The excitement around Gavin McKenna has already pushed him toward a starring role in the eyes of Maple Leafs fans, but there’s a strong case for Toronto to take the slower path. The 18-year-old clearly has the kind of talent that turns heads, yet starting him in the bottom six would make a lot of sense.
This wouldn’t be about holding him back. It would be about easing him in. Toronto doesn’t need to force McKenna into the top six right away, especially with the pressure that comes with playing in this market.
He’s almost certain to be on the Opening Night roster. Barring a disastrous training camp, McKenna is expected to make the team this fall.
That part feels settled. Where he begins in the lineup is the real question.
The safest move is to let him build his game from a lower spot in the order before asking him to handle top-six minutes. He’s still a teenager, and once he’s ready, the skill should take over.
There’s also a path where Toronto creates a kind of Kid Line of its own. Easton Cowan looks set to begin on the third forward line, and putting McKenna there could give the Leafs a young, dangerous trio. With Teddy Blueger centering that group, the team would have a veteran presence to steady things.
That setup could give McKenna exactly what a prized rookie needs: a place to grow confidence without being thrown straight into the deepest end. For Toronto, that would be the ideal way to let its top prospect settle in.
Even so, the most likely outcome is that Jim Hiller opens with McKenna on the second unit alongside John Tavares and William Nylander.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Just Got A Reality Check On Top-Six Trade Cost
The market for young scoring help got a lot clearer with New Jerseys move for Luke Evangelista, and it offers a useful benchmark for Toronto as it sizes up its own top-six needs. Nashvilles return of conditional 2028 first- and second-round picks underscores just how expensive it can be to land a forward who is still young enough to fit both an immediate lineup need and a longer window of control.
For the Maple Leafs, that is the kind of price check that forces a real conversation. If they want help up front now, they may have to part with future draft capital to do it, but holding those assets has value too, especially if the front office wants to keep some flexibility for longer-term team building rather than spending heavily just to patch the roster in the moment. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Camp Suddenly Carries One Huge Chris Tanev Concern
Chris Tanevs health is already shaping up to be one of the biggest early questions hanging over Maple Leafs camp. The veteran defenseman is working his way back from core-muscle surgery in March, and the target is to be ready when training camp opens Sept. 17. After managing only 11 games last season because of injury, Tanev remains a key figure in Torontos plans on the blue line, where the Leafs are counting on steadier play and better defensive structure.
The concern is amplified by both his age and the contract commitment Toronto made when it brought him in during 2024. Tanev turns 37 in December and still has four years left on that deal, which makes his recovery more than a short-term camp storyline. For a team trying to sharpen its defense, his availability matters a great deal, and the next few weeks will go a long way toward showing whether the Leafs can count on him to be part of that solution right away. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Take A Chance On A Winger With Something To Prove
Zach Brisson arrives in the Toronto organization with a rsum that still carries plenty of promise. He represented the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics, won gold at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship and developed at the University of Michigan before going 29th overall to the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2020 NHL Draft. He has since logged time in both the AHL and NHL, giving him a mix of pedigree and pro experience that makes him an interesting add for a team always looking for depth to emerge.
For the Maple Leafs, the appeal is simple enough: Brisson is still trying to turn those early expectations into a steady NHL job. He is expected to open the coming season with the Toronto Marlies, which gives him a chance to reset, produce and force his way back into the conversation. For a winger with a strong amateur track record but no regular NHL role yet, this is the kind of stop that can either become a launch point or another reminder of how hard it is to stick. [Read more 🡒]