Maple Leafs disrespect Gavin McKenna by giving seventh-round pick a major promotion

Gavin McKenna still isn't getting respect as a first overall pick as Ryan Tverberg, the team's latest call-up, earned a top-six promotion over him.

For all intents and purposes, Gavin McKenna has not really had a bad season. He has 12 points in 19 games, sits tied for first in rookie scoring, and has shown glimpses of that superstar potential we expected from the first overall pick.

But he's also been benched several times (for justifiable and non-justifiable reasons) and his minutes have oddly fluctuated despite having some chemistry with stars like Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic.

McKenna slighted yet again as Ryan Tverberg takes his top-six spot

He's been great on the power-play, but his defensive game and turnovers leave a lot to be desired. Which why Jim Hiller decided to give McKenna a lesson of sorts, that if he wants that prime real estate - he needs to earn it.

The Maple Leafs decided to throw Ryan Tverberg into the top-six during their practice ahead of Tuesday's game against Colorado alongside John Tavares and William Nylander:

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Tverberg has two career games and no points in his very brief NHL career, and compared to McKenna is a much less skilled forward. But he is very scrappy and the type of player that is needed for Nylander and Tavares as he can fight for pucks and be that energetic presence that is sorely lacking.

McKenna should have been on the first line because at this point...why not?

With Toronto losing and coming off a shutout loss, they need scoring. As good as Tverberg is at getting pucks and the chemistry that Auston Matthews and Easton Cowan have is undeniable, but come on - it's McKenna.

Throw him with Matthews and a returning Roslovic where there has also been genuine chemistry, and let Cowan be that spark plug and puck gatherer on the second line. He's a better player than Tverberg, and there's no real benefit to sticking McKenna on the third line.

He's not going to suddenly turn Dakota Joshua into prime JVR, and Nick Paul isn't exactly a bastion of offense with two points in his last 16 games.

At this point, Toronto has nothing to lose but more games, and at this rate they are going to lose more than they win if they continue to stifle McKenna. If things are a lost cause, why not give him a chance to do as much damage as possible?

Especially considering there may be limited time playing with Matthews in the first place - it might be one of the only chances he gets for his career.

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