Maple Leafs Notebook: McKenna ‘will remember this day forever’

TORONTO — The future Hall of Fame goaltender, the flashy main point-getter, the loyal main objective scorer, and the regionally raised prized free agent defenceman have been all launched by title at Scotiabank Arena because the Toronto Maple Leafs took the ice for the primary time in 5 months.

None of them obtained an ovation as loud because the one proven upon Gavin McKenna, No. 92 in your program and No. 1 on the draft board.

“To know I got this fan base behind me, it feels good,” the teenage phenom mentioned, following his first sport in his new barn. “When you hear that, you get almost chills. So, it was pretty cool.”

Cool that McKenna’s extraordinary imaginative and prescient and silky palms have been on full show Saturday. In his first style of professional hockey, McKenna flexed elite poise and made a number of buttery passes to billet dad John Tavares to generate scoring possibilities. He ripped three pictures of his personal and logged greater than 19 minutes of ice, together with appears on Toronto’s second power-play unit and at 6-on-5.

The rookie additionally dedicated a hooking penalty within the O-zone and coughed up a few pucks within the impartial zone. He stood out. He slot in. And, like the remainder of an A gaggle that dropped a 4-1 choice to the Montreal Canadiens cut up squad, he left room for enchancment.

“I felt pretty good. I thought I created a bit but also had a couple turnovers, which I think kind of just happens with nerves,” McKenna mentioned. “But I believe it was a very good begin and rather a lot to construct on.

Jim Hiller has already recognized his youngest weapon as a wise self-evaluator and has no real interest in being too vital too quickly, lest McKenna begin overthinking his sport. The coach doesn’t wish to pile any extra stress on a prospect that already arrives with sky-high hopes.

 “In a game where I didn’t think there was a lot of offence from either team, he was in on three or four chances, so you’ll take that every day,” Hiller mentioned.

“If I say one thing to him, it’s just to be a little bit closer to the puck. We want him to have the puck. Sometimes in the NHL, you got to get right there and surround it, and then make plays out of that, rather than waiting to see if somebody can get it to you. So, he’ll figure that part of the game out.”

“It’s not easy. You jump into your first game after a very short two practices, and then right into a preseason game in the NHL. But he’s got a great head on his shoulders. He’s going to continue to get better as camp goes on, as he gets more comfortable and adjusts to this pace of play,” Matthews assessed. “But obviously he had moments out there where you can tell just how skilled and how talented he is.”

McKenna and Tavares carpool to camp every single day from the chief’s west-end house, and the 18-year-old has solely taken the wheel as soon as to date. Tavares drove Saturday.

“We lost today, so we might have to change it up,” McKenna smiled.

“I’m very lucky to be able to step on that ice for my first time with guys like Matthews, Knies, J.T., Willy, all those guys. So, just super lucky, and I’ll remember this day forever.”

Tanev ‘healthy as anybody’

Chris Tanev could have endured worse damage luck in 2025-26 than anybody within the league.

The 36-year-old defenceman suffered a concussion, handled a spinal subject, then tried to rehabilitate a lingering core muscle damage earlier than finally succumbing to season-ending surgical procedure. 

Tanev was restricted to a measly 11 video games performed, and his absence was a serious purpose Toronto surrendered a conference-worst 3.6 targets per sport.

How encouraging, then, is it that the veteran was a full participant in his first Maple Leafs sport Saturday, reuniting with shutdown accomplice Jake McCabe after 265 days away?

“Tanny looks awesome out there. Skating real well,” McCabe enthuses. “His presence is certainly felt within our group.”

Considering the damage and tear Tanev has endured and his significance to the NHL’s oldest D corps, concern over his availability will linger. But administration assures Tanev is all methods go.

“He’s had an amazing recovery,” GM John Chayka mentioned. “He pushes himself as hard as anybody in the gym and on the ice. So, I feel really confident that his injuries are in a good place. He’s as healthy as anybody.”

To begin, coach Jim Hiller will reunite his finest two pure defenders versus balancing his prime 4 with, say, McCabe–Raddysh and Rielly–Tanev pairings.

“The other team’s top line hops out, we’re anxious to pop out there too and try to shut ’em down. D-zone draws, penalty killing, all these responsibilities that we have. And Chris brings leadership in the room,” McCabe mentioned.

“I mean, he’s honestly probably the toughest guy I’ve played with — with what he’s played through and what he can play through. Yeah, we’re for sure excited to see him back up.”

