Knock It off Toronto Maple Leafs Fans: John Tavares Is Not a Robot

Has anyone ever seen Toronto Maple Leafs Captain John Tavares identify which pictures contain images of fire hydrants? I didn’t think so. Perhaps that would be all it would take to end the speculation that he isn’t human, but actually a robot.

For years, Toronto Maple Leafs fans have said, mostly in jest, that Tavares is mechanical in his actions.

Sure, he gets his oil changed between periods but it’s time to set the record straight.

Tavares is not a robot.

The Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs: Not a Robot

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the idea that the son of Barbara and Joe Tavares is a machine. With his calculator-like precision with the puck and unending stamina, the Mississauga, Ontario native can easily be mistaken as being too perfect for a human.

Some may even point to Tavares being a pioneer, being the first to earn “exceptional player” status at age 15, in order to enter the OHL a year early.

They may use this say that he has always been completely faultless. Contrary to the belief, it’s not evidence of being a robot. He is a human. Tavares’ perfection is not his fault; it’s just his programming.

Tavares, unlike a robot, has emotions.

It’s why he is philanthropic and why he signed with the Maple Leafs in the summer of 2018. He famously posted a picture of himself sleeping in his childhood bed.

With his battery charger out of frame, Twitter users saw why Tavares was happy to join the Buds. He slept in a bed with sheets, blankets, and a pillow case adorned in Toronto Maple Leafs print.

Robots don’t sleep and they don’t make decisions based on emotions since they don’t have any. This is all the proof doubters need. A robot would make a decision based on future calculations, such as determining that the Leafs will win the Stanley Cup in 2023 and ensuring themselves to be a participant on that winning club.

Tavares reached an incredible milestone on Sunday, playing in his 1000th NHL game. What’s made it even more impressive is that he’s done it with all original parts.

Only 374 other NHL players have ever skated in 1000 contests. The all-time leader is a former Toronto Maple Leafs teammate of Tavares’, Patrick Marleau. Between 1997 and 2001, he played 1,779 games.

This isn’t the time to point out Tavares’ extravagant welding or lack of rust. Instead, Leafs fans should be celebrating what has thus far been a storied career. Beginning with the New York Islanders, when Tavares was selected first-overall in the 2009 draft, he has been building a hall of fame worthy legacy.

So far, over Tavares’ career, he has been nearly a point a game player. No other cyborg in league history has done that. (The all-time mortal leader is Wayne Gretzky with 1.921 points-per-game.)

Before stepping on the ice for his historic 1000th game, the very human center had recorded a total of 944 points. It has come on 412 goals and 532 assists. On Sunday, he added two more assists to that total. It gives him a 0.946 points-per-game average.

Have fun celebrating Tavares meeting a special milestone, but knock it off fans; Tavares is not a robot.