Maple Leafs Rookie McKenna Jokes About Toronto Media After Pointless Start
Three games, zero points, and the loudest media market in hockey. Gavin McKenna is taking it with a smile.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' first overall pick has yet to record his first NHL point, and after Tuesday's game he was asked what his welcome-to-the-NHL moment has been. His answer was honest.
"I think just how hard it is," McKenna said, per Sportsnet. "You come in, you believe in yourself, and I still believe in myself, but yeah."
Then came the punchline. "Especially in the Toronto media, with putting up zero points in three games, I think you hear about it. Maybe that's my welcome to the NHL," he added with a smile.
It's a light answer to a heavy spotlight. McKenna, 18, has skated on the Leafs' second line with John Tavares and William Nylander in every game so far. That trio ranks 43rd out of 45 lines in expected goal share (22.2%) among combinations with at least 20 minutes together, according to MoneyPuck.
Numbers like that would rattle most rookies. McKenna says he's been here before. He racked up 51 points in 35 games last season at Penn State and put up 129 points in 56 WHL contests two years ago with Medicine Hat.
"It's obviously not where you wanna be, but ... I've been on many streaks where I've put up no points," he said. "Had a tough start to college last year and started to figure things out there. Honestly, learning from last year and learning from these first few games, I think, is gonna be key."
Head coach Jim Hiller isn't wavering. "I think he's doing really well," Hiller told reporters Monday. "He's young, and he just seems unflappable to me. I'm sure he wishes he had more right now. Of course. That's obvious. But I haven't seen it affect him."
Hiller added that McKenna "walks around here the same as he did two months ago and two weeks ago," calling it "a really important quality for him."
The question now is how long the Leafs' patience lasts — and whether the first point finally arrives Tuesday against the Nashville Predators.
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