Jim Hiller’s handling of Gavin McKenna’s minutes is turning into a real talking point for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The first overall pick in this year’s draft has settled in well enough through his first month in the NHL, but the way he’s being used keeps standing out. McKenna has averaged 13:44 of ice time across 16 games, and that number feels light for a player taken at the top of the draft.
That usage has led to a simple question: should the Leafs be giving him more?
McKenna’s production hasn’t suffered much despite the limited minutes. He has 11 points, with five goals and six assists, which leaves him tied with James Hagens of the Boston Bruins for the rookie scoring lead.
Still, the comparison to other first overall picks makes the current workload look even smaller. Auston Matthews, McKenna’s linemate, averaged 17:38 in his 82-game rookie season in 2016-17. That was only about four minutes more per game, but it gave Matthews plenty of runway to do what he does best: score big goals.
The recent top picks have seen even heavier usage. San Jose Sharks captain and 2024 first overall pick Macklin Celebrini averaged 19:47 in 70 games, while Connor Bedard posted the same ice time per game in 68 games for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023.
It’s fair to note that both San Jose and Chicago had rosters that weren’t exactly loaded, so those players were asked to shoulder a lot. But they still got their share of the ice, and that kind of trust followed them beyond their draft year.
Hiller has already shown some willingness to move McKenna into better spots. The rookie has been bumped onto the first line with Matthews and Jack Roslovic, and he’s also getting work on the top power play unit. Even so, there’s a strong case that he should be out there more often.
McKenna was drafted first overall for a reason. He has already shown he can handle pressure, move the puck, make plays and unload a dangerous shot. He’s still adjusting to the NHL, but that doesn’t mean he should be parked on the bench for long stretches.
There’s always some caution involved with protecting a young player from overuse, and that part of the equation can’t be ignored. But the Leafs also need offense, and McKenna looks like someone who can help provide it.
What Hiller and the staff plan to do next with his ice time isn’t clear yet, though the Kirill Marchenko injury could push 92 toward a bigger role going forward.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Make A Risky Lineup Gamble Before A Key Test
With a key test against the Utah Mammoth on deck, Jim Hiller is trying a different look in the Maple Leafs lineup, one that trades some finesse for a little more muscle. Gavin McKenna has been pushed down to the third line, while Dakota Joshua gets a chance in a more prominent role, a tweak aimed at giving Torontos second line more size and physicality as the game stakes rise.
The gamble is obvious for a team trying to find the right balance. Joshua has not played much this season, so there is some uncertainty baked into the move, and McKennas offensive influence figures to be reduced at even strength from a lower line. Even so, he is still expected to keep his power-play duties, which gives Toronto a way to preserve some of his impact while Hiller experiments with the rest of the forward group. [Read more 🡒]
Bobrovsky Has One Trait Leafs Fans Need To See Again
Sergei Bobrovskys early run with the Maple Leafs has been a reminder that goaltending is about more than just the numbers on a stat sheet. Through his first stretch in Toronto, the veteran has had moments where he looks capable of carrying a game, but the steady, dependable edge that teams lean on in tight spots has not shown up often enough for comfort.
What stands out most is the kind of save Toronto has been waiting to see more regularly. The Leafs have long valued a goalie who can steal a shift, settle a shaky sequence and erase a mistake at the exact moment it threatens to swing the game, the way Grant Fuhr built his reputation on timely stops. For a team chasing consistency, that trait matters as much as anything else Bobrovsky brings. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Turnover Problem Puts Hillers Plan Under The Spotlight
The Maple Leafs are spending part of their pregame conversation on the details around the crease, with Jim Hiller laying out the thinking behind the goaltending plan and the way the club has handled Anthony Stolarz in the lead-up to the rematch against Utah. Hiller also pointed to Sergei Bobrovskys professionalism and routine, underscoring that Torontos scheduling and lineup choices have been handled with an eye toward keeping everyone prepared for the next step.
Beyond the goalie picture, the bigger issue remains the one that has followed the Leafs into this matchup: turnovers. Hiller said the team has to clean that up if it wants a better result, and he also touched on Easton Cowans return to the top line as part of the broader lineup picture. It leaves Toronto with a familiar mix of urgency and uncertainty, with the details of how the night unfolds still to be sorted out. [Read more 🡒]