Gavin McKenna came into the NHL season as one of the lightest players in the league and it's becoming a concern if he wants to call himself the best.
Despite being one of the most talented and hyped-up rookies in some time, Gavin McKenna hasn't yet really taken the NHL by storm. The 18-year-old came into the Draft Combine at only 174 pounds which while light, is still a decent weight that gives him time to grow and get bigger.
But he came into training camp somehow 10 pounds lighter as he weighed in at 164 pounds, which a very, very big contrast to some of the players who he is playing against, who are at points 100 pounds heavier than the Maple Leafs rookie.
McKenna's got big plans but his size says otherwise
In fact, McKenna is actually the second-lightest player in the NHL only two pounds heavier than Lane Hutson:
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Now you may look at that list and question as to why it's a negative. I mean, names like Hutson, Nikita Kucherov, and Nikolaj Ehlers are on that list and they have all cemented themselves as superstars in the league.
But they've also had years upon years of experience in the NHL (minus Hutson) and the majority of those players have learned how to use their smaller size and weight to benefit their team. McKenna unfortunately has a long journey ahead of him.
While he hasn't exactly been thrown around so far this season, he has been pushed off the puck a lot easier and hasn't been able to use his quick hands and shiftiness to gain space.
A Calder Trophy is in McKenna's future - if he manages his weight
It's not that we need to see the rookie gain 20 pounds and potentially hinder his ability, but he needs to manage how he uses his weight effectively. He's going to get pushed off the puck a lot easier on the wing so perhaps giving him a more central path up the ice is a better decision.
He has lofty goals for this season, and admitted that he wants to be the NHL's best rookie. But he can't do that if he constantly gives the puck away. Helping him out with someone who is able to help control the pace and break out of the zone easier, it will allow McKenna that path up the ice.
Ivar Stenberg is not going to make it easy on McKenna and he has already proven that he can be an effective force for a San Jose Sharks team that is loaded with talent. if McKenna wants to ensure he's going to be the league's best rookie then he needs to start utilizing his size differently.
Maybe he could try emulating how his idol uses his smaller size and stature, even as he nears 40 years old:
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It's not that McKenna needs to get bigger, though that will come naturally. But he needs to use the size he has now in a way that gives him more chances to score without consistently losing the puck after a simple nudge.
Do you think Gavin McKenna's weight is becoming an issue for the Maple Leafs?
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