Maple Leafs' Gavin McKenna: Ice time back up after benching
Rotowire
McKenna played 17:56 in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Islanders. He registered four shots and finished minus-2.
McKenna's ice time was back up after not seeing ice in the final half of Thursday's overtime loss to the Sabres. The benching caused a stir in Toronto and across the NHL. McKenna sat out the final 32:54 of that game. McKenna had been on a four-game point streak (two goals, three assists) heading into that game, and head coach Jim Hiller said it had nothing to do with the teenager's play away from the puck. It was nice to see his ice time back up Saturday, although none of Toronto's top-six really had a good night. McKenna has been given John Tavares' (lower body) spot on the top power play, so his offensive creativity could shine in this situation.
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Maple Leafs' Gavin McKenna: Buries goal in loss
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McKenna scored a goal on two shots and added two PIM in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Mammoth.
McKenna is now on a four-game point streak, consisting of two goals and three assists. That's all the offense he's banked so far, but it's encouraging to see him finding a groove on the third line after struggling in the top six to start the season. The rookie winger has added 12 shots on net, four PIM and a minus-2 rating. McKenna will almost certainly get more looks in the top six as the season progresses, but having him on the third line for now gives the offense a bit more depth as he adjusts to the NHL.
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Maple Leafs' Gavin McKenna: Three-game streak sets team mark
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McKenna picked up a power-play assist Saturday in a 6-3 win over Colorado.
The pass drew high praise from the recipient, who buried it behind Mackenzie Blackwood. "Unbelievable pass on that first goal," William Nylander said post-game. "He did a great job, and he's so talented, and he can make those plays all over the ice." McKenna became the first Maple Leafs player age 18 or younger to record a point in three straight games (one goal, three assists) since Russ Courtnall had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in seven games from March 3-14, 1984.
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Maple Leafs' Gavin McKenna: First NHL goal and assist
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McKenna scored his first NHL goal and got his first assist in a 5-4 overtime win over the Predators on Tuesday.
McKenna became the youngest Maple Leafs player at the time of his first point (18 years, 290 days) since Drake Berehowsky (18 years, 280 days) on Oct. 10, 1990. McKenna's goal was a beauty -- he snapped an absolute rocket in the top corner past Juuse Saros at 14:31 of the second period. And he was named the game's first star in front of a capacity crowd (18,792). McKenna has a bright future in front of him.
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Maple Leafs' Gavin McKenna: Quiet pro debut
Rotowire
McKenna had one shot on net in a 3-2 loss to Montreal on Tuesday.
Head coach Jim Hiller moved the top pick from the 2026 NHL Entry Draft up and down between lines two and three in his NHL debut. McKenna was minus-2 with one shot on goal in 15:19. He didn't really stand out, but that's not bad. He didn't make mistakes even if his offense didn't show. McKenna will get every opportunity to play a lead role on the second power-play unit and skate on the second line.
