TORONTO — The future Hall of Fame goaltender, the flashy leading point-getter, the loyal leading goal scorer, and the locally raised prized free agent defenceman were all introduced by name at Scotiabank Arena as the Toronto Maple Leafs took the ice for the first time in five months.
None of them received an ovation as loud as the one shown 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 said, following his first game in his new barn. “When you hear that, you get almost chills. So, it was pretty cool.”
Cool that McKenna’s extraordinary vision and silky hands were on full display Saturday. In his first taste of pro hockey, McKenna flexed elite poise and made several buttery passes to billet dad John Tavares to generate scoring chances. He ripped three shots of his own and logged more than 19 minutes of ice, including looks on Toronto’s second power-play unit and at 6-on-5.
The rookie also committed a hooking penalty in the O-zone and coughed up a couple of pucks in the neutral zone. He stood out. He fit in. And, like the rest of an A group that dropped a 4-1 decision to the Montreal Canadiens split squad, he left room for improvement.
“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 said. “But I think it was a good start and a lot to build on.
Jim Hiller has already identified his youngest weapon as a smart self-evaluator and has no interest in being too critical too soon, lest McKenna start overthinking his game. The coach doesn’t want to pile any more pressure 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 said.
“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 day from the leader’s west-end home, and the 18-year-old has only taken the wheel once so far. 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 may have endured worse injury luck in 2025-26 than anyone in the league.
The 36-year-old defenceman suffered a concussion, dealt with a spinal issue, then tried to rehabilitate a lingering core muscle injury before eventually succumbing to season-ending surgery.
Tanev was limited to a measly 11 games played, and his absence was a major reason Toronto surrendered a conference-worst 3.6 goals per game.
How encouraging, then, is it that the veteran was a full participant in his first Maple Leafs game Saturday, reuniting with shutdown partner Jake McCabe after 265 days away?
“Tanny looks awesome out there. Skating real well,” McCabe enthuses. “His presence is certainly felt within our group.”
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Considering the wear and tear Tanev has endured and his importance to the NHL’s oldest D corps, concern over his availability will linger. But management assures Tanev is all systems go.
“He’s had an amazing recovery,” GM John Chayka said. “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 start, coach Jim Hiller will reunite his best two pure defenders as opposed to balancing his top four 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 said.
“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 more excited than Tanev himself, who keeps on tickin’ after every lickin’.
“I still love hockey. I love being around the guys,” Tanev said. “I want to win more than ever. It is pretty simple for me.”
Good on Marshall Rifai (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) for dropping the gloves with Florian Xhekaj (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) after the Canadiens winger delivered a few cross-checks to Matthews and hit William Nylander.
Xhekaj landed more punches in the heavyweight tilt, but the Marlies defenceman held his ground and showed some pushback.
“That’s appreciated,” Matthews said. “Guys sticking up for each other — 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 regularly putting pucks on a platter for Matthews.
But there is some logic to starting Matthews alongside old U.S. National Development Team pal Jack Roslovic, who signed a two-year, $8 million contract in free agency.
“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 said. “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 start.
Former GM Brad Treliving explored a Roslovic signing in the 2025 off-season as well, before the versatile forward settled for a one-year contract with Edmonton on Oct. 8.
Roslovic says he was “definitely” disappointed that the mutual interest didn’t result in a contract a year ago, but his productive flashes alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl encouraged Chayka to reopen abandoned 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 said.
“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 began talking line combos with his forwards weeks prior 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 through the neutral zone and finish plays.
“Austin and Rosie have played together, so that’s kind of an easy one,” Hiller said.
“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 old when John Tavares — one of Brendan’s super-agent father Pat’s clients — came and lived at his house 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 training camp.
A wild full-circle moment, as the 24-year-old Brendan finds himself hanging out with Tavares’s young boys between skates.
When Brendan was a kid, Tavares introduced him to wonders of the protein shake. Now he’s invited Pat’s boy into High Park’s 24-hour hockey-prep experience.
“It’s pretty dialed,” Brisson said. “He’s very structured. It’s cool for me and Gavin to see that.”
That Tavares, 35, was the only Leaf to appear in all 82 games last season is no 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.”
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