Gavin McKenna's reckless decision has Maple Leafs fans worried about his future

A clip shared by Leafs Latest on X shows Gavin McKenna tearing around on a dirt bike during his offseason, captioned simply "Good ol' Canadian kid," with the footage credited to McKenna's own Instagram.

For a player who grew up in Whitehorse, Yukon, before becoming the consensus first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the outdoorsy image tracks with his roots.

But for a fan base that has waited years for a generational talent to arrive, the video landed with mixed reactions.

McKenna is set to be the centerpiece of a Leafs rebuild around Auston Matthews, and any hint of off-ice risk during the summer tends to set off alarm bells.

Dirt biking carries genuine injury risk, from fractures to concussions, and NHL teams have historically pushed back against prospects and stars engaging in high-risk recreational activities during the offseason.

Several contracts around the league include clauses restricting exactly this kind of activity.

McKenna is not yet under an NHL contract long enough to include those provisions in the same way established veterans are, but the optics remain a talking point heading into his rookie campaign.

McKenna has otherwise had a productive summer, training alongside Macklin Celebrini in Vancouver and impressing at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago.

Leafs coach Jim Hiller is expected to determine his opening night role during training camp, with speculation already swirling about a top line spot alongside Matthews.

Whether the dirt bike clip amounts to anything more than a viral offseason moment remains to be seen, but it is a reminder of how closely every move McKenna makes will be scrutinized in Toronto.

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