John Tavares Has "No Memory" Of His Injury

Speaking to media today ahead of the start of training camp, Maple Leafs' captain John Tavares went into detail about his season-ending injury in last year's playoffs and the recovery time that followed.

Tavares took an accidental hit to the head in game one of the Maple Leafs' series against the Montreal Canadiens, after a separate hit from Habs' Ben Chiarot knocked him to the ice. The hit left him vulnerable, and as he rolled over to get back to his skates, Corey Perry was unable to avoid a collision with the Leafs' captain. Perry's knee made contact with Tavares' head, despite Perry's best efforts to avoid the collision. Tavares lost consciousness on the ice and had to be stretchered off. The Leafs went on to lose that series in 7 games.

Speaking about the injury with media for the first time today, Tavares said: "I don't have any memory of the incident," and added that he didn't have any symptoms and wasn't in any pain upon leaving the hospital. Tavares added, "I got back to myself pretty quickly." He went on to say that he was back to working out pretty fast. The knee injury that he sustained in the collision alongside the concussion was also "very minor."

This has to be good to hear for Leafs' fans, and for hockey fans as a whole, who were justifiably concerned for the health and future of the Toronto club's leader. Tavares will be good to go for the start of the 2021-2022 season.

Photo credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports