- Gavin McKenna scored a Michigan on his first rep of Maple Leafs rookie practice Friday
- Toronto pulled the No. 1 pick from the Prospect Challenge, which wrapped Sunday without him
- Read below for the clip and what McKenna said about dinner at Auston Matthews’ place
Gavin McKenna needed one rep to remind everyone why Toronto took him first overall.
The 18-year-old scooped the puck onto his blade and dropped a Michigan into the far corner during Friday’s rookie practice at the Ford Performance Centre. It was not the cleanest lacrosse goal anyone has ever scored. The goalie was flat-footed and the ice in front of him was wide open, so he took what was there.
Daniele Franceschi posted the clip from the rink. Take a look at McKenna’s Michigan:
That rep turned out to be the only McKenna footage Leafs fans got all weekend. Toronto had already named him to its NHL Prospect Challenge roster before pulling him back, and the tournament finished Sunday in Gatineau without him in it.
Skating with Toronto’s veterans has been the tradeoff, and a lot of that work has come alongside Auston Matthews. McKenna was asked Friday how much he has played with the captain this summer.
“He’s unreal. He’s fun to watch, and to play with him, he’s super smart and obviously he’s got that release. So you kind of want to give him the puck when he’s open and hope you get an assist.”
Matthews has pulled him in off the ice too. Asked what advice the captain has handed down, McKenna said there has not been much of a lecture, just an invitation.
“I think he’s just trying to make me feel comfortable. I went over for dinner one night with him, and just getting close with him and trying to get close with the guys.”
Here’s McKenna’s full availability from Friday:
Toronto’s prospects closed out the tournament Sunday afternoon against Winnipeg, with Alexander Bilecki and Brody Pepoy among the names doing the scoring:
McKenna’s first game in a Leafs sweater now lands in preseason, against Montreal at Scotiabank Arena. He brought that date up himself on Friday when a reporter asked whether the season has started to feel real.
“Looking forward to playing Montreal at Scotiabank. It’s something you dream of as a kid, to play that first game.”
