TORONTO — Gavin McKenna will be back in the Maple Leafs’ lineup conversation Saturday after an unfamiliar night on the bench, with the 18-year-old winger saying a direct talk with coach Jim Hiller helped put Thursday’s shortened outing behind him.
Key takeaways
- McKenna logged 6:36 and did not take another shift after 10:20 of the second period in Toronto’s 5-4 overtime loss to Buffalo.
- The No. 1 selection in the 2026 NHL Draft entered that game on a four-game scoring run, producing two goals and three assists.
- Hiller told McKenna the benching was not a reflection of the rookie’s performance and stressed the club’s continuing confidence in him.
- John Tavares is listed week to week with a lower-body injury suffered Thursday.
- McKenna has moved onto Toronto’s first power-play group with Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Kirill Marchenko and Darren Raddysh.
- The Maple Leafs, 3-3-2 through eight games, host the New York Islanders at Scotiabank Arena at 7 p.m. ET Saturday.
McKenna takes the lesson from a difficult night
McKenna had one shot and finished minus-1 against the Sabres, but the bigger story was the lack of another turn once he came off the ice midway through the second period. It marked the first time he had been held out in that fashion at any level, he said.
Rather than dwell on it, McKenna said he treated the final 32:54 as a chance to watch the details from a different vantage point. With Matthews, Tavares and Nylander among the established players around him, he said there was still plenty to absorb while following the game from the bench.
His teammates made sure the rookie did not carry the moment alone. Matthews said the room supported McKenna, and the young winger said the message he heard was simple: an 84-game schedule leaves room for a bad night or an unusual coaching decision. Toronto had another game waiting two days later, offering little time to linger.
McKenna’s workload before Thursday points to the role Toronto has been giving him. He is averaging 13:57 per game over eight NHL appearances, with 13 shots and a minus-3 rating. His previous low came Oct. 3, when he skated 12:46 in a 3-2 defeat against the Ottawa Senators. He had played 17:08 in Tuesday’s 5-4 loss at Utah.
Hiller sees a broader team issue
Hiller did not identify a single play or incident that led to McKenna staying on the bench. The coach said the decision was not tied to concern over the winger’s defensive commitment, and noted that McKenna’s ice time over the first part of the season shows he has been used regularly.
“Our conversations have been good since the day I met him,” Hiller said, praising McKenna’s personality and self-belief. The coach said the teenager understands his potential and that their latest discussion continued that constructive relationship.
Hiller’s larger point was that Toronto needs more work away from the puck across the roster, not only from McKenna. He said the Maple Leafs are dangerous when they have possession, but their off-puck game remains a daily point of emphasis.
Tavares’ absence creates another challenge for a Toronto group trying to find traction early in the schedule. The veteran forward was hurt Thursday and will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis. McKenna’s placement on the top power-play unit gives him an immediate opportunity to respond, skating with Matthews, Nylander, Marchenko and Raddysh when the Islanders arrive Saturday night.
