Gavin McKenna wasted no time making his presence felt in a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater.
In the first period of tonight’s preseason game against the Ottawa Senators, the rookie picked up his first point with the franchise on a play that showed exactly why the hype around him has been so loud. McKenna tipped the puck along the glass, William Nylander took over from there, and Nylander sent a cross-crease pass to John Tavares, who finished it off.
The point won’t count toward McKenna’s career total, but it still carried a clear message. He looked ready, and he looked dangerous.
That’s the part the rest of the NHL has to keep in mind. McKenna arrived with massive expectations as the first overall pick, and there’s always uncertainty about how young players handle the spotlight. So far, though, he’s shown the hands and instincts that can make a real difference right away.
For Toronto, that’s an encouraging sign. For everyone else, it’s a little unsettling. The Leafs are already built around Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares, and now they’re adding McKenna into the mix.
Even with the early promise, the expectations for this season should stay measured. He’s still young and undersized, and he’ll need to add strength while he learns on the fly. His jump from the WHL to the NCAA also took a few months before things started to click, so a similar adjustment period would not be surprising.
Still, there’s plenty of upside here. If McKenna stays on a line with Tavares and Nylander, 50 or 60 points isn’t out of the question.
For Leafs fans, it’s a reason to be excited. For the rest of the league, it’s another name to worry about.
In Other News...
Leafs Already Have An Early Regret Watching Two Ex-Forwards Shine
Nick Robertson is already making an early impression in Pittsburgh, and it comes against the backdrop of a move that felt overdue in Toronto. The former Maple Leafs winger scored his first goal with the Penguins in a preseason game, a reminder that his speed and finish can still pop when he gets the right runway. For a Leafs club that has spent plenty of time trying to sort out its depth and identity on the wing, seeing a familiar name settle in quickly elsewhere is the kind of small development that gets noticed.
Matias Maccelli has done the same with the Islanders after signing a one-year contract, piling up three points in his preseason debut. He, too, is showing the sort of early chemistry and creativity that made him an intriguing fit before his time with Toronto ended. The Leafs are only in the opening stages of a new season, but watching two former forwards start strong in new uniforms is the sort of reminder that roster decisions can linger far beyond training camp. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs May Have Found The Blue Line Balance They Need
The Maple Leafs are still in the stage where the blue line is more puzzle than finished product, but the pieces are starting to make sense. Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev look like the kind of steady, defense-first pairing that can handle tough minutes, while Morgan Rielly alongside Darren Raddysh offers a different sort of balance with more puck movement and support from the back end.
What remains unsettled is the third pair, and that is where Torontos depth chart still feels open to interpretation. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Troy Stecher, Emil Andrae and Nick Blankenburg are all in the mix as the Leafs sort through options, and with time still left before the season, the club can keep weighing fit, role and chemistry before locking in its final look. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Blue Line Battle Just Got More Serious
The Maple Leafs are tightening the screws on their blue line as training camp moves toward opening night, putting defensemen Cole McWard and Dakota Mermis on waivers while they trim the roster ahead of the upcoming NHL season. Mermis saw action in 11 games for Toronto last year, while McWard arrived as a free agent signing this summer, and both had been part of the group fighting for a role in the teams defensive depth.
The move is another sign that the back end is still very much up for grabs, with several players competing for the limited spots available. Toronto still has decisions to make before the lineup is finalized, and these waiver moves suggest the margins are getting thinner by the day for anyone hoping to stick. [Read more 🡒]