Gavin McKenna's combine numbers put him on the same physical path as Connor McDavid

Gavin McKenna just put together a very solid Draft Combine and his results speak for themselves and show he's built for the NHL's rigorous schedule.

Saturday brought the NHL Draft Combine and all eyes were on Gavin McKenna. He impressed in several categories and looked poised to tackle the NHL grind. He also came in with a lot of similarities to several superstars and he could end up being the most athletic of the entire bunch.

McKenna was able to show off a bit more muscle than expected despite being ranked at 5-foot-11 (and a quarter) and only 170 pounds.

-

He managed to hit 14 pull-ups which while no record-breaker, is a measure of strength and endurance as former NHL player Frank Corrado put it on social media:

It's not necessarily about reps 1 through 14...but mostly they want to see how you battle on the 15th rep before you give up. The players will all get stronger over time but they want to know their willingness to battle discomfort.

-

Gavin McKenna crushes the Draft Combine and looks like the uber-athlete we all expected him to be

Though it looked like McKenna had no issues with the pull-ups nor did it look like he struggled with the bench press - though those metrics aren't based on weight but kinetic force (aka how much power can you generate explosively).

-

-

But it was the dreaded Wingate bike that saw McKenna actually crush it, showing intense amounts of physical endurance and again focuses on kinetic strength:

-

-

He's certainly not the biggest guy and 170 pounds may turn some people away, but he plays a smaller game and he's not meant to be a 6-foot-3 hulking power forward. He's a dynamic and crafty playmaker who needs that bit of aerodynamics to be so effective.

Toronto should have zero concerns about McKenna's size after the Draft Combine

You know who else came into the Combine small and a bit underweight? Mitch Marner, Nikita Kucherov and Jack Hughes. It's safe to say all three of those players turned out just fine, and size should be of no concern.

People have to remember this is an 18-year old kid who is still growing as a player and as an adult. He's going to get bigger, he'll have the best workout and diet regimens in the world, and can only get stronger, faster and more dangerous.

For the sake of argument, let's say McKenna grows half an inch and we round up to 6-foot even. If he adds another 15-20 pounds of muscle over the next year or two then you're looking at a speedy, crafty playmaker who is nearing 200 pounds and six feet tall.

Hmm, there's another player who is nearing 200 pounds and just over six feet tall - Connor McDavid. Sure he has a little height on McKenna but if the latter can get to that same weight, he'll be even harder to push around and push off the puck.

All signs point to the fact that Gavin McKenna not only has the on-ice ability to succeed, but has the athletic ability to carry him even further.

Toronto, make no mistake: You're losing out on an absolute phenom if you pass on McKenna.

Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Former Maple Leafs draft pick Gerry Meehan passes away