Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna has spent the summer adjusting to the attention and responsibilities that followed his arrival in the biggest hockey market in the NHL.
The No. 1 overall pick from the 2026 NHL Draft has attended team events, handled media obligations and trained alongside San Jose Sharks star Macklin Celebrini in Vancouver.
Not only is McKenna expected to compete for a place on Toronto’s NHL roster this fall, but also to make it all the way to the top-six forward corps to start the season. For now, McKenna's first opportunity to appear in a Maple Leafs uniform would come at the rookie tournament in Gatineau in early September.
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However, McKenna told The Hockey News that his participation in the tournament remains “up in the air,” casting doubt over whether his anticipated debut will happen that soon.
“McKenna revealed that it’s not clear yet if he will take part,” The Hockey News' David Alter reported. “Furthermore, he mentioned he hasn't firmed up his living arrangements in Toronto just yet as he navigates the rapid transition to pro life.”
Per Alter, the 18-year-old has not settled in Toronto yet as he continues navigating the transition from Penn State to professional hockey.
“I've been living out of my suitcase for the last three months,” McKenna said. “So it's been fun. I've been all over the place. But it's good to kind of settle down in Vancouver there for a while and training with the best.”
Regarding his training, McKenna has spent part of the summer participating in intense sessions with Celebrini, including one week McKenna said featured approximately 17 hours on the ice per day.
“My trainers probably won’t like to hear this, but there was a week where we were on the ice for like 17 hours,” McKenna said. “Mac is crazy.”
Toronto could give McKenna additional time to train and to get familiar with the organization rather than immediately placing him into a rookie tournament with games to play following his busy offseason.
The Leafs will open their preseason on Sept. 19 against the Montreal Canadiens.
