Toronto Maple Leafs were eager to put No. 1 draft pick Gavin McKenna into the game and knew how to get the job started right away when he took the ice in his first practice with the Maple Leafs on Thursday.
The forward acquired from the Bruins in last season’s mid-season trade had a clear early opening right away on the left side along with veteran John Tavares and Toronto’s top-winger, William Nylander. It took all three plays just for McKenna to take a bow; he returned from the opening possession of the game and played well throughout.
It was an impressive moment when the play forced McKenna to play a battle for pucks with defenseman Chris Tanev. The youngster got into a good position in a tight space and managed to get away and deliver a savvy backhand pass into the space.
It was something Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller immediately noticed and seemed to praise McKenna for creating plays under pressure. Those skills will be useful when McKenna is playing real NHL forwards and defenders in regular-season games, the coach said.
McKenna was also brilliant in his free play; he fired off a goal that was tallied by Tavares. Amongst all of those things is his puck control and creativity at practice.
Tavares was also awestruck by the new player. The veteran centre called McKenna’s playmaking “elite” and noted that his puck skills, his stick control and strength were all exemplary. While McKenna is only 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, Tavares thinks that the teen possesses a ton of hockey strength of his own.
Notably, McKenna was matched by bigger forward Matthew Knies. The youngster lost a glove in the action, but kept battling for the puck and went on to set up a scoring opportunity from the rear of goaltender Anthony Stolarz.
Despite a disappointing previous season when the Maple Leafs failed to come up with the goods and recorded their first playoff absence in a decade, Toronto chose McKenna over the odds in the draft.
McKenna is in Toronto, starting a new chapter of his life with Tavares and his family, and is a player he could see in the NHL in his first practice.
About the Author
