Both Matthews and McKenna's camps just spoke and the reactions are exactly what Leafs fans were hoping to hear
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski (left), Barry Reeger-Imagn Images (right)
Gavin McKenna's agent is reportedly ecstatic at his client potentially joining Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Pat Brisson, who is currently Gavin McKenna's agent, spoke about the prospect of McKenna playing with Leafs captain Auston Matthews.
Toronto, who holds the first overall pick, is likely to take McKenna. David Pagnotta spoke with Brisson, who said that McKenna was excited to join Toronto.
I went back and forth a little bit with Pat (Brisson), and he was excited. Obviously, they got to wait and see what's gonna happen, but the prospect of going to a market like Toronto that has a former first overall pick in Auston he can build off of and and learn from. And, you know, Auston will be the quasi mentor, and and all that. - David Pagnotta
Pagnotta also said that he spoke with Auston Matthews' camp as well, and while there are still uncertainties, Matthews is happy with Toronto being able to add a top player with the top pick.
I reached out to Auston's side too. He's pretty excited about the that prospect of as well. And obviously, the first overall pick is certainly a good sign, so There's a lot more that has to happen there with respect to Auston, and there's a lot more than has to happen with the Leafs in terms of what additional moves they're going to make, but across the board, Nick, it's these are all positive signs.
Pat Brisson called Matthews a quasi mentor for McKenna and that one phrase rewrites the entire Leafs narrative
Pagnotta said from speaking with Pat Brisson that Auston Matthews can be viewed as a mentor for what could soon be his fellow first overall pick, and a Toronto Maple Leaf teammate in Gavin McKenna.
Rumors about the future of Matthews have increased after recent reporting that Matthews is not entirely committed to remaining in Toronto, with the Leafs captain wanting a competitive offseason.
McKenna reportedly doesn't change things for Matthews and his goals, but Pagnotta's reporting indicates that it's a first step in rebuilding Toronto's short-term future.
With McKenna, his addition is viewed as a potential mentorship alongside Matthews, although that will have to be balanced alongside the Leafs win-now mentality.
Matthews' camp told Pagnotta they are excited about the McKenna pairing and that contradicts every leaving report from the past week
The new reporting from David Pagnotta gives more confidence that Auston Matthews and Gavin McKenna can co-exist with the Leafs win-now plans.
Two things can be true that Matthews wants a more competitive team alongside him, but also that rumors of him leaving may not be as certain as made out to be.
It gives more of a lean that Auston Matthews is staying, or at the very least, pushes the window for Matthews leaving by another year.
Instead of being the catalyst for a potential exit, Gavin McKenna, or any of the options with the top pick, become the foundation with both sides on the same page.
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