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Gavin McKenna grew up as a hockey phenom in Canada.
Generally, you'd think that would make him excited about the fact that he could be drafted No. 1 overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
You'd be right.
McKenna spoke with reporters at the NHL Combine on Friday in Buffalo, and he had a lot of good to say about the Maple Leafs.
"Obviously the situation the Leafs are in right now, it’s pretty crazy they got the first overall pick," McKenna said. "They’re a team who’s probably going to be fighting for the playoffs next year so I’d be pretty fortunate to go there."
Toronto wasn't expecting to miss the playoffs, let alone have the top pick in the draft.
Even by the lottery, they had only the fifth-best odds of being No. 1, but things broke their way and they ascended to the top spot.
That gives them the chance to take the talented winger McKenna, if they want to.
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Most analysts seem to think McKenna will be the pick, even as other players are scrutinized closely.
McKenna burst onto the scene in a huge way when he played in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers.
This season, he opted to go the college hockey route and play in the NCAA for Penn State. He started slow for the Nittany Lions but finished very strong.
McKenna will probably end up in Toronto, and if that happens, he'll be a big key in getting them back in the playoff fight that he alluded to. It could be an exciting time for the Leafs if things work out to help them bounce back.
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