Toronto Maple Leafs forward Gavin McKenna arrives with the kind of setup most rookies never get: instant access to a loaded lineup and a real chance to make noise from day one.
After winning the NHL Draft Lottery, Toronto landed the No. 1 overall pick and used it on McKenna. What had looked like a potential gift to the Boston Bruins flipped into a franchise-altering break for the Leafs, who suddenly came away with a future star.
It’s a different kind of first-overall moment for Toronto than the one that brought in Auston Matthews a decade earlier. Back in 2015-16, the Leafs were deep in a teardown, with Mike Babcock hired and “pain coming” as the team tanked its way to dead last. The lottery odds did not guarantee anything, but Toronto’s collapse paid off in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft when it selected Matthews.
A decade later, Matthews has already stacked up a résumé that includes multiple Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Calder Trophy and Hart Trophy wins. He’s now the captain and the face of the blue-and-white, even if injuries and the absence of Mitch Marner have made the last few years tougher. The hope is that a new coach can get him back to his scoring peak after Craig Berube, unfortunately, did not help that cause.
That’s where McKenna enters the picture. If the comparison point is Matthews, then the first box for McKenna is obvious: the Calder Trophy. And in Toronto, that doesn’t sound like a stretch.
McKenna is walking into a roster where he’ll most likely skate with one or more of William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthews. That’s a luxury few rookies ever get. Instead of carrying a team, he’ll be surrounded by established scorers and veterans, which should give him every chance to settle in and produce.
On this Leafs team, you could even make the case that McKenna is only the fifth-best scoring forward, behind Matthews, Nylander, Tavares and Matthew Knies. That’s not a knock.
It’s the reason the opportunity is so enticing. With that much talent around him, McKenna’s playmaking should stand out.
Matthews has always looked his best with a high-end passer beside him, and last season showed how much he missed that kind of support after Marner left. McKenna brings that sort of distribution, and he’ll be hunting for Matthews all day, especially on the power play.
That’s why the Calder Trophy case starts here. McKenna should be the favorite to win rookie of the year, and his presence could help Matthews get back to a Rocket Richard Trophy pace while also giving Nylander a boost.
The hype train may not have fully left the station yet, but after the first week of the season, McKenna could already be the face of Toronto and well on his way to NHL rookie of the year.
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The real question is whether that patchwork solution can supply enough offense to make the tradeoff worthwhile. Toronto is counting on stronger play without the puck from the new group, but the scoring burden is uneven, with one player carrying most of the upside and the others projecting more as limited finishers. It is a reasonable plan on paper, but it also leaves the Leafs waiting to see whether committee chemistry can cover for the missing individual spark. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Face A Brutal Max Domi Cap Dilemma
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The problem is that moving him is not simple, especially for a team already trying to squeeze every dollar out of its roster plan. Any deal would likely come at a cost, and Toronto would have to decide whether the price of doing business is worth the cap flexibility it gains. For a club that has spent plenty of time living on the margin, this is the kind of decision that can shape more than just the opening weeks of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Another No. 1 Pick Just Sent A Message To Gavin McKenna
Matthew Schaefer has only just finished his own ascent to the top of the draft board, but he is already offering a bit of perspective to the next player in line. The 2025 No. 1 overall pick and Calder Trophy winner recently spoke to Gavin McKenna as the 2026 No. 1 pick gets ready for his first NHL season, urging him to enjoy the moment, stay confident and keep developing with the teammates and coaches around him.
For Toronto fans, there is an added layer to the conversation, since McKennas arrival carries the weight that comes with playing in his hometown hockey market. Schaefers message was simple enough, but the timing makes it more interesting: the two top picks are set to see each other early in the season, giving both young stars a quick chance to measure where they stand and how far they still have to go. [Read more 🡒]