Gavin McKenna is coming into the NHL as a hyped-up prospect for the Toronto Maple Leafs. While others would think that this is a terrible situation to be in, at the centre of the hockey universe and so much pressure on him to perform, another NHL star actually says it's probably the best possible situation to be in.
As a fellow first-overall pick, New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes knows a lot about seeing people expecting a whole lot out of you at just 18 years old during your rookie season. You can have fans think that you're the next savior of their favorite team, and with those laudy expectations, you fall short and stumble coming out of the gate. It's a bad situation to be in and Hughes himself struggled a bit to start his NHL career.
But unlike him, McKenna is going into a very good situation, according to Hughes.
Jack Hughes envies Gavin McKenna's situation with the Leafs
During NHL Media Day on Wednesday, Hughes was asked about McKenna from The Hockey News' Michael Traikos and he had a lot to say.
On a question from @Michael_Traikos about Gavin McKenna, Jack Hughes says he thinks McKenna is set up for success better than any first overall pick in recent memory. Hughes' full answer: pic.twitter.com/PPPTSzO2co
— Matt Larkin (@MLarkinHockey) September 9, 2026
"I think of all the first-overall picks in that last bunch of years, he might be the guy that A) might have the spotlight on him the most, but B) might be in the best spot because they should have a good team. The Leafs probably shouldn't have had the first-overall pick. And on top of that, he has [Matthews] and John Tavares, who were both first-overall picks before," Hughes said.
"He should have more than enough experience and guys to lean on and who he can talk ot about the situations that he's going through. There's no better person in the league for him to listen to than Auston Matthews, because [he's] been through all that stuff 10 years ago, so it should be a great set up for him."
It's certainly atypical for a first-overall pick to be going into a situation like this.
Usually, the team has "earned" the top pick because they are so terrible and have no stars and no players of note to lean on as a core. It's what Hughes himself had with the Devils. Nico Hischier was there but barely developed, but other than that Kyle Palmieri, Nikita Gusev, and a 21-year-old Jesper Bratt were the top scorers during the Team USA star's rookie year.
McKenna has one of the best centers in the world to possibly play with, in addition to other talents like John Tavares, William Nylander, and Matthew Knies to help insulate him in that forward group. The Leafs aren't the typical team to have one of the top prospects, but now they have an opportunity to have this immensely talented young player while also trying to be a competitive team.
Hopefully, McKenna won't have to experience many disheartening losses or bad stretches during his rookie year.
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