Leafs’ Gavin McKenna to sit out rookie tournament

Fans will have to wait a little bit longer to see winger Gavin McKenna in game action as a Toronto Maple Leaf.

According to Steve Sullivan, head coach of the Leafs’ American Hockey League (AHL) affilitate Toronto Marlies, the 2026 first-overall draft pick will not be travelling with Toronto’s other prospects to Gatineau, Quebec to participate in the 2026 NHL Prospect Challenge this weekend.

McKenna, 18, was initially named to the Leafs’ roster for the tournament, and even practiced with the team on Friday. No specific reason for holding him out of the actual tournament was given, but the Leafs may want to keep him fresh and focused for the team’s training camp. The highly touted rookie is expected to step in and play a regular role for Toronto in the NHL this upcoming season.

The Whitehorse, Yukon native spent last season playing for Penn State in the NCAA, where he had 15 goals and 36 assists for 51 points in 35 games, putting him in a tie for fifth in the nation in scoring. He also notched four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in seven games playing for Canada at the 2026 World Juniors. With the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) the season prior, he dominated with 41 goals and 88 assists for 129 points in 56 games, before contributing nine goals and 29 assists for 38 points in 16 playoff games en route to Medicine Hat winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions.

Without McKenna, Toronto will still have some intriguing players taking the ice in Gatineau. Daily Faceoff‘s prospect analyst Steven Ellis highlighted defenseman Ben Danford as the Leafs prospect to watch at the tournament. Ellis noted that Danford is “strong, physical, and gives you little space to work with. If he can find another gear offensively, he’ll be an absolute steal for Toronto.”