The Unique Challenge of Developing Gavin McKenna

When an NHL team drafts an 18 year old player the way the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Gavin McKenna, one of two things usually happens. Either that prospect is sent back to junior hockey or overseas to mature, or the franchise makes the deliberate decision to invest heavily in their immediate NHL development. For a first overall pick historically, that route means accepting the good with the bad at the highest level of hockey possible. However, for rebuilding franchises, accepting the bad usually means another bottom ten finish in the NHL standings as the team looks to completely rebuild their organization from the ground up.

Growing Pains in a Tight Playoff Race

That is where things get complicated for the Toronto Maple Leafs and General Manager John Chayka. Unlike other teams who have the luxury of time and patience for growing pains, the Leafs do not have their own first round picks over the next two summers. For Toronto, enduring rookie growing pains is simple code for losing valuable points in an exceptionally tight Eastern Conference playoff race. Because of this high stakes environment, the daily deployment of Gavin McKenna has become a major issue for a highly vocal segment of the fan base who want to see the prized rookie unlocked.

Defensive Deficiencies and the Development Factor

Last night provided a perfect example of this inherent tension. For the second time this season, McKenna found himself stapled to the bench for long stretches of the game by head coach Jim Hiller. The rookie played under 11 minutes total and saw just 2 minutes of ice time in the third period. The reduction in time on ice came after McKenna got caught puck watching on an Oliver Bjorkstrand goal, making the current deficiencies in his defensive game obvious to anyone objectively watching the broadcast.

For Toronto, these missed assignments are the exact sorts of habits the coaching staff is trying to work out of McKenna's game. Fans must remember that this is not a standard rebuild situation where mistakes go unpunished. Last season, Leafs fans were critical of Berube's deployment of Easton Cowan. Yet this season, it is clear that the Toronto development staff pushed all the right buttons. Cowan has begun blossoming into exactly the type of reliable two way impact player the Leafs desperately needed him to become, finding himself on the top line. The tough love approach yielded real results.

Physical Development and the Jump from Penn State

The organization expects a similar developmental trajectory for McKenna, provided he puts in the necessary work without the puck. There is absolutely no questioning McKenna's continued success offensively. Leafs fans saw him take a massive step forward in the second half of last year at Penn State, completely dominating the offensive zone and proving his elite playmaking translates well against much older collegiate competition. However, the National Hockey League is a completely different beast. McKenna still needs to physically develop his frame and add NHL muscle to handle the grueling daily grind and survive heavy board battles against seasoned veteran defensemen. For McKenna, the best defense will truly be a strong offense, retaining the puck in the offensive zone will be the key to not playing in his own zone nearly as much. 

A Potential Elite Third Line Role with John Tavares

Ultimately, the Maple Leafs have to balance a relentless push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs with crucial internal player development. The harsh reality of the NHL salary cap era is that a contending team cannot properly have one without the other. Sustainable playoff success requires young and dynamic players on cheap entry level contracts stepping up to take meaningful shifts. If McKenna proves he can play reliably on the defensive side of the puck, a massive opportunity awaits him in the near future. When John Tavares returns to the active lineup, McKenna could very well find himself playing alongside Tavares and Colton Sissons in an elite third line role. Surrounding McKenna's world class offensive upside with two highly responsible and defensively sound veterans would create an absolute matchup nightmare for the rest of the league. It would finally give Toronto the lethal bottom six scoring depth they desperately need for a deep spring run.