- Ivar Stenberg says he had bad pre-draft meetings with the Maple Leafs
- Gavin McKenna says Monday is “Leafs versus the Sharks,” not McKenna versus Stenberg
- Read below for Auston Matthews’ Patrik Laine story from 2016
Ivar Stenberg doesn’t think the Maple Leafs ever wanted him.
The Sharks rookie was asked about the 2026 Draft and his meetings with Toronto ahead of Monday night’s game, and Curtis Pashelka of the Bay Area News Group got his answer. “I didn’t have good meetings with Toronto and didn’t feel like it was the team for me,” Stenberg said.
Stenberg said he had already figured he wasn’t going first overall. “They wanted another guy, and I accept that,” he said. “But I’m super happy I’m with the Sharks.”
That “other guy” was Gavin McKenna, and the two meet in the NHL for the first time Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET when Toronto hosts San Jose at Scotiabank Arena. NHL.com caught up with McKenna on what the matchup means to him.
McKenna wasn’t interested in making it personal. “I don’t really go out thinking it’s McKenna versus Stenberg. It’s Leafs versus the Sharks,” he said. “It’s a team game so I’m looking forward to playing against them.”
Both teams need something. The Maple Leafs are 3-4-2 and have lost three straight, while the Sharks are 4-3-1 with three losses in their last four.
Stenberg has six points (two goals, four assists) in eight games and has settled in quickly. McKenna has five points in nine games and played a career-high 17:56 in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Islanders, days after his Sabres benching.
Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky was asked whether the game means more to Stenberg. “I don’t honestly think it does,” Warsofsky said. “He’s got a great head on his shoulders.”
Alex Wennberg, the 32-year-old Swede who has helped Stenberg adjust, said the hype hasn’t rattled him.
Matthews has been through a night like this. He faced No. 2 pick Patrik Laine in his third NHL game on Oct. 19, 2016, and Laine had a hat trick, including the overtime winner, in a 5-4 Jets win.
Matthews was asked what advice he has for McKenna. “I remember my first game against Laine, it did not go my way for sure,” he said. “But you play 84 of these a year and play really good players every single night.”
