Gavin McKenna’s first NHL preseason night had the weight of a homecoming and the pace of a hard lesson. The 18-year-old Whitehorse, Yukon, native drew the loudest player introduction at Scotiabank Arena before Toronto’s 4-1 exhibition loss to the Montreal Canadiens, then logged 20:39 while skating beside John Tavares and William Nylander.
A memorable first call at Scotiabank Arena
McKenna was in Toronto’s starting group when public-address announcer Mike Ross introduced No. 92, and the building responded with the biggest ovation of the introductions. The No. 1 overall pick from the June 26, 2026 NHL Draft said the moment landed once he reached the blue line.
“The starting-lineup introduction was really special,” McKenna said. “To be out there with this group, with players like Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, John Tavares and Nylander, I feel very fortunate. It is a day I will always remember.”
McKenna said he rode to the rink with Tavares and found himself less nervous than anticipated. Still, getting through his first NHL game-day routine was important.
- McKenna made his preseason debut 85 days after Toronto selected him first overall.
- He registered three shots in 20:39 of ice time.
- He primarily played left wing at five-on-five beside center Tavares and right wing Nylander.
- He also spent 3:27 on Toronto’s second power-play unit with Bo Groulx, Knies, Tinus Luc Koblar and Emil Andrae.
Skill showed through in a quiet offensive night
Toronto did not generate much offense against Montreal, but McKenna found his way into several of the Leafs’ better looks. He took a hooking penalty 4:44 into the opening period, and Toronto killed it off, before settling into the game with the puck on his stick.
His clearest chances came in the second period. At 5:32, McKenna kept possession on a 2-on-1 with Nylander and fired from the right dot. Later, near the end of a Toronto power play at 10:42, he used his feet to get around a defender high in the zone before getting a shot away from the lower right circle.
“I felt good,” McKenna said. “I created some things, although there were a couple of turnovers. That can happen when nerves are involved. It was a solid first step, with plenty to build from.”
Coach Jim Hiller liked the rookie’s ability to create chances in a game that did not offer many for either side.
“He was around three or four opportunities, and you will take that every night,” Hiller said. “It was a good beginning for him.”
Late-game trust and the next adjustment
Hiller also put McKenna over the boards after Anthony Stolarz was pulled late in the third period. Toronto trailed 2-1 at the time and had a 6-on-5 advantage, although it could not produce the tying goal before Montreal finished with a 4-1 win.
For McKenna, that late assignment stood out as much as the starting-lineup introduction. He said being placed with Tavares and Nylander from the opening shift, then being used with the net empty, showed the staff had faith in him.
“It was comforting right away to be on that line,” McKenna said. “When the coach puts you out in the final minutes with a chance to tie the game, that means a lot.”
Hiller’s main coaching point was straightforward: get closer to contested pucks. The coach felt McKenna occasionally waited for plays to come to him instead of arriving first and taking control.
- Hiller wants McKenna to attack loose pucks more directly at NHL speed.
- The coach said McKenna must get tight to the puck, protect it and make plays from there rather than waiting for a pass.
- Hiller expects the young forward to adapt quickly, noting that McKenna is already a strong evaluator of his own game.
Matthews saw the same high-end ability, while recognizing the challenge of jumping into a preseason game after only two practices. The Leafs captain said McKenna has the right approach and should become more comfortable as camp progresses.
“You can see the skill immediately,” Matthews said. “With so little practice time, it is not easy to step into an NHL preseason game. He has a good head on his shoulders, and as he adjusts to the speed, he will keep getting better.”
McKenna said there was no single point in the night when the reality of an NHL debut hit him. From warmups through his final shift, he said, the entire experience felt like the dream he had been chasing.
