The McKenna Scoreboard Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

Something funny is happening with Gavin McKenna. The kid hasn't exactly lit up the preseason scoresheet. One secondary assist. That's it. For a player who went first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, that’s the kind of number that can get people talking.

And we all know how this works in Toronto. A first-overall pick doesn't get much time to quietly figure things out. If McKenna goes a couple of games without scoring, somebody will start asking questions. If Ivar Stenberg scores a couple of goals in San Jose, the comparison will start over.

But here’s where it gets interesting. The points aren't telling the whole story.

McKenna Is Doing a Number of Things Really Well.

According to Mike Kelly of NHL Network, McKenna is already leading the Maple Leafs in zone entries, offensive-zone possession time and slot passes this preseason. Those aren't exactly the numbers that show up on the front page of the box score, but they're pretty darn important.

This is what caught my attention. A young player doesn't have to score every night to tell you he's seeing the game properly. Sometimes you can see it in the way he enters the zone. Sometimes it's the extra second he creates with the puck. Sometimes it's the pass that puts a teammate in position to score rather than the shot that produces the goal. That's the stuff worth watching with McKenna.

The Stenberg Comparison Will Probably Go On All Season.

Of course, the Stenberg comparison isn't going away. That'll follow these two young players around for years. Toronto took McKenna first. San Jose took Stenberg second. Every time one scores and the other doesn't, somebody will want to reopen the draft debate.

That's just the way hockey works. But preseason is a lousy place to settle that argument. Stenberg had a terrific night. A four-point game and a hat trick will do that for you. McKenna hasn't had anything close to that kind of statistical explosion. But let's see what happens when the games count.

And let's remember something else: McKenna is coming into Toronto with a tremendous opportunity, but also tremendous expectations. He'll be watched differently than almost every other teenager entering the NHL this season. That makes patience important.

The Maple Leafs didn't draft McKenna because they needed him to score three preseason goals in September. They drafted him because they believed he could become a franchise player. Those are two very different things.

It’s Been Interesting to See Just How Involved McKenna Has Been.

Here's what I really like about McKenna so far: even without the points, he appears involved. He's getting into the offensive zone. He's holding onto the puck. He's finding passing lanes. He's creating opportunities. The goals and assists will come if the rest of it translates. And that's the real test.

So, yes, keep an eye on Stenberg. Keep the draft comparison alive. It'll be fun. But don't let one player's hat trick and another player's lonely secondary assist convince you that we've already learned something we haven't.

The McKenna story is just getting started. And sometimes the most interesting part of a hockey story is what the scoreboard doesn't tell you.