Gavin McKenna closed out his first NHL preseason on Wednesday night as the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Ottawa Senators, and a couple of sequences from the 18-year-old have dominated the conversation since.
The No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft skated on a line with John Tavares and William Nylander, the same trio that has drawn attention throughout camp. Four days earlier he had made his preseason debut against Montreal, drawing the loudest ovation of the night during starting lineup introductions and logging 20:39 without registering a point.
Fans buzz over Gavin McKenna
This time the highlights arrived, including one move at the expense of Michael Amadio that fans immediately fixated on.
“Gavin McKenna is gonna be a certified weapon in the National if he’s pulling off casual moves like this against Michael Amadio – one of the better defensive forwards in the NHL – without much effort,” one fan wrote.
“McKenna is playing a video game out there. Absolute show time from No. 92,” another said.
Others reached for comparisons, or simply gave up trying to stay composed about it.
“Reminds me of a young Mitch Marner,” one fan wrote, while another admitted: “I’m embarrassed by the way Gavin McKenna is making me feel from less than half a preseason game.”
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The more measured assessment came from Scott Wheeler, The Athletic’s prospects writer, who has tracked McKenna for years and came away just as impressed.
“One of the better games I’ve seen McKenna play in the last year. Looks unbelievable,” Wheeler wrote. “His deficiencies (size, habits, off-puck detail/commitment) haven’t had any meaningful impact. Pace is high and he’s not drifting to the perimeter. So many positives.”
First point recorded
That last point matters more than the highlights themselves. At 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, the questions about McKenna have never been about skill but about whether his frame and off-puck work would hold up against NHL competition. Wheeler’s read is that neither has been a problem so far. He also got on the scoresheet for the first time this preseason, picking up an assist alongside Nylander on a John Tavares goal late in the first period.
McKenna said after his debut that he was still working through nerves and a few turnovers, telling TSN there was “a lot to build on.” Toronto opens the regular season on September 29.
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