Desjardins says McKenna's confidence can lift Leafs

No. 1 pick won a WHL title and CHL player honors

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 81 min read

Medicine Hat Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins has seen Gavin McKenna grow from a rookie to a WHL champion and CHL pla Via @TSNHockey on X

What happened: Willie Desjardins watched Gavin McKenna progress from a rookie into a WHL champion and CHL Player of the Year at Medicine Hat. Toronto selected the 18-year-old first overall in June.

Why it matters: McKenna enters 2026-27 as the centerpiece of Toronto's offseason reset. His production supports the expectations, while Desjardins views his graciousness as another asset for the club.

By the numbers: McKenna recorded 129 points in 56 WHL games in 2024-25, then added 38 points across 16 playoff games. He produced 51 points in 35 games at Penn State in 2025-26.

What to watch: Toronto's September training camp will show how quickly McKenna can translate that production and confidence to the NHL.

Sources

@TSNHockey 2026-09-08T20:13:18.148405+00:00

CONVERSATION

Loading comments…

NHLAnalysisToronto Maple LeafsGavin Mckenna

Follow NHL Intelligence

Real-time signals and analysis

@WireReportPuck

WR Pro

The day's sports, briefed to your inbox at 7am ET. Every claim sourced.

$9/month Free weekly newsletter →