Gavin McKenna has played three NHL games. Apparently, that is all the time some people need to figure him out.
Three games into the career of an 18-year-old, many are already dissecting his production, his defensive shortcomings and even what his attendance at optional skates supposedly says about his work ethic. Forget about a development curve. In Toronto, apparently, you get a development weekend.
McKenna’s opening numbers are modest: no points and three shots, averaging 14:32 in ice time. Nobody needs to pretend he has stormed into the league. But it’s shocking to see how many are ready to label him as some kind of bust.
Did these “experts” not learn anything from last season, when McKenna jumped to the NCAA from junior hockey to take on older, physically stronger opponents? He endured an equally slow start there. However, by the midpoint of the schedule, he began to dominate.
It’s important to note that this is the NHL’s first training camp under its new, compressed preseason format. Teams had four exhibition games (most players played only two of them) instead of the previous six to eight, and roughly a week less preparation time. For clubs playing on opening night, including Toronto, just 12 days separated the first practice from the regular season.
He is learning NHL systems, NHL timing and how to operate against opponents who can deny the time and space he previously enjoyed to create offence. He must also build chemistry with teammates while discovering which of his instincts translate immediately and which need modifying. That does not excuse every mistake or clumsy turnover. It explains why there might be a few.
The scrutiny has even extended to optional skills sessions. Hockey Patrol raised questions about McKenna’s work ethic after reporting his absence, while also acknowledging that his visiting family was heading home to the Yukon.
Before turning an optional skate into a character test, it would help to know what the team expected of him and why he was absent. An empty spot on the ice is not a complete account of a player’s preparation. Logic suggests that off-ice preparation can be more valuable than a brief twirl around the ice, lobbing pucks into an empty net.
Perhaps Auston Matthews’ incredible 40-goal, 69-point rookie campaign has raised the bar to an unreasonable level. Having said that, we vividly recall Jack Hughes’ first season with the New Jersey Devils (7 goals, 21 points), when he was quickly labelled as an unwise choice. We don’t recall anyone making that same claim about the highly-skilled Hughes these days.
The simple truth is that a first overall selection is an investment in what a player can become, and the learning period can extend well beyond the opening week.
Yes, there is room for honest criticism. If McKenna makes a poor decision with the puck, say so. If his line spends too much time defending, examine why. If he needs more strength or a simpler play in a particular situation, that is a fair part of the discussion.
But it goes beyond that. Far too many talking heads on radio and TV, along with an army of negative Nellies on social media, seem overly giddy over the fact that McKenna has yet to blossom.
Fortunately, the people responsible for developing him understand that he is still learning. They, too, saw McKenna’s incredible advancement in the NCAA last year. They see his composure and natural instincts on the ice every day. They have noted his unflappable persona and understated self-belief despite the on-ice challenges and off-ice nonsense he can hardly escape.
But then again, this is Toronto: the only place where a goalie accidentally skating out ahead of McKenna and interrupting his opening-night rookie lap can become a crisis. When did this solo tour become a mandatory historical stepping stone for newbies, anyway? It’s even more laughable when you consider that the arena is mostly empty during the pregame warmup.
McKenna does not need immunity from criticism. He needs criticism that aligns with the big picture. Three games can tell us he has had a quiet start. They cannot predict what kind of NHL player he will eventually become.
The previous decade of first overall picks (aside from Matthews) supports the idea that even a complete rookie season is not a reliable indicator of what is to come.
McKenna has not completed a full rookie season.
The kid has played three games. Perhaps we could let him play a few more before convening a royal commission.
Oh, by the way…after three games, Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele has gone pointless. You know…the same guy who finished last season with 103 points. Just saying.
