Gavin McKenna's own coach cannot find a single reason for Toronto to pass on him

Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky gave Maple Leafs fans a glimpse into what to expect from Gavin McKenna and safe to say - fans should be ecstatic.

Gavin McKenna is going to be a superstar in the NHL and the Maple Leafs have the chance to draft him first overall however there are some other great choices. McKenna's head coach Guy Gadowsky spent every day seeing exactly who he is and called it a no-brainer while crediting his humble nature. For a team built on pressure, Gadowsky's endorsement is exactly what fans need to hear.

McKenna, who has been the presumed first overall pick for months now is finally inching closer to hearing his name called. The playmaking phenom has generational talent and could be a force to be reckoned with for the next decade and a half while hopefully leading Toronto to their first Cup in 60 years.

Guy Gadowsky coached Gavin McKenna this season and knows he's without a doubt the best pick for the Maple Leafs

That's a lot to ask from an 18-year old but if there's anyone who was successful under pressure, it's McKenna. He's got the talent, he's got the heart, and according to his former head coach - he's got literally everything you want from a hockey player.

Guy Gadowsky was a guest on Leafs Morning Take on Tuesday and gushed about McKenna not only as a talent but as a human being, and his statement has to give Maple Leafs fans hope that who they're drafting is indeed someone special and there's no other option:

No brainer, in my mind. Nothing against the other players, it's deep and there are great players. But when you get a guy who can manipulate time and space like he can, and his ability to improve, I can't pass on that. He's going to be a superstar and he's a superstar human.

Anyone who spends any time with him comes away knowing he's a high quality person, it's evident that his values stay exactly the same. Family, heritage, everything is important and never forgets that.

He's wonderful, he's polite, and he's a great person whether he's playing or cleaning the toilets. There's no reason not to take him.

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That first part alone should make fans salivate at the thought of McKenna being able to bring Auston Matthews back to form and that you're going to see a lot more exciting and fast-paced hockey than in years past.

But it's that second part that really should be focused on as it's a lot more important than fans may realize.

Gadowsky says McKenna is humble whether he's playing for a title or cleaning the toilets

When you think of 18-year old teenagers, very rarely do you see a level of humility and self-awareness, but with McKenna it's in full force. While genuinely a charming person, it's his focus on family, his upbringing and those who helped him on his journey to the NHL.

McKenna is deeply aware of his Indigenous heritage and made it known how important it was to represent them on the ice as he told CBC:

For me to represent being Indigenous like that on such a big stage, I knew it meant a lot for my family.

He also has a huge community backing as the Whitehorse community actually banded together to allow McKenna to pursue his dreams, as he also stated in the same interview with CBC:

Growing up, I'd go up to people and ask for sponsorships. The community of Whitehorse is very giving and caring for their athletes and stuff; they were all willing to help me out where they could.

That is an incredible amount of community unity that shows exactly why McKenna is who he is. He treats everyone with respect regardless of position, and is trying to use his influence to set a positive example for everyone - especially the Indigenous community.

That type of personality is what you want from an NHL player and we've seen just had the best recommendation from someone who is as close as can be to McKenna.

We've got to listen to Gadowsky when he says there's no other option, because it's not only rare you get this type of player, let alone human being fall right into your lap.

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