Maple Leafs’ McKenna Matches Feat Not Seen Since 1984

Remember a couple of weeks ago, when people were starting to worry about Gavin McKenna? A quiet debut, a few missed optional skates, and plenty of Toronto speculation. Well, the young rookie seems to have something else for everyone to talk about now.

McKenna started the season slowly for the Maple Leafs.

Let's go back to that debut. McKenna had one shot, finished minus-2, and played 15:19 in a 3-2 loss to Montreal. It wasn't exactly the start that gets people jumping out of their seats. Still, he didn't look out of place, and while the offence wasn't there, he didn't do much to hurt his team either. That's not a bad place to start when you're 18 and playing your first NHL game.

Then came Tuesday against Nashville. McKenna scored his first NHL goal with a rocket into the top corner past Juuse Saros, added his first assist, and helped the Maple Leafs pull out a 5-4 overtime win. He was named the game's first star, and he became the youngest Maple Leafs player to record his first point at 18 years old, since Drake Berehowsky in 1990.

And he wasn't finished. In Saturday's 6-3 win over Colorado, McKenna picked up a power-play assist. William Nylander was impressed with the pass, pointing out just how talented the young forward is and how he can make those plays all over the ice. That gave McKenna a three-game point streak, something no Maple Leafs player aged 18 or younger had managed since Russ Courtnall in 1984. Courtnall had 10 points in seven games during that stretch, so McKenna is in pretty good company.

It might not be time to start planning the parade yet, but McKenna is showing increased skill.

I'm not suggesting we start planning the parade. But maybe those early expectations deserve another look. A 60- to 65-point rookie season always seemed like a reasonable target, although it was hard to know what to expect after his quiet start. Since then, he's scored, set up goals, and shown he can make things happen on the power play. He's learning on the job, and he's doing it pretty quickly.

He's also getting a real opportunity. Playing on the second line and taking on a role with the second power-play unit gives him a chance to learn the league while using the skills that got him here in the first place. Of course, three games don't tell the whole story. He's still 18, the NHL is a tough league, and there will be nights when things don't go his way. The early underlying numbers weren't particularly encouraging, either. We shouldn't ignore that.

It’s tough not to like what you’ve seen from McKenna recently.

But I like what we've seen lately. McKenna looks more comfortable, and he's starting to turn his talent into production. If he keeps moving in that direction, those early rookie projections might end up being a little conservative.

For now, let's enjoy watching the young player figure it out. Plenty of hockey remains, and nobody needs to rush the story. But it's getting more interesting by the game. He gets another chance to impress against the Utah Mammoth on the road tonight.