- Auston Matthews reached out to Gavin McKenna right after Toronto took him No. 1 overall
- McKenna says the Leafs captain kept the message short and to the point
- Read below for what Matthews told the 18-year-old and the welcome video that aired on draft night
One of the first people to reach out to Gavin McKenna after Toronto made him the No. 1 pick was Auston Matthews.
McKenna met with the media Saturday at the Maple Leafs’ practice facility and was asked what he heard from the captain. He said Matthews didn’t say much.
“He just said, ‘Congrats. Looking forward to snapping it around with me,’ I think is what he said,” McKenna said.
The two have been talking for a while now. McKenna said Matthews first texted him after the NHL Scouting Combine, and they’ve stayed in touch since.
Matthews also recorded a welcome message that aired during the draft broadcast Friday night in Buffalo.
“I know how exciting this is for you and your family, and what an incredible honor it is,” Matthews said in the clip.
McKenna isn’t walking in thinking anything gets handed to him. He talked about where he fits on a roster that already has Matthews and John Tavares down the middle.
“You’re not just going to step into the League and hop right onto the first line. I’ve got to earn that and prove myself,” McKenna said. “Guys like (Auston Matthews and John Tavares) are the guys you want to play with and surround yourself with, so I’m going to work hard for it.”
Here’s McKenna’s full media availability:
The 18-year-old went first overall to Toronto on Friday, the prize the Leafs landed after winning May’s draft lottery.
Development camp opens Monday, with on-ice sessions set for July 2-4. McKenna spent Saturday getting a feel for the city and threw out the first pitch at the Blue Jays game.
The welcome has been warm so far. McKenna’s real audition starts when the development camp doors open Monday.
