The Leafs have not played a game since February 1st and we still have a couple of days remaining until the team is back on the ice after the All-Star break and the Leafs' subsequent bye-week. With Leafs news being lighter than normal, The Athletic's Joshua Kloke interviewed some of the players for a "Maple Leafs player survey".
Per Kloke, Tavares sits alone on the flights, but keeps the seat beside him open in case the Leafs have any young players who were called up by the Marlies. Tavares, being the captain, will take these players under his wing, offering up a seat next to him on flights. There are a bevy of reasons as to why he might do this, not the least of which would be to help the young AHLers feel more welcome. Another reason might be so that Tavares can get to know the newest members of his team on a more personal level, rather than just seeing them casually around the team facilities or with the odd interaction on the ice at practice.
Tavares is often referred to as a consummate pro who does all of the little things right both on and off the ice. He's a really good example for these young players coming up and can certainly impart some wisdom upon them and tell them what it takes to be consistently successful at the highest level. Say what you will about Tavares and his age or skating ability, but nobody can say that he has not been the portrait of consistency over the years.