It’s not that Sergei Bobrovsky or John Tavares have suddenly discovered a fountain of youth. Rather, according to Maple Leafs vice-president of sports performance Andy O’Brien, the way both veterans care for their bodies gives him confidence that significant decline is not inevitable.
“As a trainer, I tend to look at age more biologically than I do as just a number,” O’Brien said. “From the outside, people often assume that a player who is 36 must automatically be worse than he was at 35 and expect a certain percentage of decline. But the better an athlete takes care of himself, the smaller that decline becomes. In some cases, players can even have a better season than the one before if they identify physical issues and address them properly.”
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Bobrovsky and Tavares are both well known for their intense dedication to conditioning and recovery, and O’Brien believes that commitment can help extend their effectiveness despite being among the older players on the roster.
The Maple Leafs are relying on goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who will turn 38 on Sept. 20, to deliver a stronger first season in Toronto than the one he had last year with the Florida Panthers, when his .877 save percentage was the lowest of his NHL career.
Toronto is also counting heavily on veteran centre John Tavares, who shares the same birthday and will turn 36 that day, to continue producing at roughly a point-per-game pace after recording 31 goals and 40 assists last season.
Despite their ages, Andy O’Brien does not believe either player is showing significant physical decline.
“I don’t see Bob as someone who is declining physically,” O’Brien said. “I see him as a player who is capable of playing into his 40s.”
He expressed a similar view of Tavares, pointing to the remarkable consistency he has maintained throughout his career.
“It’s hard to argue with the consistency John has shown,” O’Brien added. “If there has been any decline, it is almost impossible to measure. He seems to be the same player every year. When he scores 30 goals, people ask how he keeps doing it, but the people who know him well are not really surprised.”
O’Brien has firsthand experience working with both players. Tavares trains with him during the offseason, joining a group of elite NHL stars that includes Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. O’Brien’s connection to Bobrovsky is also well established, dating back to the period when they worked together with the Florida Panthers.
The 48-year-old Charlottetown, P.E.I., native brings an impressive résumé to Toronto. He won two Stanley Cups while working in sports performance with Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and later captured two more championships with Sergei Bobrovsky and the Florida Panthers.
During his time in Florida, O’Brien also became familiar with several current Maple Leafs, including Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Steven Lorentz, and Anthony Stolarz. In addition, he has previously worked with Max Domi and Teddy Blueger.
The decision by new general manager John Chayka to hire Andy O’Brien to lead a revamped player performance department reflects a relationship that has been developing for more than a decade. When Chayka was building Stathletes, the analytics company that helped establish his reputation, he brought O’Brien in as a consultant on the training and performance side.
O’Brien said the two share a belief that successful team building involves much more than simply analyzing numbers.
“For someone in an executive role, John has a very strong understanding of the human performance department,” O’Brien said. “He has a progressive vision, and we found there was a lot of synergy between us. The opportunity to work in Toronto is a tremendous one. I was humbled to even be considered, and as we talked through the details, it became clear that it was a great fit.”
Amid a summer filled with major changes both on and off the ice, O’Brien’s hiring could prove to be one of the organization’s most significant moves. The Maple Leafs dealt with numerous injuries last season, with several core players missing substantial time, including defenseman Chris Tanev, center Auston Matthews, and winger William Nylander.
O’Brien’s primary responsibility will be to improve the club’s overall health through training, recovery, and nutrition strategies while helping players perform at their highest level throughout the season.
“It’s not my job to drive accountability or to squeeze them,” said O’Brien. “I’m simply somebody who has been around a lot of different players. I’ve seen a lot of different ways that you can prepare your body, and as problems come up I’m really just there to help them solve it, to be a resource for them, and to let them feel like they have people in their corner … as they try to be the best that they can.”
His work with Bobrovsky is one example.
“It’s less of me getting the best out of him and a little bit more of a collaboration,” said O’Brien. “Bob is somebody who does a deep-dive trial and error to learn what he needs as a goalie. It’s really amazing when you see him behind the scenes, how curated his process is. He’s very meticulous, knowledgeable about what he needs. He knows his routine to prepare, mentally and physically. I’ve just come to really appreciate him, and just watching him and how he’s such a good pro.”
On Stolarz: “When he was in Florida, the opinion of him throughout the organization was that he could be a top goalie in the league. He’s somebody that we probably haven’t seen his best yet. I’ve got a lot of time for him, because I know there’s a tremendous ceiling and upside.”
As for the team as a whole, O’Brien already likes what he sees.
“When you get into a big game in a big moment, the more experience you have, the better,” said O’Brien. “What that team has gone through, they haven’t gone on a deep run, but … they’ve been in big games. They’ve been in certain situations that are unique that they can build off … There are some good people in that locker room.”
