Gavin McKenna’s second line tests Maple Leafs’ patience early

Gavin McKenna’s NHL debut is already being dissected in Toronto. The 2026 first-overall pick has gone three home games without a point to start his Maple Leafs career, even as his family and friends travelled in to watch his opening stretch. The 18-year-old is still chasing that first milestone moment with the club after a one-goal loss to the Ottawa Senators capped his first week.

On the stat sheet, McKenna’s start has been quiet: no goals or assists, three shots on goal and limited peripheral numbers while averaging just over 14 minutes per night. Those minutes have largely come in favourable offensive situations, with most of his shifts beginning in the attacking zone and flanked by two of Toronto’s most productive forwards from last season.

Second line buried in the numbers early on

The bigger concern in Toronto is less about McKenna’s individual talent and more about how his line is performing. At five-on-five, the trio with John Tavares and William Nylander has been outshot, out-attempted and outscored, with underlying metrics showing a clear edge for opponents in high-danger chances. The group has yet to produce a goal at even strength despite its offensive deployment.

Tavares has highlighted how difficult it is to jump straight from college hockey into the NHL grind, especially for a teenager still growing physically. He points to McKenna’s slow start and eventual breakout at Penn State as a reminder that quick judgments can be misleading. In his view, it is on the veteran linemates to support the rookie as he adjusts to the pace and demands of the league.

Nylander notes that there are already encouraging signs, including some creative passes and confident puck touches from McKenna, particularly on the second power-play unit. He believes the line needs to improve its ability to sustain pressure below the goal line rather than relying on one-and-done rushes. Nylander also downplays any sense of urgency around production, saying there is “no pressure to produce” and predicting that once the offence comes, it will arrive in bunches.

Hiller balances patience with pressure to adjust

Head coach Jim Hiller finds himself weighing patience against the temptation to tinker. Shuffling the second line would likely mean breaking up Auston Matthews’ dangerous top unit or altering the checking line centred by Nick Paul, both of which have specific roles in Toronto’s early-season structure. For now, Hiller appears inclined to stay the course while asking for better details from the Tavares line.

Hiller has emphasized a more aggressive forecheck, tighter spacing between forwards and quicker puck support in the offensive zone to aid recoveries and extended cycles. The fit on the second line is still a work in progress: McKenna is an elite passer learning when to chip pucks deep, Tavares is no longer often first in on the forecheck, and Nylander is more renowned for carrying the puck than for shutdown work.

As the Maple Leafs prepare to host the Nashville Predators, a team that missed the playoffs last season, McKenna and his linemates are being given another chance to respond. Hiller acknowledges that the organization’s patience with the line will not be endless, even if its timeline with the franchise’s newest first-overall pick is far longer. For now, the message around McKenna is clear: growing pains are expected, and the real test will be how quickly this high-skill trio can turn positive flashes into consistent results.