Gavin McKenna's camp and Auston Matthews' words should make Leafs fans pay attention
Photo credit: Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Auston Matthews just gave Craig Berube's Leafs a cleaner path into the Gavin McKenna conversation.
David Pagnotta's report matters because it ties both camps to the same idea: Toronto is not being treated like a pressure cooker to avoid.
McKenna's camp is described as excited by the market. Matthews' side is described as excited by the possibility.
"I went back and forth a little bit with Pat (Brisson), and he was excited. Obviously, they got to wait and see what's gonna happen, but the prospect of going to a market like Toronto that has a former first overall pick in Auston he can build off of and and learn from. And, you know, Auston will be the quasi mentor, and and all that."
- David Pagnotta
- David Pagnotta
That matters for a Leafs team who finished 32-36-14, with a -46 goal differential and a seven-game slide to end the season.
Matthews still carries the room. He had 27 goals and 53 points in 60 games, but Toronto's next core needs more than another winger.
Matthews becomes the selling point
The word that changes the whole read is «mentor.»
If McKenna is the first pick, Toronto can pitch him on learning beside a former first overall center, not walking into a broken bench alone.
Pagnotta frames Matthews as the player McKenna can build off, while still warning that Toronto has work left.
"I reached out to Auston's side too. He's pretty excited about the that prospect of as well. And obviously, the first overall pick is certainly a good sign, so There's a lot more that has to happen there with respect to Auston, and there's a lot more than has to happen with the Leafs in terms of what additional moves they're going to make, but across the board, Nick, it's these are all positive signs."
- David Pagnotta
- David Pagnotta
The Leafs cannot sell only hope. They have to sell structure, ice time, and a top-six path that does not stall McKenna's offensive output.
Berube's job gets heavier from here. A teenager with star expectations needs protection, but Toronto also needs immediate controlled entries and scoring support.
Matthews' $13,250,000 cap hit already makes him one of the league's biggest commitments. McKenna would be the cheap elite swing that changes the math.
But this does not lock anything in. Pagnotta's report points to positive signs, not a finished roster.
Toronto's pitch has a heartbeat again, and Matthews is central to it.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Auston Matthews sends the Maple Leafs a $23M ultimatum
Auston Matthews sends the Maple Leafs a $23M ultimatum