Gavin McKenna set for Toronto Maple Leafs preseason debut vs. Montreal Canadiens on Saturday

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that rookie forward Gavin McKenna will make his preseason debut on Saturday when the Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with broadcasts listed as TSN2, RDSI and TSN4.

According to the NHL club’s coverage, McKenna, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, is expected to play left wing alongside center John Tavares and right wing William Nylander. Toronto coach Jim Hiller said the team expects McKenna to communicate with his line mates and emphasized a mentorship role from the coaching staff, adding that he plans to congratulate McKenna personally before the game.

The report states that McKenna has skated with Tavares and Nylander during the first two on-ice sessions since training camp began on Thursday. Hiller also indicated that while there were early concerns about McKenna being overly deferential to established players, those concerns have not materialized through the first two days of practice.

The article further notes that team captain Auston Matthews has spoken positively about McKenna’s confidence and playmaking in camp. Matthews’ comments, as attributed in the report, describe McKenna’s immediate impact in the group’s on-ice chemistry and his comfort at the NHL level.

Written by Vancouver Television Sports Desk