Maple Leafs center John Tavares to miss IIHF World Championships
The Toronto Maple Leafs departed the playoffs earlier than they wanted to, and now center John Tavares has been injured at the world championships.
While preparing to play for Team Canada in the IIHF World Championships, Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares suffered an oblique injury. On Thursday the Maple Leafs announced he is headed back to Toronto be evaluated by the team doctors.
Tavares’ status for the world championships was at first unclear for a bit, but Jason Botterill of Team Canada quickly announced Tavares will miss the entire tournament.
"“We are disappointed that John will not be able to participate as a member of Team Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, but after contacting the Toronto Maple Leafs we agreed it was best for him to return home for further evaluation.”"
Canada starts its tournament action Friday night against Finland, with three roster spots available to fill now.
After signing with his home province Maple Leafs as a free agent last offseason, Tavares set career-highs in goals (47) and points (88) while playing all 82 games.
He has only missed nine regular season games over the last five seasons, and he has played at least 77 games in eight of nine non-lockout NHL seasons with the New York Islanders and the Maple Leafs.
But this isn’t the first time Tavares has been injured at international competition. A knee injury limited him to four games for gold medal-winning Team Canada in the 2014 Winter Olympics, and he missed the rest of that NHL season for the Islanders.
Beyond playing for your country and the pride that comes with, it’s hard to see the benefit for NHL player to play in the world championships so soon after their seasons have ended. For those whose teams were in the playoffs, it’s been a quick turnaround.
Toronto was eliminated in Game 7 of the first round by the Boston Bruins on April 23, so it’s been a little over two weeks for Tavares to “rest.”
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Injuries are never something to wish for. But the Maple Leafs might be glad Tavares is coming home with an oblique issue, and not risking something more severe in a non-Olympic tournament.