The arrival of Gavin McKenna was one of the most unexpected windfalls the Toronto Maple Leafs have ever experienced. And it’s the sort of situation that could completely change the narrative around captain Auston Matthews. Unlike the controlled demolition that led to Matthews in 2016, McKenna was more of a serendipitous situation. The Leafs tanked last season, with the fall being so precipitous that it netted the first-overall selection.
That’s why McKenna can fundamentally change the narrative surrounding Matthews.
A major part of that narrative has been the departure of Mitch Marner. Specifically, Marner’s departure left Matthews bereft of a solid, high-end playmaker who could help the Leafs’ all-time leading goal scorer fill the back of the net.
That’s the hole that McKenna could fill.
While Gavin McKenna is a solid goalscorer in his own right, he’s more of a Marner-type playmaker. That’s why pairing McKenna with Auston Matthews could help the Maple Leafs captain regain his scoring touch.
But if you think that’s all that McKenna brings to the table, you have another thing coming. There’s a lot more to McKenna than meets the eye.
Gavin McKenna should also change the Maple Leafs’ narrative
Another major narrative surrounding the Maple Leafs is the organization’s lack of high-end prospects. McKenna immediately solves that situation. The Leafs not only have a high-end prospect, but they also have one of the top-10 prospects in the NHL at the moment.
That situation will automatically shift part of the load off Matthews’ shoulders.
Auston Matthews will no longer be “the guy” in Toronto. In fact, he won’t be the only guy. Matthews will have Gavin McKenna share that title with him.
That’s a powerful distinction. During the Core Four era, Matthews shared part of that billing with Marner and William Nylander. John Tavares, meanwhile, was like the older brother who had just come home from college for the summer.
Fast-forward about a decade, and Tavares is staring at the sunset of his Hall of Fame career. Nylander is 30 and no longer an indisputable cornerstone player. As for Matthews, well, he has to be a cornerstone piece. But McKenna means that Matthews is no longer the only cornerstone.
Now, there’s room to share that responsibility.
Auston Matthews could see a revival this upcoming season
It’s fair to assume that Auston Matthews could see a revival this upcoming season. Even if Gavin McKenna does not play on the same line as Matthews, McKenna’s influence should be enough to create new opportunities for Matthews.
Imagine a line featuring Nylander and McKenna on the wings with Tavares down the middle. Both wingers can run amok on the ice while Tavares makes sure that things stay on the up-and-up.
That’s something that opposing coaches have never really had to deal with before. And it would allow a Maple Leafs top line of, say, Matthews with Jack Roslovi and Matthew Knies, to capitalize on tired defenders and some hasty line changes.
All told, McKenna changes the narrative in a way Maple Leafs fans haven’t seen since Matthews arrived a decade ago. It’s a great time to be a Leafs fan, even if a Stanley Cup isn’t really in sight.
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