McKenna unites with Matthews as Maple Leafs juggle lineup

“I’m sure there’ll be an opportunity at some point where we’re going to play together, and I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun.” —Auston Matthews on Gavin McKenna, September 16

SEATTLE — It took until Game 15, but Gavin McKenna finally walked into the Toronto Maple Leafs’ dressing room and saw his name to the left of Auston Matthews’ on the top line, along with Jack Roslovic.

“When you see that, I think a little bit of a boost of confidence,” McKenna said Wednesday morning at Climate Pledge Arena, ahead of the Leafs’ game against the Seattle Kraken. “When you’re playing with two guys like that, you've got to make sure you're working.

I want to make the most out of this opportunity, so I’m looking forward to it.”

So is Leafs Nation, a fan base begging to see what magic Toronto’s two most recent first-overall draft picks can conjure in regular rotation.

The slippery playmaker and the fearsome sniper.

“Whenever he’s open, you want to find him in a spot because he's dangerous in all areas of the ice. So, you want to get him the puck,” McKenna said of his new centreman.

But remember, it was mentor Matthews who set up McKenna’s first-ever NHL goal three weeks ago, in an emotional comeback win over Nashville.

“His playmaking is something. I didn’t really know how good he was at making those plays coming into the league.

I think he's made a ton of nice plays not a lot of guys can make. So, when he’s got the puck on his stick, you've got to be ready as well,” McKenna noted.

McKenna and Matthews sit beside each other on the road and have flashed power-play chemistry. But they’ve skated just 19:04 together five-on-five this season, outshooting the competition 11-4 and outscoring them 2-0.

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Coach Jim Hiller has never started the two stars on the same line, though, despite plenty of behind-the-scenes discussions about the combo.

This juggle was made out of necessity.

Top-six winger Kirill Marchenko left the road trip early after suffering an undisclosed lower-body injury in Monday’s loss to Calgary and will be sidelined weeks. Centre John Tavares remains rehabbing his own lower-body injury back in Toronto.

“I hope he just feels comfortable playing with Auston. Sometimes the first few times it's, ‘Hey, you're playing with Auston.

What do I got to do? I got to get him the puck.’ I think probably by now he's played enough with him and enough in the league that he just has to go out and play his game,” Hiller said.

“You know, the league gets ramped up really quickly, so he has to get ramped up really quickly too. I think that both things have happened.

I think if you talk to him, he has a healthy respect for the league. He's understanding some of the things he can get away with offensively, some of the things he can't.

And then the play without the puck, which is always the biggest challenge for every player, is just how important the details of the game without the puck are.”

The rookie has four steals but 13 giveaways. Some of those were made in the neutral zone and thrust the Leafs’ defence on its heels.

That Matthews always draws the opposition’s toughest matchup will put McKenna’s puck management to the test.

“When you turn over a puck and stuff like that, guys will make you pay for it,” McKenna said. “It's the best hockey league in the world.

So, there's a lot of offensive brains out there that are very dangerous and are very quick players.

“So, you've got to be ready. And honestly, it's all about positioning is kind of what I found out.

If you're in the right spots, it's a lot harder to go against. So, for me, it's been trying to get in those spots and create turnovers and stuff like that.”

As the on-point McKenna wrapped his first pre-game scrum as a front-line forward and the cameras dispersed, Nick Paul gave the teenager a half-hug, half-handshake.

“You killed it. ” Paul exclaimed.

”

Indeed, McKenna has been comporting himself with a maturity beyond his 18 years.

If a freshman is ready for a top-line test, it’s him.

“Gav’s a great player, great human being. There’s lots of skill.

He's got (14) games under his belt, starting to get used to the space and the speed and structure,” Paul said.

“He's doing a great job. And, yeah, just excited for him and to see what he does.”

One-Timers: A game-ready Dakota Joshua was recalled from his AHL conditioning loan and has joined the team in Seattle but is awaiting his gear. “He’s in great shape.

He’s ready to roll,” Hiller assured…. Chris Tanev (upper body) is clear for contact and might play as early as Saturday in Vancouver….

Marchenko is officially listed as week-to-week. Same goes for Tavares (lower body), Marshall Rifai (lower body)….

Sergei Bobrovsky makes the start in goal…. Seattle coach Lane Lambert on Bobby McMann facing his old team for the first time: “Bobby’s a pretty even-keel guy.

He’s got enough wherewithal and experience to make sure he’s not too amped up. But certainly, he’ll be ready to go.”

Maple Leafs projected lineup Wednesday in Seattle:

Maple Leafs provide injury updates for several players

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