McKenna fits exactly what Matthews and Nylander told the Leafs they needed and nobody is connecting that dot
Photo credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images
Gavin McKenna is as much an agitator as a scoring threat and with him in the Leafs lineup, it gives Matthews and Nylander the dog mentality they wanted up front.
If you were the Toronto Maple Leafs last night, you were just hoping to see your 2026 first rounder not head to the Bruins. Well, not only did they keep their pick but also managed to snag the first overall pick and will likely select Penn State phenom Gavin McKenna.
There's debate over trading down for a defenceman as well as a huge package of young prospects and picks, but with a generational talent like McKenna just waiting in the wings to help now - Toronto has to pull the trigger.
Matthews and Nylander wanted a dog in the lineup and they just got the scariest of the litter
Not only can he be their next superstar for 15-20 years, but he's also going to bring the one thing that Auston Matthews and William Nylander have been begging for: A dog up front.
When you think of 'dogs' in the NHL, you tend to think of guys like Sam Bennett, Tom Wilson, and Brad Marchand. Guys who are relentless, feisty, and best of all; protection. Matthews has been desperate to add someone who is willing to go to battle for him, and all signs point to McKenna being that guy.
Case in point - his actions against former teammate Cayden Lindstrom:
Lindstrom ended up laying in a dirty hit to Aiden Fink which McKennatook umbrage with and decided to target his former Medicine Hat teammate with a retaliatory cross-check. Is it a bit undisciplined? Sure, but it's absolutely worth it if it means protecting your fellow brothers.
Also while not the biggest guy on the ice, McKenna won't mind throwing the body or getting in the middle of things and if his previous altercations were any indication; he's willing to scrap too.
Matthews having someone who can reliably pass him the puck and is an offensive wizard on top of someone who is willing to run through a wall for him? That's a recipe for serious success.
Kucherov and Kane combined? What McKenna projects to be according to scouts
What happens when you model your game after two of the most successful and accomplished players of the last 25 years? You get pretty good at this hockey thing.
That's exactly what McKenna did when he modelled his style of play after both Tampa Bay superstar Nikita Kucherov and future Hall of Famer Patrick Kane. We know the type of skill both men possess, but it's the combination of them in tandem which is so exciting.
The Daily Faceoff said this regarding McKenna in relation to Kucherov and Kane (and what the Maple Leafs can expect):
Scouts liken McKenna's skillset to that of Nikita Kucherov or Patrick Kane. McKenna is one of the smartest players in the draft class, and he's able to slow things down better than just about anyone.
He's a truly elite playmaker at the college level, and there's little reason to doubt that he'll be an absolute force with the puck in the NHL...he processes the game two steps ahead of just about anyone he plays against.
McKenna uses deceptive body angling to freeze goalies before sliding a cross-seam pass, something he pulls off successfully multiple times a night. He is a primary driver who can turn a broken play into a high-danger chance in a split second.
He's a truly elite playmaker at the college level, and there's little reason to doubt that he'll be an absolute force with the puck in the NHL...he processes the game two steps ahead of just about anyone he plays against.
McKenna uses deceptive body angling to freeze goalies before sliding a cross-seam pass, something he pulls off successfully multiple times a night. He is a primary driver who can turn a broken play into a high-danger chance in a split second.
When you have a potential 40 or 50 goal threat, on top of adding 75-80 assists and above average defence at 18 years old with those types of abilities, you're set for life.
If that doesn't whet your whistle, McKenna had 310 points over his last 180 games between the World Juniors, WHL, and NCAA; the proof is in the pudding.
Auston Matthews felt like the Maple Leafs needed to make a few drastic changes in order to keep him around, but the fact that he has someone who he can rely on to do everything at an elite level; it may bring him back to that peak too.
Right now though, all we can hope for is that John Chayka and the Maple Leafs don't fumble this pick because it's pretty much a foregone conclusion.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Vasilevskiy just publicly turned on Cooper and the Leafs should remove him from any coaching consideration
Vasilevskiy just publicly turned on Cooper and the Leafs should remove him from any coaching consideration
Previously on Hockey Patrol