After a rough season that saw the Maple Leafs miss the playoffs and land the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, attention has quickly turned to how the team should manage a prospect who could potentially be the next franchise star, Gavin McKenna.
There’s also a rising push to avoid repeating the same treatment Mitch Marner received in Toronto. The discussion reflects a clear shift in how the city views top-tier talent, especially after Marner moved on and found playoff success with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Maple Leafs Get Gavin McKenna Warning After Mitch Marner Lesson
For years, Marner found himself at the center of criticism as the Maple Leafs repeatedly fell short in the postseason. That scrutiny eventually intensified to the point where his tenure ended with a sign-and-trade exit.
NHL insider Marco D’Amico believes Toronto needs to avoid making McKenna the next target of constant evaluation and criticism.
During Marner’s highlight-reel goal against the Anaheim Ducks in Round 2, D’Amico posted, “Imagine thinking that a player like this can be replaced by committee?” in what was a clear jab at Toronto’s offseason approach.
After moving on from Marner, the Maple Leafs tried to replace his production with a group including Nicolas Roy, Matias Maccelli, and Dakota Joshua, but couldn’t match his elite playmaking, transition play, or special teams impact. Without a true top-line creator next to Auston Matthews and William Nylander, the offense struggled, and the team missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
That led the Hot Take Hockey channel to respond to D’Amico’s post, writing, “Agreed. You cannot replace Mitch Marner by committee. You replace him with Gavin McKenna.”
D’Amico wasn’t convinced. “Even he won’t be enough, not at first,” he pointed out.
When another response suggested McKenna could fill that role by his second or third season, D’Amico pushed back again, saying, “I think that’s a lot to ask. I don’t think he’ll ever be as good of a two-way player that Marner is. The offense is debatable.”
Another fan argued that McKenna’s offensive ceiling could eventually surpass Marner’s, comparing his style to Nikita Kucherov and noting that defense will likely never be his strongest suit.
D’Amico agreed with part of that assessment but urged caution. “I too see the Kucherov comparisons. Look how long it took him to hit his stride? As for being way higher than Marner’s, respectfully disagree. I see 90/100 pt W in his future without the 2-way ability. Marner’s a top-10/5 winger in hockey, to be higher is to be generational.”
The comparison to Nikita Kucherov is particularly interesting. Despite showing elite offensive talent early in his career, Kucherov didn’t record a 100-point season until his fifth full NHL campaign at age 24. His development took time, even with an immense skill level that was there for all to see in his early years.
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That reality could serve as an important reminder for Toronto fans. McKenna may possess elite offensive talent, but expecting him to immediately replace a player of Marner’s caliber could be unrealistic, even if they’re catering to Auston Matthews’ timeline.
