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McKenna plays 15:19 in NHL debut, assesses Leafs' loss

The 18-year-old No. 1 pick recorded one shot in Toronto's 3-2 opener loss to Montreal and said he could improve.

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Gavin McKenna (92) skates against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena on Sept. 29, 2026.
Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Gavin McKenna played 15:19 in his regular-season NHL debut Tuesday as the Toronto Maple Leafs lost 3-2 to the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena.

The 18-year-old forward, selected first overall by Toronto in the 2026 NHL Draft, had one shot, two giveaways and no points. He finished minus-2, according to the NHL game report.

Asked how he rated his first game, McKenna told ESPN: “Not great.” He pointed to his turnovers and said he was looking forward to playing again Wednesday.

McKenna said he was pleased to have his first NHL game behind him despite the result: “To get that first one under my belt, it feels good.”

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Topicsgavin mckennakirill marchenkoseason openermaple leafscanadiens
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