Maple Leafs winger Gavin McKenna looks on before playing the Montreal Canadiens in NHL pre-season action in Toronto on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan

TORONTO — Gavin McKenna sat in the passenger seat ahead of his professional debut.

The Maple Leafs star rookie joked he might grab the keys from his landlord the next time they drive to the rink.

Selected No. 1 overall at June's NHL draft, McKenna had a couple of dangerous chances and didn't look out of place Saturday as Toronto fell 4-1 to the undermanned Montreal Canadiens in a split-squad game on the first night of the league's truncated pre-season schedule.

"I felt pretty good," said the 18-year-old winger. "I created a bit, but also had a couple turnovers, which I think happens with nerves.

"A good start and a lot to build on."

McKenna is living with Maple Leafs centre John Tavares and his family as he learns the ropes, but said he might take the wheel ahead of their next game at Scotiabank Arena.

"I've driven him once," the Whitehorse product said with a smile. "He's driven me every other time … we lost today, so might have to change it up."

McKenna finished with three shots on goal in 19 minutes 34 seconds of ice time on a line with Tavares and William Nylander after getting a big ovation when the rink's spotlights paned to him as his name announced in the starting lineup.

"Super cool," he said. "To know I've got this fan base behind me, it feels good. When you hear that, you almost get chills."

Maksymilian Szuber bagged the winner in the third period for Montreal, which also got two goals from Phillip Danault, including one into an empty net, before Samuel Poulin rounded out the scoring.

Samuel Montembeault stopped all 13 shots he faced for the Canadiens before giving way to Kaapo Kahkonen, who finished with 11 saves in relief.

Darren Raddysh, acquired in the off-season from the Tampa Bay Lightning before signing a big-money contract with Toronto, had the goal for the home side.

Sergei Bobrovsky, another summer add for the Maple Leafs, stopped 10 of the 11 shots he faced before being replaced by Anthony Stolarz. He registered 15 saves.

Toronto iced the majority of its NHL roster, while Montreal travelled with a younger lineup minus the club's usual star power. The Canadiens, who made last season's Eastern Conference final, downed the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime in the other half of the split-squad matchup at the Bell Centre.

McKenna was greeted by a number of signs along the glass in warm-ups as he stepped on NHL ice for the first time.

He had a good opportunity from the slot in the first period that Montembeault turned aside before getting denied on a 2-on-1 in the second.

McKenna then made a slick feed down low to Tavares in the third that resulted in another solid look.

"A very short two practices and then right into a pre-season game in the NHL," said Toronto captain Auston Matthews, who played suited up for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in March. "He's going to continue to get better as camp goes on, as he gets more comfortable and adjusts to this pace of play.

"He had moments out there where you can tell just how skilled and how talented he is."

The Maple Leafs, who finished bottom of the Atlantic Division last season for their first playoff-less campaign in a decade, won the right to select McKenna first overall when the draft lottery ping-pong balls fell in their favour back in May.

First-year Toronto head coach Jim Hiller was pleased with his young talisman's first outing, but added he needs to think less and get slightly closer to the action.

"Be a little bit closer to the puck," said Hiller, who's back with the Maple Leafs after working as an assistant to Mike Babcock from 2015 to 2019. "We want him to have the puck. Sometimes in the NHL, you gotta get right there and surround it, and then make plays out of that, rather than waiting and seeing if somebody can get it to you.

"He'll figure that part of the game out."

McKenna, a self-critic in his own right, can now take a beat after his opening act.

"Just super lucky," he said. "I'll remember this day forever."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2026.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2026