The McKenna Question: What's Best for the Maple Leafs’ Young Star?
The easy answer when a player like Gavin McKenna arrives is to look at the players around him. Who does he play with? Does he get Auston Matthews? Does he play beside William Nylander? Does John Tavares become the veteran centre who helps guide him? But maybe the better question is to look at it from McKenna’s perspective.
What does Gavin McKenna need to become the player the Maple Leafs believe he can be?
That is the challenge for the Maple Leafs. They shouldn’t just be trying to find the most exciting line combination. They should be trying to put a young player in the best possible environment to become the player they believe he can be.
The temptation will be to put McKenna beside Matthews and Nylander because the offensive possibilities are obvious. A creative playmaker feeding one of the best goal scorers in the NHL while playing alongside an elite offensive talent would be exciting. It would also put McKenna directly into the spotlight from day one. But sometimes young players need room to become themselves.
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Where can McKenna best be developed and mentored?
The NHL is a different world from college hockey. The pace is faster, the players are stronger, and every mistake gets analyzed. Even the most talented young players need time to adjust. This is where a player like John Tavares becomes valuable.
Tavares has been through everything. He has been a first overall pick, a captain, a franchise player, and a player who has dealt with the expectations that come with being a star. For a young player trying to find his place, having that kind of experience by his side could be incredibly valuable.
The Maple Leafs also have to remember that McKenna does not need to prove he belongs by playing with Matthews right away. Great players eventually find their way into those roles. The important thing is making sure the foundation is right.
The Matthews-Nylander era is about winning now. The McKenna era is about what comes next.
The best teams know how to connect those two timelines. The biggest mistake Toronto could make is asking, “How can Gavin McKenna help Auston Matthews?” The better question is, “How can the Maple Leafs help Gavin McKenna become Gavin McKenna?”
Because if they get that answer right, everybody benefits.