Maple Leafs Rookie Gavin McKenna Gets a Close-Up Look at

Sometimes hockey gives you a little story within the bigger story. When the Toronto Maple Leafs meet the Edmonton Oilers, much of the attention will be on Connor McDavid and what he might do next. But I'm also interested in what Gavin McKenna might take away from watching him.

Both players were first-round picks, but they're at very different points in their hockey lives. McDavid has spent years showing the world what an exceptional player can do. McKenna is just getting started, and he's already getting a close-up look at the standard he'll be chasing. That's quite an education.

Two First-Round Picks, Two Very Different Journeys.

McDavid's start to this season has been almost ridiculous. Thirty-one points in 10 games is the sort of production that makes even experienced NHL players shake their heads. Zach Hyman has described it as video-game territory, and McKenna has admitted that seeing McDavid's work up close makes the whole thing seem even crazier.

I like that reaction. There's a difference between watching a superstar on television and actually playing in the same league. Suddenly, the speed, the decisions and the skill aren't just highlights. They're things you have to deal with yourself.

McKenna was selected first overall in 2026, just as McDavid was in 2015. But a high draft selection doesn't automatically tell a young player what comes next. The NHL is full of talented players who found that making it to the league was one challenge and staying there was another. McKenna is finding that out now.

What Can McKenna Learn From McDavid?

Here's the part that interests me. McKenna doesn't have to become another McDavid to have a terrific career. In fact, trying to copy somebody else's game too closely can be a mistake. But he can watch how McDavid handles the pace, finds openings, creates opportunities and keeps coming back for more. He can also see how quickly an opponent can turn one small mistake into a scoring chance.

Those lessons don't show up in the box score. They come from watching, asking questions and gradually figuring out what works at this level. And McDavid might learn something from the encounter, too. Every young player brings a different challenge, and the next generation is always looking for ways to close the gap.

Tonight’s Maple Leafs vs. the Oilers Game Should Be Really Good.

Tonight, the Maple Leafs and Oilers will be trying to win a hockey game. That's the business at hand. But somewhere in that game, a young first-round pick will see what greatness looks like from the other side of the rink. If McKenna takes even one useful lesson away from it, that's a pretty good night's work.