What happened: McKenna sat for Toronto as coaches balanced early mistakes against development minutes. Buium remains stuck with Vancouver while Levshunov took a step forward with Chicago.

Why it matters: Early benchings shape trust and ice time for young regulars. How clubs manage uneven starts sets development direction for the months ahead.

What to watch: The next step is whether McKenna draws back into the Toronto lineup and whether Levshunov sustains his progress.