If Only Gavin McKenna Wasn't Creative It Would Be Easier

There’s something a little funny about the Gavin McKenna hype already. The youngster hasn’t played an NHL game yet, and we’re already arguing about how many points he should score. A Michigan attempt at prospect camp turns into a social-media event. Somebody suggests 50 points as a reasonable rookie target and gets hammered for it. Others talk about 80, 90, or even 100 points.

Good grief. Let the young guy put his skates on.

But McKenna hasn’t helped himself by being exciting and creative.

This is the part of being the first-overall pick that gets lost. Gavin McKenna is 18 years old. He’s still figuring out his body, his game and, presumably, where he left his car keys half the time. Asking a teenager to walk into Toronto and immediately perform like a ten-year NHL veteran is a pretty ridiculous expectation.

And Toronto is not exactly the easiest place to learn quietly. Like when he went for a “Michigan.” Why not just be less exciting? As a result, everyone will watch every shift. Every mistake will be clipped. Every goal will be celebrated as evidence that the Leafs have found the next superstar. And every night he doesn't score will produce somebody wondering what's wrong.

That’s a lot for any young player.

Fortunately, McKenna can grow into his role with the Maple Leafs.

The good news is that McKenna doesn't actually have to carry this team. That's an enormous difference from what some first-overall picks face. He'll arrive in Toronto with Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and other established NHL players around him. He won't have to walk into the room believing the entire franchise is sitting on his shoulders.

In fact, the smartest thing the Maple Leafs can do with McKenna might be to make sure he understands that. Let him learn. Let him make mistakes. Let him have a bad game without everybody deciding it means something.

Last year's first-overall pick, Matthew Schaefer, makes this a little harder because he came into the NHL and immediately looked like he belonged. But that's not a reasonable measuring stick. Players develop at different speeds. One teenager exploding onto the NHL scene doesn't suddenly become the standard for every teenager who follows him.

McKenna could become a fan favourite quickly.

McKenna is going to have plenty of pressure in Toronto without the Maple Leafs' own fan base adding another hundred pounds to the backpack. The Michigan attempt at prospect camp actually makes the point pretty well. It was fun. It was worth showing. But it wasn't important. The important stuff will come later.

Those things include learning the league. Taking a hit from somebody who has been waiting years to welcome him to the NHL. Figuring out when to make the fancy play and when to make the simple one. Learning what it takes to play 82 games. That's where McKenna's real story begins.

Right now, who really knows how well McKenna will play?

The Maple Leafs didn't draft him first overall because they need him to save the franchise this October. They drafted him because they believe he can help make the franchise better for a long time.

Soon enough, we'll find out what kind of NHL player McKenna is. Until then, maybe we can give the young guy a little room to breathe.