- Gavin McKenna sat between fellow No. 1 picks Auston Matthews and John Tavares at Maple Leafs media day Wednesday
- The 18-year-old is living with Tavares and his family this season and has been over to Matthews’ place for dinner
- Read below for what Jim Hiller said about McKenna’s role when camp opens
Gavin McKenna is moving in with John Tavares.
The 18-year-old sat between Tavares and Auston Matthews at Maple Leafs media day on Wednesday, three first overall picks on the same riser. McKenna is living with Tavares and his family through his rookie season after spending part of the summer at the veteran’s home in Muskoka.
McKenna was asked what that setup has done for him so far.
“For me, with John welcoming me into his home, I think that just kind of shows the type of person he is. Such a good leader. One thing I’ve noticed is that he played 82 games last year, and I don’t think that comes without the off-ice stuff and the habits he has.”
Watch the full Leafs media day availability:
Matthews has handled the other half of the welcome, hosting McKenna for dinners at his house. Toronto’s captain talked about what he has passed along to the rookie.
“The advice I’ve given him, given everybody? Just be yourself. Work hard, respect everybody. Learn as much as you can and have fun. And you can see that, being around him the past couple of weeks, he’s having fun.”
Coach Jim Hiller would not say who McKenna skates with when the Leafs hit the ice Thursday, and he would not put a number on him either. Hiller laid out how the staff is approaching the rookie’s first camp.
“We’re going to be wise. We’re not setting any ceiling for him at all. We’re going to let him dictate where he falls.”
TSN’s Mark Masters and Chris Johnston dug into how Toronto plans to handle its youngest player:
McKenna already knows what the noise sounds like. He scored four goals in his first 16 games at Penn State last season and heard plenty about it, then piled up 33 points in his final 19 games to finish with 51 in 36.
He was asked whether that criticism got to him.
“I’ve kind of learned how to deal with it the past few years, especially last year. So, for me, I mean, some people might not like it but, for me, I look at it as a blessing in disguise.”
Toronto released its camp roster later in the day, with McKenna listed among the forwards next to Matthews, Tavares, William Nylander and Matthew Knies:
The Leafs open the season against Montreal at Scotiabank Arena on Sept. 29. McKenna pulled off a Michigan at rookie camp last week, and Hiller says he has looked better every time he has stepped on the ice since.
