McKenna Gets Backing From Matthews as Tavares Joins Maple Leafs Camp

Gavin McKenna was the center of attention during the Toronto Maple Leafs’ media day, but seated next to him were two veterans who know well what it is like to be the first overall draft pick at the first practice of an NHL career: John Tavares and captain Auston Matthews. The three represent three generations of highly touted prospects, as the organization aims to integrate them toward the team’s success.

As NHL reports, the 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon, selected first overall in the 2026 draft by Toronto after closing out his season at Penn State, is benefiting from the experience of two players who went through the same enormous expectations. McKenna is spending time with Matthews and with Tavares’s family, which is helping him adjust to the big professional hockey environment in Toronto.

Matthews has advised McKenna to stay himself, work hard and learn from experience, stressing the importance of respect and enjoying the game. The off-ice preparations and habits, according to Matthews, are part of the process that turns potential into consistency.

McKenna himself appreciates Tavares’s hospitality and the way the veteran manages his body and routine, seeing in his example the explanation of the ability to play a full season. He says he is trying to adopt the habits that helped the veteran play 82 games and that taking part in the team’s daily life has given him confidence.

Coach Jim Hiller has praised McKenna’s progress in training, saying the other players have accepted his skill and that he is gradually gaining confidence. Hiller underlines that the club will not set predetermined limits for him, but will let the player himself show where he belongs, backed by names like Matthews, Tavares, William Nylander, Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan.

His predecessors at Penn State college showed two faces of the season for McKenna: a difficult start with 4 goals in the first 16 games, then a strong comeback after participating in the U-20 World Championship, with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in the last 19 games, to close the season with 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 36 games. He says the early criticism pushed him to work harder and improve.

On the horizon is the season opener which, if McKenna is healthy, is expected to take place on September 29 against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena. According to the NHL, McKenna is coming into an environment where he does not have to be the one carrying the whole team’s weight, but can learn and grow alongside experienced players.