Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews heaped praise upon Gavin McKenna on Tuesday, ushering in another wave of hype before the NHL regular season begins.
Auston Matthews' interview with Ryan Leslie has been the talk of the town in Toronto today, and for very good reason. It was here that he revealed his thoughts on John Chayka's move, as well as the current status of his injury.
Furthermore, he weighed in on the team's first overall pick, Gavin McKenna, who is looking to make a strong first impression in his rookie season. As you will read, Matthews' comments were glowing, to say the least.
Auston Matthews on Gavin McKenna
Matthews said that he is both a special person and a special player. Furthermore, he noted that the team has a responsibility to support the rookie as he embarks on this new journey.
He's a special player. He's a special person. It's been awesome to get to spend some time with him, get to know him, and, you know, he's gonna be an incredible player in this league [...] It's just on us to support him, communicate with him, help him out in any way that we can.
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These are comments that showcase how Matthews is embracing his leadership role in Toronto. He wants a rookie to feel at home in a city that can be punishing on younger players.
Matthews was once in a similar position, and now he can impart some of the wisdom that he has acquired over the years.
Will McKenna and Matthews play together?
Matthews and McKenna could end up on the same line together, although there is absolutely no guarantee of that right now. It will be up to new head coach Jim Hiller to make that decision.
In fact, Chris Johnston says the plan will be to play McKenna lower down the lineup.
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The captain is like to start the season alongside Matthew Knies and Jack Roslovic. Meanwhile, McKenna could play with John Tavares and William Nylander.
Whatever the case may be, McKenna will be surrounded by players who can help him shine. It will just be up to him to adapt and contribute offensively.
If you are a Leafs fan, you can't help but be encouraged by what the team has in store for fans going forward.
Will Gavin McKenna live up to the hype?
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