Gavin McKenna may already know he is going to the Maple Leafs and a recent Instagram like is the proof

The discussion has been rampant ever since the Toronto Maple Leafs lucked out and got themselves the first overall pick over who's #1; Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg. There's a case to make for both men and it really doesn't matter who comes along, they are going to help the team become competitive a lot sooner than anticipated.

But with McKenna as the consensus pick and someone who you can build around for 15+ years, then it's almost a no-brainer. While he gets some flak going to college, it's a much more competitive league and he still put up a stellar season; this is a true generational talent.

He would add a very exciting player into a system that already has one very talented and exciting prospect in Easton Cowan. The two are quite familiar after facing off in the Memorial Cup Playoffs, and they have more than just an acknowledgment of each other:

Though it seems like although there was some tension between the two earlier, it's all love now and McKenna's recent social media activity may point to where he is headed come June:

McKenna has begun following Cowan on Instagram, and while it could just be a matter of getting acquainted with some of the younger players in the league; the optics are seriously pointing to him coming to Toronto.

For what it's worth too, Cowan already gushed about McKenna and has already played together with the phenom in the World Juniors for Team Canada:

Short but sweet from the Maple Leafs rookie, and if he and McKenna can come together and find some chemistry together then we could be looking at a duo that runs the NHL for the next decade and a half.

McKenna had 14 points in seven games for Team Canada this past World Juniors and only solidified himself as that generational talent we all expected him to be.

While it's certainly not a forgone conclusion that the team is going to pick McKenna, the more that he continues to get close to the Maple Leafs players, the better the chances are. Everyone who has been asked about him is excited to have him on board, and it's really not a hard pick.

It also means that if the team has any prospects of drafting Stenberg, they need to be transparent about it with Auston Matthews about the direction they are going. If Matthews has his sights on McKenna and they go against his wishes; it could be the end for him.

McKenna also seems to have a pretty good idea that the Maple Leafs want to pick him, and if they don't then it's going to give him some extra motivation when he plays them - which is the last thing you want.

We already know that Cowan wants him around, as does the captain. All signs are pointing to McKenna being chosen first overall.

Is it guaranteed? No, but he's as close to one as you're going to get if you pick him.

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