The Maple Leafs are leaning into patience with Gavin McKenna, and John Chayka made it clear he’s on board with the way Jim Hiller has handled it.
Speaking at the club’s morning skate before Monday’s game against the Calgary Flames, Chayka defended the coaching staff’s decision to trim McKenna’s minutes in certain late-game spots when Toronto is trying to close out a lead. In his view, it’s part of the process, not a warning sign.
“I know Jim and the coaching staff loves working with him. I think he’s gotten better pretty much every game.
There’s been ups and downs like any player, but a lot of good trends. I think when it comes to protecting a lead, you know, as a coaching staff, trying to win hockey games at the NHL level.
And, you know, for all of Gavin’s offensive gifts, again, coming into the league, playing without the puck, when you’re used to having the puck your whole life, you’d probably guess there’s players on the roster that they get paid to play better defensively.
"For a coaching staff, being on those players more heavily probably makes logical sense. But, you know, as we work through the development process with Gavin, and that’s what it is, I have no doubt that, you know, his time will come, and he’ll continue to build up trust and confidence with the coaches, and I think that’s all really healthy, actually. I think it’s actually the right thing for his development, and candidly, I thought Jim handled it well and continues to build a relationship with Gavin, and I think it’s going to be a really good relationship over a long period of time.”
That support matters because Hiller took heat from fans and media when McKenna was parked for half of the second period and all of the third period and overtime in Toronto’s 5-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 15. McKenna finished that game with a career-low 6:36.
Chayka was just as upbeat when the conversation shifted to Easton Cowan, whose name has been floating around in trade rumors. He didn’t call him off-limits, but he certainly sounded like someone who values what Cowan brings.
“It’s tough to say he hasn’t exceeded expectations. At the same time, he’s a good player.
He’s a really good player that impacts the game a lot of different ways. And, yeah, he’s been great.
And any time you get young players like that, progressing like that, it gives you a shot in the arm. We saw a lot of these flashes at the American League level.
To do what he did at that age was pretty special. But then to go elevate at this level, it’s been nice - found money for sure.”
Asked directly if Cowan is untradeable, Chayka drew a line, just not a hard one.
“I don’t think any player is untradable, but he’s a good player. He’s everything you’d want at Toronto Maple Leafs.
He loves the Leafs, is passionate about it, plays a 200-foot game, does whatever it takes, in the gym, doing extra on the ice. It’d be tough to ever improve on a player like that.”
Cowan’s fit has been obvious lately. He’s on Toronto’s first line with Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic, and he has produced five goals and seven assists in 13 games.
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Leafs Leave Door Open To Another Massive Roster Move
With the Maple Leafs still trying to sharpen their defensive play, John Chayka left the door open to another major roster shakeup. The general manager said Toronto has discussed upgrading the blue line, but also stressed that a trade is not the only path to solving the problem, giving the club some room to explore different ways of making the group harder to play against.
Chayka also addressed the kind of assets that could come into play if the Leafs do make another move, including Easton Cowan. While he made clear the organization values the young forward, he did not frame him as untouchable, and he also pointed to Torontos salary cap flexibility as a factor that could help if the right opportunity surfaces. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Loss Exposed A Bigger Problem Than One Rough Night
After a 5-2 loss to the Flames, Jim Hiller spent much of his postgame assessment circling back to the same theme: the Maple Leafs have to play cleaner and more connected, especially when the lineup is already being stretched by injuries. He pointed to the turnovers that hurt them, the need to fill gaps more effectively, and the way the game can tilt when a few details go wrong all at once. Hiller also touched on Sergei Bobrovsky in goal, a penalty called on Auston Matthews, and the kind of minutes Zack MacEwen gave the team in a limited role.
Easton Cowans night was part of the conversation too after a difficult first period, but Hiller made clear the larger issue was not one player or one mistake. The bigger concern is how the Maple Leafs respond when the game gets messy and the bench gets thinner, because the coach believes the group has to hold together better in those moments. Kirill Marchenkos injury status only adds to that challenge, and it leaves Toronto with more uncertainty than a single rough night should normally create. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Suddenly Face A Goaltending Question They Cant Ignore
Chris Tanev was back with the Maple Leafs for his first full team skate since being hurt, a small but notable step for a blueline that has had to manage without one of its most reliable defenders. Even so, he was still in a non-contact jersey, which is the clearest sign the next stage of his recovery is still ahead rather than behind him.
For Toronto, the encouraging part is simply seeing Tanev on the ice with the group again, even if there is still no confirmed timeline for his return to game action. The Leafs have had to keep moving without him, and until he sheds that non-contact designation, his status remains one of those quiet but important stories to watch in the background. [Read more 🡒]