John Tavares’ tradition of welcoming his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates into his home continues, with Fraser Minten being the most recent addition to this arrangement. Tavares humored, “Yeah instead of hiring babysitters I just hire good guys from the team. It’s been great.”
Fraser Minten and Matthew Knies
young boys out there pic.twitter.com/tELxIfeYTn
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Fraser Minten, a 19-year-old, made a strong impression during the Maple Leafs’ training camp, and as a result, he secured a spot in the opening-night lineup. “John takes care of us really nice at his house,” Minten expressed as the Maple Leafs prepared to host the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
Prior to the game, Minten enjoyed a hearty breakfast, which included waffles, eggs, and bacon. A homemade meal can truly foster a sense of belonging within the team.
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When the New York Islanders selected Tavares as the first overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, he spent his initial two years living with veteran forward Doug Weight. “I hope it helped him being 18, being able to have home-cooked meals, having that family atmosphere,” Weight shared in a 2017 interview with the New York Post.
Usually, when a new player joins the Leafs, they would stay in a hotel near Scotiabank Arena. However, John Tavares initiated a different approach, starting with Matthew Knies, who joined the team as a free agent last season on April 9.
Tavares: “For me to come full circle in a way it’s great. And for Fraser, just trying to figure out his living situation and getting him out of the hotel and he and Kniesy have really kicked it off playing together and spending time with one another and my boys love it.”
John Tavares lives in Toronto with his wife Aryne Fuller and three kids: Jace, Axton and Rae.
