Maple Leafs' Hardest Decision Is Knowing When Gavin McKenna Is Ready
One of the most interesting discussions I've been reading lately isn't really about Gavin McKenna at all. It's about what the Toronto Maple Leafs should do with him if he earns a spot on the roster. Should he start on the first line with Auston Matthews? Should he begin on the third line and earn more ice time? Should he spend time with John Tavares first? Everyone seems to have an opinion.
The funny thing is, I don't think the biggest question is where McKenna plays. I think it's how the Maple Leafs decide he's ready. Those are two very different questions.
For years, hockey has worked on the idea that young players have to earn everything. Start them low in the lineup. Protect them. Make them prove themselves before giving them bigger opportunities. There is certainly some wisdom in that approach.
Related: The Maple Leafs Are Betting on More Than Bobrovsky’s Skill
What Would Build McKenna’s Confidence?
But there is another way to think about development. Sometimes confidence doesn't come after success. Sometimes success comes after confidence. That's where organizations matter.
I've written before that great organizations don't simply develop players. They develop environments where players can flourish. Every organizational decision teaches a young player something. Where he plays. Who he plays with. How much responsibility he receives. Even what coaches say publicly sends a message about what the organization believes he can become.
What Kind of Player Do the Maple Leafs Think McKenna Really Is?
If the Maple Leafs truly believe McKenna is a future franchise player, then they also have to decide how they want him to experience his first NHL season. Do they want him worrying about making mistakes? Or do they want him thinking about making plays?
That doesn't mean handing him a top-line job simply because he was drafted first overall. It means understanding that development isn't just about protecting young players. Sometimes it's about trusting them.
McDavid Understood Toronto Better Than McKenna.
Connor McDavid touched on this idea without really saying it directly. When he talked about McKenna recently, he didn't focus on skill. He talked about the support system around him. I don't think that was an accident. Even the best young players need an environment that allows them to grow.
So maybe the Maple Leafs' biggest decision this fall won't be writing McKenna's name beside a particular line. Maybe it will be deciding what kind of organization they want him to grow up in. That choice could shape his career long after everyone has forgotten where he played on opening night.