A Toronto Maple Leafs fan already enamoured with the prospect of landing Oshawa Generals star John Tavares in the 2009 NHL draft will want to read this:
"I don't think (the Leafs) are as bad as everyone says they are," Tavares said as a life-long fan of the Blue and White. "They've got great goaltending and they've got a good defence. I think their defence is very underrated ... they're a good hockey club."
Tavares knows a thing or two about deconstructing a blue line. He has been doing an excellent job of that this season as the Ontario Hockey League's top scorer with 12 goals and seven assists in 11 games.
Surprisingly, that start isn't as hot as last season's when he scored 14 goals and had 13 assists in his first 11 games en route to a 118-point finish. But Tavares, frankly, doesn't care.
Gone are the days the 18-year-old would become "too frustrated" when his play didn't meet his own high standards. As a sports fan, he still reads the newspaper every day and says he's been able to learn from his critics: those who say his stock is falling.
And, after four seasons of being the NHL's projected top draft pick - having every stat, shift and statement dissected - Tavares has matured to the point of just having fun.
"With this year being a big year for myself, I just decided to enjoy it because it only comes once," Tavares said of finally being NHL draft eligible. "I'm going to take advantage of my opportunities and have fun because that's what (playing hockey's) all about."
Generals head coach Chris DePiero said he has noticed a stress-free Tavares this season, despite the anxiety many players suffer in their draft year.
"It's almost the opposite of him feeling pressure," DePiero said. "I think he's taken the tack that he's going to eliminate any kind of thought that there is pressure and I think that's where his maturity both as a player and as a person has come in and it's translating well on the ice.
"It's the approach where if he's the best player every day then the big picture will take care of itself."
That philosophy seems to be working. The Oakville native is only 46 goals shy of breaking Peter Lee's OHL career scoring record of 215. Last week, Tavares moved into second place as the Generals' franchise leading scorer with 348 career points and he's closing in on the record set by former General Marc Savard (413 points).
Long-time Oshawa trainer Bryan Boyes still has a few of Savard's sticks, including the one used to set the scoring milestone, but Tavares said he has never entertained the thought of testing it out for himself.
"No, definitely not," Tavares said with a laugh. "But I've looked at it a few times. I remember when I first came into the league, I thought (of setting records), `You never know one day' and if that happens it's great ... if it happens for me, I'd be thrilled and honoured."
Four years seems like an eternity for those chronicling Tavares' progress since he first made headlines as a 15-year-old granted "exceptional player status" by the OHL. But for Tavares, the ride to the NHL draft has gone by all too fast.
"It's kind of funny, I was just talking about it the other day with my mom, you know it's already my fourth year," Tavares said. "It was like yesterday it was my first time at the rink, my first training camp - it's gone by pretty quick, there have been a lot of ups and downs ... a lot of great memories and, hopefully, this year I can make a few more great memories."
BATTALION MOURNING: Funeral services for long-time Brampton Battalion contributor Jerry Callaghan, known to many around the OHL as "The Commissioner," will be held today at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 16066 The Gore Road, Caledon East, at 11 a.m. Callaghan died Sunday after complications from surgery. He was 63.
2010 MEM CUP: The WHL announced yesterday that the Brandon (Man.) Wheat Kings will play host to the Memorial Cup at the Keystone Centre, May 14-23, 2010.
GOOD TO GO: Mike Mascioli and Kevin Hudes of the Kitchener Rangers both played in Monday's 3-2 victory over Guelph, two days after being injured in a car accident with a pickup truck. The driver of the pickup truck was charged with failing to stop at a red light.
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