Leafs Leave Gavin McKenna Off Their First Power Play

Toronto's first look at a new-look top power play does not include Gavin McKenna or Matthew Knies.

Jim Hiller's opening PP1 puts Jack Roslovic down low, John Tavares in the bumper, Auston Matthews and William Nylander on the flanks and Darren Raddysh at the point. Knies, who has been a net-front fixture, and McKenna, the first overall pick, start with the second group.

Hiller's stated reason for Roslovic is mechanical, not a demotion of anyone else.

"In a perfect world, you have middle lefty, righty at the bottom," Hiller said. "That doesn't mean that's the only way you can run a successful power play, but I think you know when you're asking why is (Roslovic) getting that early opportunity there, I think the handedness helps him out."

McKenna, 18, is set to make his pro exhibition debut Saturday against Montreal in split-squad action, with Toronto scheduled to host the Canadiens as part of the day's slate. Hiller has been deliberate about the teenager's runway.

"We don't want to put extra pressure on him," Hiller said. "If you ask him, he'd probably say, 'I want to play 22 minutes. I want on the first power play.' And that's exactly what he should say. But for us, we just want to get him started in the NHL, see what it feels like, and then there'll be a chance over time."

The unit matters because last season's did not work. Toronto finished 15th on the power play at 21.3 per cent, and assistant coach Marc Savard lost his job at Christmas. GM John Chayka added Raddysh and Roslovic, brought back the club's former power-play coach to run the bench, and hired Daniel Alfredsson away from Ottawa to help with the 5-on-4.

Hiller wants Raddysh shooting until someone stops him. "Anytime there's somebody at the top with an extremely hard shot, accurate shot, that becomes a focus, and the other players become less of a focus," he said.

Knies got a one-on-one conversation with Hiller at the morning skate. He has 11 power-play goals and 20 power-play assists across the past two seasons.