No one is extra excited than Tanev himself, who retains on tickin’ after each lickin’.

“I still love hockey. I love being around the guys,” Tanev mentioned. “I want to win more than ever. It is pretty simple for me.”

Good on Marshall Rifai (6-foot-2, 205 kilos) for dropping the gloves with Florian Xhekaj (6-foot-3, 195 kilos) after the Canadiens winger delivered a number of cross-checks to Matthews and hit William Nylander.

Xhekaj landed extra punches within the heavyweight tilt, however the Marlies defenceman held his floor and confirmed some pushback.

“That’s appreciated,” Matthews mentioned. “Guys sticking up for one another — that’s what it’s all about. 

“Marshall’s been around here for a bit now, and he’s one of the hardest-working guys I’ve ever come across. A guy, anytime he’s been called up, never complains. Always doing extra, always finding ways to try to get better, and it’s something you really appreciate when you see guys like that in the organization. That was very appreciated, him dropping the gloves like that.”

Why Matthews–McKenna will wait

One day Leafs Nation will witness the inevitable: Gifted setup man McKenna often placing pucks on a platter for Matthews.

But there’s some logic to beginning Matthews alongside outdated U.S. National Development Team pal Jack Roslovic, who signed a two-year, $8 million contract in free company.

“I’m really excited to play with him again. We’ve definitely stayed in touch and stayed pretty close over the years. But hanging out and seeing him again, he’s a lot of fun to be around. He’s funny. He’s always got something to say. Definitely a chatty guy, which is great in the locker room,” Matthews mentioned. “I’m excited to rekindle that chemistry with him.”

“Stoked,” Roslovic echoed. “It is going to be awesome. I am really familiar with his game. I am really familiar with the person and who he is as a guy and a leader. I’ve seen him grow in a lot of ways, and I’ve been able to be on his journey a little bit from the outside. Every time we get a chance to talk, picking up the phone has been super easy. It just feels like we left off where we started.”

The 29-year-olds’ reunion arrives after a false begin.

Former GM Brad Treliving explored a Roslovic signing within the 2025 low season as effectively, earlier than the versatile ahead settled for a one-year contract with Edmonton on Oct. 8.

Roslovic says he was “definitely” upset that the mutual curiosity didn’t lead to a contract a 12 months in the past, however his productive flashes alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl inspired Chayka to reopen deserted negotiations.

“It is definitely the right time to sign here. I am excited that it happened this way and look forward to what is in store here,” Roslovic mentioned.

“Connor and Leon are highly, highly skilled guys. There is obviously a God-gifted talent that they have there. But it’s like the story with Auston — it is the drive, the dedication, and the little things that make them special, more than any skill that was given to them. It is all work ethic. It is all your ability to come in and want to win every day, put your best foot forward in what is needed. I was really impressed by them. I can’t wait to see what this group has as well.”

Hiller started speaking line combos together with his forwards weeks previous to camp’s opening. Matthews sees Roslovic — a 20-goal man thrice over — as a fleet winger who can complement him by carrying the puck by means of the impartial zone and end performs.

“Austin and Rosie have played together, so that’s kind of an easy one,” Hiller mentioned. 

“You spend all summer doing this, and then the second period of the second game looks different. So, this is the plan for now. But nothing set in stone.”

Brendan Brisson was eight years outdated when John Tavares — considered one of Brendan’s super-agent father Pat’s shoppers — got here and lived at his home in California for a stretch.

Now winger Brendan, who inked a one-year deal in Toronto and is skating with the Marlies, is hunkering down with McKenna at Casa Tavares for coaching camp.

A wild full-circle second, because the 24-year-old Brendan finds himself hanging out with Tavares’s younger boys between skates.

When Brendan was a child, Tavares launched him to wonders of the protein shake. Now he’s invited Pat’s boy into High Park’s 24-hour hockey-prep expertise.

“It’s pretty dialed,” Brisson mentioned. “He’s very structured. It’s cool for me and Gavin to see that.”

That Tavares, 35, was the one Leaf to seem in all 82 video games final season isn’t any accident.

“He’s got everything you need,” Brisson, 24, marveled. “He’s got the saunas, the cold tubs, the Normatec (compression therapy), the red light (therapy), everything to help your game. And it’s awesome to watch his everyday routine. Me and Gavin are maybe making a few jokes about it, but we’re also following along a bit too.”