Maple Leafs skip the Combine dinner with Gavin McKenna and it does not mean what you might think

Gavin McKenna is only meeting with Vancouver during the Draft Combine, and while the Maple Leafs have passed on speaking with him; his spot really isn't in doubt.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Gavin McKenna aren't having dinner during the Draft Combine, and that may worry some fans. But with a plan already in place, a scouting trip to Whitehorse, and confidence in McKenna's stock staying firm - it's just a chance for the top prospect to get a taste of the business side of things.

McKenna is no doubt someone who can change any franchise he steps into and the Maple Leafs are the lucky ones who managed to snag the first overall pick. He seems like a unanimous decision but names like Ivar Stenberg, Chase Reid and Caleb Malhotra have all thrown their names in the hat as potential #1 picks.

It's also seemingly a little concerning when you look at what's going on at the NHL Draft Combine.

Sheng Peng reports that McKenna is only having dinner with the Canucks but he feels it doesn't mean too much in the long run

It's been reported by Sheng Peng; beat writer for the San Jose Sharks, that the presumed #1 pick McKenna is only meeting with one team during the week, and it's one who just hired a brand new head coach - Vancouver:

Gavin McKenna is having dinner with just the Canucks this week at the Combine.

No Maple Leafs or #SJSharks. I doubt that means anything for his draft stock, but it's interesting

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McKenna meeting with only the Canucks would seemingly look like a terrible turnabout face for the Maple Leafs as the team really could use the energy, youth and dynamic potential that McKenna possesses but it's truly up to John Chayka to make the final call.

Peng believing it means nothing should give fans a sigh of relief though, as it's more about giving McKenna and other teams the chance to explore options and get different perspectives which will be an invaluable tool for him as he gets older.

Toronto holds the first overall pick and already did extensive scouting so dinner is merely a formality

We shouldn't read too much into this though, as the Maple Leafs have done their best to give themselves every chance to learn and know about McKenna. They went to the Yukon to get a better idea of things, they just got a ringing endorsement from his former head coach, and McKenna himself would be very happy to be chosen by Toronto.

This dinner is merely a formality and part of the whole rigamarole of the NHL world. Of course teams are going to want to talk to McKenna and with him being a generational talent undoubtedly going top-3; why wouldn't the team picking third overall want to have a chat?

There's no point jumping the shark, and there's only three weeks until the NHL Draft. Unless Chayka and company suddenly find themselves with new information that prevents them from drafting McKenna, it's all but set in stone.

Let the kid have a steak dinner on the Canucks dime; he's earned it. Besides, there's going to be many, many more paid meals on the horizon for McKenna. Heck, if he brings Toronto a Cup, he'll eat free the rest of his life.

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