What should Toronto expect from Gavin McKenna?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into the 2026-27 NHL season with plenty of hope, and no beacon is brighter than their latest first-overall pick, Gavin McKenna, who landed with the organization after a shock NHL Draft Lottery win in the spring. 

While the team fell short of expectations in 2025-26, the group still has plenty of quality, with the likes of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and others potentially creating a perfect situation for McKenna’s rookie campaign. 

On a recent episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, DFO Toronto’s Nick Alberga joined co-hosts Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton to break down how the new superstar could fit into the lineup, and what fans should expect from him in his first season. 

Yaremchuk: I’m actually pretty happy that no one seems to be heaping unrealistic expectations on Gavin McKenna, which is quite surprising, considering the market he is in and how things usually go with buzzing topics and the big headlines the major networks always want to put out.

I don’t know if you want to live in fantasy land for a second and say ‘what if he has a surprising season like a Matthew Schaefer or what if he is just point per game right out of the chute and he clicks with Auston Matthews? Like, it is exciting and it’s got to be a little rejuvenating for that fan base too, to say ‘right, like if this guy pops, our forward group looks, our team looks a lot different.’

Alberga: It’s still surreal in my world that I wake up every day as a Maple Leafs fan, and Gavin McKenna is a Leaf. I’m not suggesting he’s going to be the be-all and end-all of this franchise for the next 15 years, but considering the way last season was, with guys and just covering that team, it was just a slog on a daily basis to get that first overall pick. 

And again, insulating with the names I just brought up, I think if there’s a position, never mind the market and the noise in this market, it is Toronto because it is a very cushy spot. 

There’s definitely a pathway. Sometimes you look at rookies, and you’re like, ‘There’s no chance in hell.’ Like, I think Porter Martone is getting a lot of conversation right now for the Calder Trophy, and I get that voice, but who is giving that guy the puck? Like, there’s not a Matthews, there’s not a William Nylander, and others. I think McKenna is in a really good offensive position to contend for the Calder for this season, and ultimately, it’s going to come down to him, which I like. 

The messaging from the Maple Leafs camp is that it’s all about Gavin McKenna and what he is going to do, and it’s up to him. If he proves that he’s good enough to play with the big boys and stick all year, then that’s exactly where he’s going to land, but it’s a really cushy position, and I think he can get points in his sleep with those guys. 

You can catch the rest of the Maple Leafs breakdown with Nick Alberga and the entire DFO Live episode right here.