Gavin McKenna is getting a built-in welcome to the NHL in Toronto.
According to Michael Traikos of The Hockey News, the Maple Leafs’ 2026 first overall pick will live with John Tavares for his rookie season. It’s a small detail on paper, but for a player just starting out, it’s a pretty notable one.
The arrangement gives McKenna a chance to see the NHL from the inside every day. He’ll be sharing space with a veteran who knows the league well, has been through the grind for years, and has already handled life as a first overall pick himself. Tavares is also an eight-time 30-plus goal-scorer, so McKenna will be around a player who has produced at a high level for a long time.
There’s also the leadership piece. Tavares has been one of the main voices in Toronto since arriving before the 2018-19 season, and McKenna will get a close look at how that side of the job works too.
McKenna is not the first young Leaf to stay in Tavares’ house. Easton Cowan did it last season during his rookie year and posted 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 66 games.
Fraser Minten also lived with Tavares at one point; he played 19 career NHL games with Toronto, recording four points (two goals and assists), and also spent 26 games with the Toronto Marlies, where he had 13 points (six goals, seven assists). Minten is now with the Boston Bruins after getting a new contract.
Matthew Knies is the other name on that list. The 23-year-old has become a key part of the Leafs’ present and future, coming off a season with 66 points (23 goals, 43 assists) in 79 games.
So while the housing news may sound minor, it’s part of a pattern in Toronto. The Leafs have already seen some of their young players spend time under Tavares’ roof, and several of them have gone on to show real promise. That’s what makes McKenna’s move-in all the more interesting.
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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 🡒]