Gavin McKenna has officially scored his first goal in the NHL. The young forward, who was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2026 draft, found the back of the net against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday evening during his fourth professional game. The goal came in the second period, where he managed to beat goaltender Juuse Saros with a well-placed shot.
During this exciting moment, McKenna received a pass from star player Auston Matthews, unleashing a powerful shot that went upstairs, prompting him to drop to one knee in celebration at Scotiabank Arena. In addition to his goal, McKenna also registered an assist on the Maple Leafs' first goal, contributed by William Nylander, marking his first NHL point.
The addition of the 18-year-old McKenna is part of wider changes within the Toronto Maple Leafs, who underwent a significant overhaul during the off-season. The organization's efforts included acquiring seasoned goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and defenseman Darren Raddysh. Just a day prior to the regular-season opener, they also acquired winger Kirill Marchenko, adding to the anticipation surrounding the team's new roster.
Before stepping into the NHL, McKenna had an impressive performance in the Canadian Hockey League and spent the 2025-26 season competing in the NCAA. After his first three games in the NHL, he logged an average ice time of 14 minutes and 32 seconds, recorded three shots on goal, but also carried a minus-3 rating.
In a pre-game interview, McKenna expressed optimism regarding his performance, particularly highlighting that Saturday's close 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators was his best showing thus far. Reflecting on a rocky start, he acknowledged the challenges faced in his initial outings but emphasized his growing comfort level on the ice. "I started creating a little bit more and just feeling more comfortable," he stated. McKenna mentioned how every game has been a learning experience, allowing him to refine his skills with each play and shift.
Despite not having recorded points leading up to the Nashville game, McKenna remained unfazed by the stat line. He candidly admitted, "Not where you want to be, but at the end of the day, I’ve been on many streaks where I’ve put up no points." He recalled facing a tough start in college last year, which eventually led to improvements in his performance. His philosophy revolves around maintaining confidence through adversity, believing that the points will eventually come with persistence. "Just sticking with it, being confident. I think I know it’s going to come. So just keep working and have confidence," he concluded.
