Gavin McKenna Leads Exciting NHL Rookie Class

Gavin McKenna is poised to make an immediate impact as the top pick in the NHL draft for the Toronto Maple Leafs, entering one of the league's most demanding markets. His arrival highlights a particularly strong and exciting incoming class of rookies.

"There's going to be a lot of eyes on him," said Macklin Celebrini, the 2024 No. 1 pick for the San Jose Sharks. "In Toronto, you see kind of what goes on with the guys there and how difficult it can be at some points, which is a blessing and a curse, I think, with the amount of attention. When you're doing well, they're going to treat you like royalty, but also every little mistake and stuff like that will be focused in on more and more."

McKenna, an 18-year-old left winger from the Yukon, starred at Penn State before the draft lottery sent him to Toronto. Expectations are high for him, drawing comparisons to recent rookies like Celebrini, Matthew Schaefer with the New York Islanders, and Connor Bedard with Chicago, all of whom reached elite levels quickly.

Schaefer, who tied the rookie defenseman record for goals with 23 and won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, acknowledged the pressures of a big market. "A little bit of a bigger market, but I think they have a great group there," he said. "You can be very hard on yourself and have high expectations, but you've got to learn a lot from all the older guys and take as much advice as you can from all of them."

Veteran John Tavares, the Islanders' No. 1 pick in 2009, is providing guidance and housing for McKenna, who is living with Tavares and his family this season. Tavares, who lived with veteran Doug Weight in his early NHL years, understands the benefit of a stable home environment.

"The amount of attention he's going to receive, I think hopefully when he can come home, he can kind of decompress and disconnect and just be part of that family environment," Tavares said. "It can be really beneficial."

McKenna, who will turn 19 in December, joins a Maple Leafs core that includes Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Matthew Knies, and Tavares. Following a decade-long playoff drought, the team underwent a front office and coaching change, and the lottery win for McKenna signals a renewed focus on contending.

"A special kid, a special player (who is) going to mean a lot for the franchise for a long time and going to have a great chance to make an impact right away," Tavares said of McKenna. "You just want him to be himself. There's a reason why he is who he is and the position he's in, so I think he doesn't have to come in and look to change or do a number of different things."

McKenna is considered a favorite for rookie of the year, but he is not alone in this talented draft class. The Sharks' second pick following their lottery win positions them to select Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg. Celebrini believes Stenberg will add another dimension to their team, which also features other high draft picks like Will Smith and Michael Misa.

San Jose General Manager Mike Grier further bolstered the team's prospect pool by trading William Eklund to Ottawa for the ninth pick, which they used on defenseman Keaton Verhoeff. This move addresses a key need for the Sharks.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Porter Martone, the sixth pick in the previous year's draft, has already begun his NHL career, joining the team in late March. In nine games, the 6-foot-3, 214-pound winger recorded 10 points and added five more in the playoffs, contributing to the Flyers' second-round appearance.

"Big, strong, and I think he knows his game," teammate Trevor Zegras said of Martone, who turns 20 on Oct. 26. "I'm excited to see full season, what he can do. Obviously, I think the experience that he got at the end of last season should help him this year, for sure."

Defenseman Cole Hutson, a different profile at 5-11, 175 pounds, also transitioned from college to the NHL, joining Washington. He accumulated 10 points in 14 games from the blue line, showing flashes of the skill that made his older brother, Lane Hutson, a Calder Trophy finalist in 2024. Tom Wilson of the Capitals sees significant potential in Hutson.

"It was a small sample size, but I think you see the upside (and) you see the skill level — that's not going to go away overnight," Wilson said. "He doesn't need to know everything. He doesn't needs to be the best player on the ice every night. He needs to be himself and continue to get better and take over the league slowly but surely, hopefully, one day."