Wickenheiser’s First Read on McKenna Is Hard to Ignore

First impressions of Gavin McKenna are kind of overwhelming, in good ways. For Toronto Maple Leafs fans, it’s early, and you never want to overreact to a couple of moments. Still, from what Hayley Wickenheiser shared, it sounds like he checked a lot of boxes right away—on and off the ice.

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McKenna Processes Things Quickly

She said when she got a chance to skate with him one-on-one, the first thing that stood out was how fast he processes things. Like, not “talented someday soon” fast. It was more like he’s taking everything in, reading the play, and adjusting almost instantly. Add that to what she called his quiet confidence, and you get this vibe that he’s more than just talented. He’s also calm. That’s a big deal when you’re talking about a young player walking into a “Welcome to the Maple Leafs” spotlight.

And then there’s the whole hockey-brain side of it. Wickenheiser basically described him as exceptionally bright, with an IQ “off the charts.” She also mentioned how grounded he seems. He knows where he came from, and he hasn’t let the hype swallow him. Being grounded matters too, especially when you’re the “first overall,” and everyone’s projecting this massive future on you.

Wickenheiser Labelled Him a Deep Thinker

She also said he’s a deep thinker who asks really good questions. Not the surface-level kind of thinker. Instead, it’s more like he’s actually engaged, listening, and trying to understand what’s being told to him. She said he picks up information quickly and seems aware of his surroundings. He doesn’t just skate around; he’s paying attention to everything.

One of the best impressions was that he’s staying himself. They talked about being from Western Canada and having that small-town mindset. To her, he’s still got that “keep things simple, stay grounded, have fun” approach. And he’s doing it under all the pressure that comes with being a top pick.

Wickenheiser’s First Impressions Are Positive

Her first impression of McKenna is that he’s “smart, dialled in, confident, and surprisingly grounded.” If that translates the same way once he’s fully in the swing of things, it’s more than just exciting. It’s the kind of franchise-moment energy you can’t fake.

Related: Maple Leafs’ Gavin McKenna Shows Respect to Bobrovsky, But There’s a Slight Problem