McKenna Will Live With Tavares

Gavin McKenna, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first overall pick in this summer’s draft, has a place to stay for his rookie season. At the NHLPA player media tour, Toronto forward John Tavares said it was a no-brainer to have McKenna stay with him and his family this season.

“You want him to go out and enjoy all the great things about being a Maple Leaf, and living his dream, playing in the NHL, and the opportunity to play for an unbelievable fanbase that’s going to love him and support him,” Tavares said. “And when it does feel heavy at times, or when it is a lot, going through it for the first time, he has that ability to just be in a family environment.”

When Tavares was a rookie during the 2009-10 season, he stayed with a veteran on the New York Islanders. That player was Doug Weight, also a former Islanders captain, in his final two NHL seasons.

As Tavares went through the hills and valleys of his first professional season, Weight provided guidance. He also helped the first overall pick stay afloat. Tavares hopes to help McKenna in the same way.

McKenna Moving in with Tavares

While McKenna and Tavares were both taken first overall in their respective drafts, there is a different kind of pressure now than there was in 2009. The veteran realizes that’s a huge reason he wants to have McKenna stay with his family. This will help him as he gets acclimated to the NHL.

“It’s definitely different than what I had experienced,” Tavares said. “That’s why I felt even more like offering up the opportunity if it made sense for him and the organization.”

“Just being able to come home and disconnect from it all. The attention can be a lot at times, especially just being 18 years old and from a small town in a more remote place out in the Yukon (Whitehorse). That can be really positive for him.”

This kind of move benefits McKenna, but it also gives the soon-to-be 36-year-old in Tavares more energy. He’ll get to see firsthand how this rookie season goes for McKenna as the Leafs’ top prospect takes the ice.

McKenna is not the first rookie to stay at the Tavares household. Tavares has also housed rookies like Matthew Knies and Fraser Minten. A third won’t hurt. In addition, the Leafs are looking to bounce back and contend for a playoff spot.

Expectations are High in Toronto

Taking McKenna and shuffling up the personnel in Toronto this summer has the expectations for the Maple Leafs scattered across numerous outlets. The top of the Atlantic Division won’t be easy to climb back up into. However, after the offseason shakeup, Tavares feels like it’s possible to be a contender for the Stanley Cup.

“It’s pretty impressive what’s gone on. Gotta give the organization a lot of credit,” Tavares said. “(They’ve) created an amazing environment and an amazing experience and opportunity to do something special that hasn’t been done in Toronto in a long time.”

Tavares came home to Toronto in 2018. He is still chasing his first Stanley Cup. He’s as hungry as he’s ever been now that the Leafs have McKenna.