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Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-07 · by Joshua Clipperton The Canadian Press
Gavin McKenna, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, scored his first NHL goal against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena. In his fourth professional game, McKenna capitalized on a pass from Auston Matthews to notch both his first career goal and assist, contributing to the team’s recent roster changes aimed at improving their playoff chances after missing them last season.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Tuesday night, Gavin McKenna, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, scored his first professional goal against the Nashville Predators during his fourth career game. The 18-year-old from Whitehorse also added an assist for his first NHL point. McKenna's goal came off a pass from Auston Matthews, who then scored in overtime to secure a 5-4 victory for Toronto at Scotiabank Arena. This win helped the Maple Leafs recover from an early three-goal deficit and marked their debut after significant offseason changes that included acquiring new players like Sergei Bobrovsky and Kirill Marchenko.
Written for “Gavin McKenna Nhl Debut” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
TORONTO - Gavin McKenna has his first NHL goal.
asserted
McKenna → have → goal
The No. 1 overall pick at the 2026 draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs scored on Nashville Predators netminder Juuse Saros in the second period of his fourth professional game Tuesday.
asserted
pick → score → game
McKenna took a pass from Auston Matthews before ripping a shot upstairs and then dropping to one knee in celebration at Scotiabank Arena.
asserted
McKenna → take → Arena
The 18-year-old also added an assist on Toronto’s opener off the stick of William Nylander for his first NHL point.
asserted
old → add → point
The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade last spring, but beat the draft lottery odds and won the right to select McKenna with the first selection in June.
asserted
Leafs → miss → June
The Whitehorse product’s addition was just one of a number of new faces to arrive in Toronto during a seismic off-season that included the arrivals of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and defenceman Darren Raddysh before the club acquired winger Kirill Marchenko one day before its regular-season opener.
asserted
club → arrive → opener
McKenna, who tore up the Canadian Hockey League before spending 2025-26 in the NCAA, entered play averaging 14 minutes 32 seconds of ice time with three shots on target and a minus-3 rating through three games.
asserted
who → tear → games
McKenna said Tuesday morning that Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators was his best performance as a pro to date after some difficult moments in his first two contests.
asserted
loss → say → contests
“I started creating a little bit more and just feeling more comfortable,” he said.
asserted
he → start → more
“It’s just been a process every game, just trying to nitpick things and learn from each play and each shift.
asserted
It → try → play
“There’s still things to be learned, and it’s going to start to come.”
asserted
it → ’ → ?
McKenna also wasn’t concerned about the zeros next to his name heading into the matchup with Nashville.
asserted
McKenna → head → Nashville
“Not where you want to be,” he said.
asserted
he → want → ?
“But at the end of the day, I’ve been on many streaks where I’ve put up no points, had a tough start to college last year, and started to figure things out there.
asserted
I → put → things
I think I know it’s going to come.
asserted
it → think → ?
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2026.
asserted
report → publish → Press
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