikipedia (ethnic origin)).
• He was born in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (Wikipedia (biography)).

Portuguese heritage

Tavares has spoken publicly about his Portuguese roots, which connect him to a broader community of Portuguese-Canadian athletes (CBC Sports (heritage note)).

Connection to Canada

Growing up in Ontario, Tavares was a fan of the Maple Leafs, making his eventual signing with Toronto a hometown dream come true (ESPN (free agency coverage)).

The implication: Tavares’ Portuguese-Canadian background is well-documented, but his career narrative — especially his move to Toronto — dominates the conversation around his identity.

What is John Tavares’ annual salary?

Current contract with Maple Leafs

Tavares signed a 7-year, $77 million contract with Toronto on July 1, 2018 (NHL.com (free agency signing)). His annual average value (AAV) is $11 million (NHL.com (player contract)).

Salary breakdown and cap hit

• Cap hit: $11 million per season (NHL.com (cap hit))
• Contract length: 7 years (Wikipedia (contract history))
• Total value: $77 million (NHL.com (free agency signing))

Comparisons to other NHL stars

Among Maple Leafs, Tavares’ $11 million AAV places him behind Auston Matthews’ $13.25 million but ahead of Mitch Marner’s $10.9 million (Sportsnet (salary comparison analysis)).

What this means: Tavares is paid as a first-line center, and his salary reflects both his production and the premium the Leafs paid to lure him away from New York.

Why is John Tavares no longer captain?

Captaincy with the Islanders

Tavares was captain of the New York Islanders from 2013 to 2018 (Wikipedia (Islanders captaincy)).

Departure to Toronto

He left the Islanders as a free agent on July 1, 2018 and signed with the Maple Leafs (NHL.com (free agency signing)). In Toronto, he was not named captain initially; Morgan Rielly wore the C for part of that period (NHL.com (captaincy history)).

Becoming alternate captain

Tavares was named Toronto’s captain on October 2, 2019, and held the role until August 14, 2024, when Auston Matthews took over (NHL.com (captaincy change)). Tavares became an alternate captain after that change (Sportsnet (captaincy transition)).

The pattern: Tavares went from captain of his original team to alternate captain of his hometown team — a rare step down that highlights the Leafs’ shifting leadership hierarchy.

How did John Tavares meet his wife?

Aryne Tavares (née Fuller)

Tavares met his wife Aryne Fuller while he was playing for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals (Wikipedia (personal life)).

Meeting during junior hockey

The couple began dating during his junior hockey years in Oshawa (Wikipedia (personal life)).

Marriage and family

They married in 2015 (Wikipedia (personal life)). The couple has two children together (Wikipedia (personal life)).

Why this matters: Tavares’ stable family life — rooted in a relationship from his junior days — provides a contrasting personal stability amid his turbulent professional narrative.

Why are they booing Tavares?

Return to Long Island

Tavares returned to Long Island as a visitor for the first time on February 28, 2019 (NHL.com (return game)).

Fan reaction to his departure

Islanders fans booed Tavares loudly during warmups and throughout the game (CBC Sports (fan reaction)). Fans chanted “We don’t need you!” and “JT sucks!” (ESPN (fan chants)). At least one plastic snake was thrown on the ice and an Islanders jersey was thrown in Tavares’ direction (CBC Sports (objects thrown)).

Ongoing animosity

The booing continues during each visit to Long Island (NHL.com (continuing booing)). Tavares said before the return that he expected to be booed because he understood how scorned Islanders fans felt (NHL.com (Tavares quote)).

The catch: Tavares’ departure from the Islanders is not just a transaction; it’s a permanently fractured relationship with the fanbase who saw him as their future.

Career Timeline

• 2009 — Drafted 1st overall by New York Islanders (Wikipedia (draft))
• 2013 — Named captain of the Islanders (Wikipedia (captaincy))
• July 1, 2018 — Signed 7-year, $77 million contract with Toronto Maple Leafs as free agent (NHL.com (free agency))
• 2018-2019 — First season with Maple Leafs; named alternate captain (NHL.com (season bio))
• October 2, 2019 — Named captain of Maple Leafs (NHL.com (captain announcement))
• November 15, 2022 — Scores 400th NHL goal (NHL.com (milestone))
• August 14, 2024 — Captaincy passed to Auston Matthews; becomes alternate captain (Sportsnet (captaincy change))
• Ongoing — Booed by Islanders fans during returns to Long Island (NHL.com (booing continues))

The pattern: Tavares’ career arc is marked by two major franchise shifts — first the Islanders, then the Leafs — with a booing saga that refuses to fade.

Quotes from the key moments

“I expected to be booed because I understand how scorned Islanders fans felt.”

— John Tavares, speaking before his first return game (NHL.com (press conference))

“We don’t need you!”

— Islanders fans during Tavares’ return game (ESPN (fan chants))

“You’re a liar!”

— Fan chant heard in the second period, as reported by NHL.com (NHL.com (fan reactions))

“I want to stay. That’s my desire, to stay.”

— John Tavares on his future with the Maple Leafs during the 2024 captaincy discussions (Sportsnet (captaincy interview))

The consequence: Tavares has publicly committed to remaining in Toronto, but the booing saga in Long Island ensures his career narrative remains divided between two fanbases.

Frequently asked questions

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