Gavin McKenna’s first year with the Toronto Maple Leafs is already taking shape, and it comes with a built-in advantage: he’ll be living with John Tavares.
According to Michael Traikos of The Hockey News, the 18-year-old is set to stay with the former Leafs captain during his rookie season in 2026-27. It’s a familiar setup for Tavares, whose home also hosted Easton Cowan last season. Cowan, the 21-year-old from Strathroy, Ontario, put up 29 points - 11 goals and 18 assists - in 66 games before moving out after a year in the house.
For McKenna, the arrangement gives Toronto more than just a stable landing spot for a teenager entering the league. It also puts him right next to a veteran who could shape his first NHL season in a big way.
One obvious benefit is the chance to build chemistry quickly. While plenty of eyes will be on a possible fit with Auston Matthews, the more likely early setup has McKenna starting on a line with Tavares, and maybe William Nylander too. That kind of alignment could give the rookie room to grow offensively while he adjusts to the NHL pace.
Living together can speed that process up. McKenna will have a chance to ask questions, pick up details from Tavares, and form the kind of relationship that can carry over onto the ice. The more comfortable he gets around his linemates, the easier it should be for him to settle in and use his skill without overthinking every shift.
There’s also the day-to-day example Tavares provides. He remains a major leader for the Maple Leafs, and the source material makes clear just how complete that influence can be - from his workouts and routines to his family life, his media presence, and the way he carries himself in games. For a young forward trying to make the jump right away, that kind of model matters.
Toronto does not need McKenna to arrive with massive point totals from day one. What it does need is a player who understands the standard and stays locked in on what the team wants. Having Tavares around every day should only help with that, and it could make McKenna’s transition smoother both on and off the ice.
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The Bruins have signed Minten to a seven-year extension beginning in the 2027-28 season, a deal worth $50.4 million with a $7.2 million cap hit. For Toronto, the timing only sharpens the old question about whether the organization moved on too soon from a player who looks like a core piece in Boston, and it gives Leafs fans another reason to revisit a trade that already felt like it carried plenty of risk. [Read more 🡒]
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For Toronto, the appeal is obvious: a young player who has earned notice can become more than just an organizational depth piece if the roster keeps leaving openings. Holinka is now viewed as a legitimate call-up candidate, and with the Leafs still managing the shape of their bottom-six options, his timing could end up being important. The next step is whether that promise translates into a real chance when the need finally comes. [Read more 🡒]