‘100 miles an hour’: Gavin McKenna jumps into Toronto’s top six

TORONTO — To the coach’s eye, Gavin McKenna appeared to be contained.

Toronto Maple Leafs shutdown man Chris Tanev, he of 878 games in the show, had seemingly boxed the 18-year-old winger into the corner during a tight battle drill.

“I saw him dance away and just do a nice little backhand sauce pass into space. That jumps out at you,” head coach Jim Hiller said Thursday, after running his first practice at Ford Performance Centre.

“So, those are the things that you’re just standing there and you see them and you go, ‘OK, well, that’s a high level.’ That’s what he’s going to have to do against veteran NHL defencemen when the real games start.”

And that’s why 2026’s first-overall pick is targeted to make his pro debut as a fixture of Toronto’s top six, to the left of last season’s leading goal scorer, John Tavares, and leading point-getter, William Nylander.

It’s not only the neckguard (now mandatory for NHL freshmen) that made McKenna stick out from the pack during his first official Leafs practice. It was also his vision, heavy stick, offensive instincts, smooth hands and pass-happy tendencies.

“I’m not looking for Gavin,” Hiller said, “but I see Gavin — if that makes any sense.”

No unit is etched in stone, but for now Hiller sees McKenna making plays with his new billet dad and the über-skilled Swede on a frightening second line (potentially both ways), while Auston Matthews reunites with power forward Matthew Knies and his old U.S. National Development Team pal Jack Roslovic on Line 1.

“It’s super awesome that they’ve got confidence in me to play with those type of players,” McKenna enthused after an up-tempo skate bubbling with two-on-none, two-on-one, and one-on-zero rushes. “So, it was fun being out there with them.

I think they’re both super-smart players.

“Being in this environment with guys who are going 100 miles an hour every single shift, I think it kind of just rubs off on you.”

Tavares — who was first to the draft dais when his new tenant was still in diapers — finds McKenna’s youthful energy equally contagious.

“I honestly feel the same way today as probably he does. Just the butterflies, the excitement,” Tavares said.

“So much fun to be back at it for real.”

McKenna’s debut reminds Nylander to enjoy every moment; careers can fly by at 100 miles an hour, too.

“It feels like just yesterday I was playing my first game. So, it goes pretty fast,” said Nylander, who was filmed celebrating Toronto’s unlikely lottery win alongside Knies at a Marlies playoff game in May.

“It’s a gamechanger. I mean, we were fired up.

“We won that thing, and the team has been rebuilt in a different way and a little different thought behind it. So, I mean, I’m super excited.”

Hiller chose to start McKenna with Tavares because of the former captain’s attention to detail and passion for sharing tricks of the trade with newcomers. Tavares frequently broke down strategy with sophomore Easton Cowan last season.

On rides to and from the rink, McKenna can pick the brain of Tavares, one the most consistent stars of his generation. When the teenager isn’t out in the yard playing baseball with Tavares’s kids, shop talk is more than welcome.

Who cares if the Zamboni has long cleared the ice?

“The best thing is just living it, right? And getting the experience,” Tavares said.

“When there’s time to chat through things and see what they’re thinking, how we can play off one another, and maybe it’s certain things I can do better to help support your teammates, your wingers, all those sorts of things. Those communications are ongoing.

“Other times, it’s best things are left unsaid, especially with a young player with a lot of potential. You don’t want them thinking a whole lot as well, right?

So, it’s always a balancing act. There’s no perfect way to plan for it.

I think, just let things happen naturally.”

Naturally, the wiry McKenna’s ability to create through thick traffic, to control the puck with his instincts and surprisingly heavy stick has fast made an impression on his teammates.

But Hiller will lean on Tavares and Nylander to pick the rookie up in the defensive zone, where McKenna’s growing pains will be most evident. Still, dropping an elite playmaker into a top six who was craving just that is enticing.

“Won’t be long before he's one of the best at doing it. So, whether it’s Willy or anyone, he's going to help a lot of us and make a lot of plays,” said Tavares, radiating with proud-dad vibes.

“He’s been so good his whole life. He’s had the spotlight on him for a long time, and it’ll only be magnified now.

And you get to live your dream. So, cherish that.

Soak it in. Never take that for granted.

And just be yourself.”

• Seeing Daniel Alfredsson all decked out in Maple Leafs blue and white and Mats Sundin leaning over the rail watching a roster he helped design is quite the sight.

“It’s pretty crazy, actually. To be honest, I mean, we’re seeing two Swedish legends every day,” says Nylander.

“I was shocked as well. I mean, we have a mutual friend in common.

He never said anything about it, so pretty shocked. But I’m obviously very happy that it happened.”

• Bet on right-shot defenceman Nick Blankenburg, the camp’s lone PTO, to sign a short-term contract before puck drop.

That Ben Danford is skating with the NHL group over veteran depth options Philippe Myers and Dakota Mermis speaks volumes about the prospect’s value internally. He’s poised to be first Marlie up, should injury strike.

• Toronto’s first season-long emergency backup goaltender is Brendan Bonello, the only player to participate in both on-ice sessions. All EBUGs are required to wear No. 00.

The 27-year-old Mississauga, Ont., native appeared in three pro games with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones and has served as a practice goalie for the Leafs and Marlies in past seasons.

• A truncated training camp compelled the Leafs to form one dedicated NHL group and another destined for the minors.

“Makes it harder for guys that want to battle for spots and to make the team,” Nylander said. “But, I mean, it’s good for shorter camp.”

Good news for ticket holders: Expect the A-listers, including McKenna, to play at Scotiabank Arena Saturday (vs. Montreal) and Wednesday (vs. Ottawa) in pre-season action while the B team hops a charter to play the road half of the split-squad matches.

• Third-liners Nick Paul and Easton Cowan looked excellent Thursday. Methinks it won’t be all too long before they get a peek higher up in the lineup.