Maple Leafs Gavin McKenna Is Facing Another Lesson

There's something interesting about watching a young, highly skilled player find his way in the NHL. When Gavin McKenna has the puck, you can see the possibilities. He has the hands, the vision, and the imagination to make something happen. That's part of what makes him exciting to watch as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.

But there's another side to developing that kind of player. At some point, talent has to learn when to take a chance and when to make the simpler play. It's a lesson that sounds obvious, but it can be surprisingly difficult for a young player who has spent much of his hockey life being encouraged to create offence.

Hiller Doesn't Want McKenna to Lose His Creativity.

After Saturday's 4–2 win over the Vancouver Canucks, head coach Jim Hiller was asked about McKenna balancing his skill with responsible puck management. His answer was worth listening to. Hiller said he didn't want McKenna to be one thing or the other. He wants him to understand what an NHL player typically does. Skilled players may eventually earn a little more freedom, but they still have to learn where that freedom fits within the game.

Hiller isn't asking McKenna to become a cautious player or put his creativity away. He's asking him to recognize the situations in which trying something ambitious makes sense, and those in which keeping possession is the better decision. It's a different kind of development than simply working on a shot or improving skating technique. It's about learning to read the game at NHL speed.

Related: Maple Leafs McKenna's Big Night Means More Than Three Points

The Challenge for McKenna Is Knowing When to Take a Chance.

Hiller also noted that McKenna is finding his way as an NHL player. That's a reasonable way to describe it. Young players don't arrive with a complete understanding of how much time and space they'll have, how quickly opponents close on them, or what a mistake can mean at this level.

For fans, there's a temptation to want McKenna to make something happen every time he touches the puck. That's understandable. Those moments of creativity are why we watch him. But the best skilled players aren't necessarily the ones who attempt the most difficult plays. They're often the ones who recognize when the difficult play is available.

Hiller's comments suggest the Maple Leafs are giving McKenna room to work through that process rather than asking him to abandon what makes him special. That's encouraging.

Can McKenna Find the Balance That Makes Him Even Better?

The challenge now is finding the balance. If McKenna can keep his imagination while becoming more comfortable with the decisions that NHL hockey demands, Toronto could have something particularly valuable. He doesn't need to become a different player. He needs to become a more complete version of the one we already enjoy watching.

Related: There's One Problem the Maple Leafs Can't Coach Their Way Around