See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source Toronto’s first-overall draft pick will be living among the first family of the Maple Leafs. As was anticipated, Gavin McKenna is going to lodge with John Tavares at his home in the suburbs as the rookie acclimatizes to National Hockey League life and the Toronto fishbowl.
“You want him to go out and enjoy all the great things about being a Leaf, living his dream, playing in the NHL, and the opportunity to play for an unbelievable fan base that’s going to love him and support him,” Tavares told The Hockey News during this week’s NHL media tour in Las Vegas.
“And when it does feel heavy at times, or when it is a lot, going through it for the first time, he has that ability to just be in a family environment.” It’s a mentorship former Leafs captain Tavares has offered to other new Leafs in the past. The young players — McKenna turns 19 in December — benefit from Tavares’ own experience as a scrutinized first-overall selection by the New York Islanders, plus his 17-year, 1,300-game career.
Which players have lived with vets? Tavares, who turns 36 this month, will joke his new boarder also provides a handy baby-sitting service for wife Aryne and children Jace, Axton and Rae, aged three to seven.
When veteran Patrick Marleau was a Leaf, he had helped future captain Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner get settled amid his brood of four sons. “It’s definitely different than what I had experienced,” Tavares said of guiding newcomers.
“That’s why even more I felt like offering up the opportunity if it made sense for (McKenna) and the organization. “Just being able to come home and disconnect from it all — the attention can be a lot at times, especially just being 18 and from a small town in a more remote place out in the Yukon.
That can be really positive for him.” It’s possible that McKenna also will see playing time as Tavares’ left winger once new coach Jim Hiller decides who he wants flanking Matthews. As a playmaking specialist, McKenna would fit with either centre if he makes a smooth transition from junior and college hockey.
Tavares also was asked if he feels the Leafs have re-established themselves as Stanley Cup contenders after missing the playoffs last year and dropping to second last in the Eastern Conference. In addition to McKenna, the Leafs have made short-term improvements in goal with Sergei Bobrovsky and on defence with Darren Raddysh, Emil Andrae and the projected return of Chris Tanev.
Elliotte Friedman and Kevin Bieksa return to revamped Rogers NHL coverage John Chayka, Gavin McKenna, Auston Matthews and more: 27 Maple Leafs thoughts on season's cusp “I believe so, that’s what our goal is. It’s one thing to say, but there’s a lot you have to go out and prove.
You have to build it. Everybody’s excited.” Training camp begins early next week.
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