At this point, it would be a shocker if Toronto doesn't draft Gavin McKenna first overall and considering that he's meeting with the team again, it's a good sign.
Gavin McKenna has had ringing endorsements from scouts, his own head coach, and fans, so picking him #1 overall is pretty much a given. However the Maple Leafs could switch gears this upcoming draft but from the way things are going to go with McKenna very soon - it's pretty much a given at this point.
McKenna is undoubtedly a generational talent who has the opportunity to completely transform the fortunes of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but with other names like Ivar Stenberg and Chase Reid available; and McKenna's only meeting so far being with Vancouver, it could be a shocking turnabout face.
Chayka flew all the way to Whitehorse and already has another meeting planned with McKenna so there's no reason to fret
Though from the sounds of things on the NHL Draft Class podcast, there's no reason to fret Toronto missing out on McKenna.
The presumed #1 pick was a guest on the podcast to talk about his combine and explained that the Maple Leafs had already met with him in Whitehorse, and are looking to meet with him after Toronto finishes up their other Combine duties:
Chayka, he ended up coming to Whitehorse. So I got to meet with him, had a really good conversation with him. I think they've got their combine after this so go meet with them there, and we'll see where things go.
With one meeting already down, another in tow, and seriously no real reason to draft him otherwise, it seems like dinner with Vancouver was merely a formality and it's not about not taking him, it's about letting other teams get their chance too for parity's sake.
Basically, McKenna is waiting to see how Toronto feels about the other players in the Combine first and whether or not they have second thoughts about him. It's just a matter of making sure they do their homework on everyone before committing.
McKenna says the first meeting went great, and all signs point to him being chosen going forward
Taking McKenna at face value (and he has no reason to lie), that first meeting at his home went great and there was a lot more than just a feeling out process between the two parties.
The Maple Leafs have already done what they can do when it comes to McKenna, and short of John Chayka pulling out his old tricks of illegal scouting, they've accomplished their job. With one more meeting it's just solidifying what we already know - McKenna is coming in.
There's more than just an on-ice reason to as well, as McKenna's character is one of his best qualities and someone who will no doubt be a great community leader. He's also insanely marketable and will rake in money for MLSE thanks to jersey sales and all the hype.
Add in that Toronto actually knows what they have to do this summer and have a management group that not only takes action but have made some seriously good decisions so far; suddenly there's a lot of hope with McKenna coming in.
Though there's always a chance that Toronto decides to choose someone else first overall, it seems like they're dead-set on Gavin McKenna and are just waiting until the calendar hits June 26th.
Do you think it's a surefire decision that Gavin McKenna is going first overall to the Maple Leafs?
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