Thursday’s first on-ice training camp practice gave the Toronto Maple Leafs their clearest look yet at where Gavin McKenna might begin his NHL career, and the answer was a notable one: beside John Tavares and William Nylander.
That look on the second line was one of the day’s biggest talking points, especially after all the recent speculation about whether McKenna would land in the top six. For now, he’s skating with a pair of established veterans, and that gives the rookie phenom a strong runway as he starts his league transition.
Head coach Jim Hiller made it clear after practice that the idea wasn’t some last-minute shuffle. He said the McKenna-Tavares-Nylander combination had been in his mind for a while and was his preferred setup. Hiller also didn’t hide his excitement about what he saw from McKenna as a passer and creator.
“I saw him dance away and just do a nice little backhand sauce pass into space. That jumps out at you.
So, those are the things that you're just standing there and you see them and you go, ‘OK, well, that's a high level.' That's what he's going to have to do against veteran NHL defensemen when the real games start.”
Hiller added another line that summed up how hard McKenna is to ignore, even if the coach isn’t actively searching for him every second.
"I'm not looking for Gavin, but I see Gavin - if that makes any sense."
The setup around McKenna may be as important as the line itself. If Toronto wants to shelter the rookie while still giving him real responsibility, a defensive backbone of Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe could do a lot of the heavy lifting behind him. Tavares also brings defensive reliability, which makes the whole group look more balanced than flashy.
On paper, that second-line look carries plenty of appeal:
McKenna -- Tavares -- Nylander
McCabe -- Tanev
It gives the Leafs two strong defensive anchors and three skilled forwards who can all play off one another. McCabe and Tanev can move the puck, too, which only adds another layer to the group. It’s a lineup construction that lets McKenna attack without asking him to do everything at once.
There’s also a chemistry angle here. Skating with Tavares and Nylander should help McKenna get comfortable quickly, and that familiarity could carry over to the power play, where those same names will be in the mix. The arrangement also gives him a chance to learn while leaning on players who can handle difficult moments around him.
It does not guarantee a big scoring outburst right away. But it does give McKenna protection at both ends, plus the freedom to show what he can do offensively.
If Hiller really did have this plan all along, the Maple Leafs may have found a smart way to ease their rookie into the league.
In Other News...
Gavin McKennas First Leafs Game Is Raising An Immediate Concern
Gavin McKenna is about to get his first preseason look with the Maple Leafs, and the early conversation around him has already moved beyond his skating and skill. The detail drawing attention is his listed weight, which comes in about 10 pounds below what was recorded at the NHL Draft Combine, a shift fans noticed right away as they started circling his first game in blue and white.
For Toronto, the question is less about a number on a chart and more about how his frame plays in actual NHL competition. The league has plenty of examples of smaller players finding success by leaning on pace, balance and quick decision-making, and McKenna fits that broader discussion as he begins his Leafs preseason path. There is no official sign of any health issue, but the size talk is going to follow him until he shows what he can do on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Matthews Gave Leafs Fans One Reason To Exhale In Montreal
A split-squad preseason night in Montreal did not provide the kind of clean result the Maple Leafs wanted, with Toronto dropping both games and leaning on a few individual performances to find any real positives. Auston Matthews offered the biggest one, flashing the kind of speed that had been missing at times last season and setting up a goal in a showing that suggested he is starting to look more like himself again.
Darren Raddysh scored Torontos lone goal, while rookie Gavin McKenna gave the club a glimpse of his playmaking touch even if the night included a penalty. For a Leafs team still sorting out its early preseason shape, the game was less about the scoreboard than the different levels of comfort shown by key veterans and younger pieces trying to carve out a role. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Fringe Forward Made An Early Statement In Montreal
Michael Pezzetta wasted little time making his presence felt in Montreal while skating with the Maple Leafs B-team in a game filled with fringe players and prospects. In the kind of preseason setting where jobs are being sorted out one shift at a time, he dropped the gloves with Canadiens forward Lucas Condotta and was ejected shortly after, a reminder that these games can still carry plenty of bite even without the regulars on the ice elsewhere.
The moment fit the tone of a roster battle more than a tune-up, with every involved player trying to leave an impression before camp decisions get tougher. Pezzettas early exit came before teammate Teddy Blueger also fought in the same game, adding another layer of edge to a matchup that had already turned physical and given the Leafs another bit of evidence about who is willing to make noise in a depth role. [Read more 🡒]