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Hockey’s oldest and fiercest rivalry will write another memorable chapter in its unfolding saga. With the season opener between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens drawing near, consensus phenom Gavin McKenna could make his official NHL debut against the Habs. The top pick by Toronto in the recent draft has a weight of expectation behind his arrival as an elite, generational offensive talent. He showed why at the pre-draft level and will hit Maple Leaf training camp with massive pressure surrounding him.
There’s no brighter stage than an Original Six opening night. Faceoff against Montreal for McKenna will be a high- voltage introduction to the pro ranks. His vision, slick skills, and pace are expected to lead to early top-six minutes and a prominent role on the power play with the club’s established stars. Opponents know that they will be stuck dealing with McKenna on the outside, finding seams and passing in the slot from Day 1.
For Toronto, unveiling McKenna is a competitive advantage and also a marketing windfall that will thrill the already energized fan base as the team, perpetually under the microscope, enters an exciting new era.
But beware: Montreal’s disciplined defence corps will hit McKenna with physical strength and also adjust quickly to his tight loops and skills. If McKenna skates in this one, the game will be far more than points. McKenna will introduce himself to the hockey world as the game’s next headliner.
NHL season openers are usually special, but a star prospect playing the rivalry of all rivalries puts it in a special class of its own. All attention will now be paid to how quickly he adjusts during camp and whether that’s enough to skate in prime time.
Source: NHL.com / Pension Plan Puppets (Leafs Coverage)
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