Maple Leafs Gavin McKenna Is Starting to Find His Place

I've been thinking about Gavin McKenna's first few games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and I think the most interesting part of his development has little to do with his first NHL goal. It's what happens next.

The first-overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft arrived in Toronto carrying plenty of expectations. He's only 18, but in this market, people don't always leave young players much room to find their feet. Three games without a point were enough to start the conversation. Then, on Tuesday night, McKenna scored his first NHL goal and added an assist in Toronto's 5-4 overtime win over Nashville. He even earned first-star honours.

That was quite a night. But one good game doesn't answer all the questions about a young player's development.

McKenna Has Shown What He Can Do Offensively.

The goal was a beauty. McKenna took a pass from Auston Matthews and fired a shot past Juuse Saros, giving Toronto a glimpse of the scoring ability that helped make him the top pick. His assist on John Tavares' goal was encouraging, too. He helped create something rather than simply waiting for the puck to find him.

Earlier in the season, coach Jim Hiller had already been giving McKenna opportunities to play in the offensive zone and learn alongside experienced players. His time with players such as William Nylander and Tavares gives him a chance to see how NHL veterans read the game and find their openings. That's valuable experience, especially for a player still adjusting to the league’s speed and physical demands.

But McKenna's development won't be measured by goals alone. He still has to learn when to attack, when to hold onto the puck, how to handle pressure and how to contribute when the offensive opportunities aren't there. Those lessons take time.

The Next Step May Be More Important Than the First Goal.

Toronto's 4-3 shootout loss to Vegas on Thursday reminded everyone that the Maple Leafs have plenty of work to do as a team. For McKenna, the challenge now is to build on his breakthrough rather than feel he has to produce a highlight every night.

I don't think we need to project huge point totals or decide what kind of NHL star he'll become. We have seen too many young players develop at their own pace to get carried away this early. What I'd like to see is McKenna gradually becoming more comfortable. Can he hold onto the puck a little longer under pressure? Can he create chances consistently? Can he make the right play when the spectacular one isn't available?

For McKenna, the Small Steps Will Add Up.

Those are small steps, but they're the ones that turn talent into a dependable NHL player. The first goal is something he'll remember for the rest of his life. Now comes the harder part: learning how to play in this league night after night.

For the Maple Leafs, that's the development story worth watching.