- Gavin McKenna hit 23.34 mph against Vegas, the fastest burst by an 18-year-old since tracking began in 2021-22
- The No. 1 pick has points in three straight games after going without one in his first three
- Read below for the Schaefer rematch and what is ahead for the Maple Leafs rookie
Gavin McKenna is the fastest 18-year-old the NHL has ever tracked.
The Maple Leafs rookie reached 23.34 mph against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 8, according to NHL EDGE stats on NHL.com. That is the fastest skating burst by an 18-year-old since the league started tracking in 2021-22.
Only two other players that age have cracked 23 mph in that span, and both were first overall picks too:
| Player | Max speed | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Gavin McKenna | 23.34 mph | 2026-27 |
| Macklin Celebrini | 23.10 mph | 2024-25 |
| Matthew Schaefer | 23.09 mph | 2025-26 |
McKenna’s burst ranked fourth in the NHL when EDGE first reported it. Through Saturday’s games it sits tied for ninth among all players, per NHL.com’s Monday McKenna Watch. His 75.66 mph shot against Nashville was the hardest of his career, though Juuse Saros saved it.
The legs are showing up on the score sheet now, too. McKenna went without a point in his first three NHL games, then ended his second week on a three-game point streak.
It started with his first NHL goal and an assist on a John Tavares goal in a 5-4 overtime win over the Predators on Oct. 6. Take a look at the goal:
Auston Matthews talked about the moment after the game and said McKenna earned it.
“He’s got all the confidence in the world in himself, in the best way possible. But when you find the back of the net it helps. It was great to see him get that moment and enjoy it. It was very well deserved.”
An assist in a 4-3 shootout loss to Vegas on Oct. 8 came next. Then McKenna set up William Nylander’s power-play goal in Saturday’s 6-3 win over Colorado, part of Nylander’s five-point night.
Through six games, McKenna has four points (one goal, three assists) and is averaging 14:39 of ice time.
Toronto wraps its three-game road trip Tuesday at Utah, one of the marquee games of Frozen Frenzy, then returns home to host Buffalo on Thursday. Saturday brings the Islanders and Matthew Schaefer, who matched up against McKenna in a 2-1 Islanders win on Sept. 30.
McKenna had one shot on goal in 15:32 of ice time that night, and Saturday is his chance to answer a defenseman who is nearly as quick as he is.
