Canadiens @ Leafs - Sept. 29th, 7:00pm - SN

[herman]

Toronto Maple Leafs season opener: a notebook post

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Jack Han (former Leaf dev ops) had some notes from the game, as he is Montreal-based now.

I’m a big believer in McKenna’s potential and believe that, if all goes according to plan, he can become a Patrick Kane-level winger for TOR.

However, the 2026 first overall pick didn’t make much of an impact against MTL, logging 12 minutes at 5v5 with a measly 30.8% shot share (+8/-18).

The problem wasn’t ability, but rather process.

Had McKenna started his game by making six consecutive positive plays with the puck, he would have a) remained on the Tavares-Nylander unit and b) likely already gotten on the score sheet.

Unlike at Penn State, McKenna is now suiting up alongside world-class playmakers and finishers. If he does just enough to keep TOR in possession, sooner or later the puck will find its way into the opposing net. Then McKenna will see his name featured more prominently on the box score.

I agree with this note: McKenna doesn't have to be The Guy right now. But to stay in the top six, he does have to, at minimum, help chain plays and keep possession alive for something to coalesce. That's all Cowan did when he joined the line for those handful of shifts: get to his spots, move the puck to a better spot, rinse and repeat. And when the play matured to an opening, he was there to receive a pass and make a play.

McKenna already made adjustments between preseason game 1 and game 2 that held him in good stead, and now he has seen how much time he really doesn't have when the puck is on his stick. I think he will figure it out sooner rather than later.