Could Gavin McKenna push Auston Matthews into a new role in the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL lineup | NHL News
The Toronto Maple Leafs enter the 2026-27 NHL season with the first overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, Gavin McKenna, under a microscope. The teenager has yet to play an NHL game, but his arrival is already generating buzz around possible line combinations.Toronto still revolves around Auston Matthews, but the emergence of another top-level offensive talent would give the coaching staff more options. An interesting option would be to have McKenna skate with William Nylander and John Tavares.
Could Gavin McKenna join Toronto Maple Leafs top six?
Gavin McKenna could be a candidate for a top-six role if he proves in training camp he can handle the speed and physicality of the NHL right away. The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have to push him, but his offensive game could make it harder to decide.William Nylander is entering the season with 79 points, 30 goals and 49 assists in 65 games. At age 35, John Tavares continued to produce, finishing the season with 71 points in 82 games: 31 goals, 40 assists.McKenna joining Nylander and Tavares would give Toronto another potentially potent scoring unit. If the three forwards develop chemistry, it could also pose a tough tactical problem for opposing NHL teams.But that doesn’t necessarily mean Auston Matthews would drop in the lineup. Matthews continues to be the leading center for the Toronto Maple Leafs and a huge part of their offensive structure.The training camp and preseason games should be the best barometer for how quickly McKenna can get meaningful NHL minutes. The Toronto coaching staff can see his consistency, defensive responsibility, skating and ability to handle tougher competition before making a decision.A safer bet would be McKenna in a lesser role in the lineup as he adjusts to the NHL. If he adapts quickly, then more responsibility could be on the cards.
What would this mean for Auston Matthews?
A McKenna breakthrough would provide Jim Hiller with more options in his lineup, notnecessarily take away from the importance of Matthews. Toronto had the ability to spread the scoring out over a number of lines, which may have lessened the burden on one unit to produce the majority of the offence.Right now McKenna’s top-six role is still a projection and not a set plan. Still, the possibility is illustrative of the type of buzz surrounding the first overall selection for the Toronto Maple Leafs as the new NHL season approaches.The arrival of Gavin McKenna has prompted new discussion around the Toronto Maple Leafs’ forward combinations. The first overall pick could be in line for a top-six role with established scorers William Nylander and John Tavares. If McKenna can make a quick transition, his offensive contributions could give head coach Jim Hiller more flexibility in his lineup next season.
