Maple Leafs’ Gavin McKenna Opens Up About Limited Ice Time

There's been a lot of gnashing of teeth around Leafs Nation—and rightfully so—about the way that head coach Jim Hiller has been handling the ice time (and the severe lack thereof) for hot-shot rookie Gavin McKenna. 

Hockey's No. 1 prospect and the first overall pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in this year's draft has received an average of only 13:56 of ice time per night in this, his rookie season. 

The calls for him to play more have come from not only fans, but also some in the media, and even former NHL head coaches and general managers—like Doug MacLean. The outspoken exec recently implored the Leafs to let McKenna play. 

Ex-Coach/GM implores Leafs to just let McKenna play

"He’s got a chance to be a superstar. Let’s not over-coach him. Let’s just let him go… Leave him alone and just play him!... Just let him play!"

But there he was again on Thursday night against the Minnesota Wild, getting just 10:38 of ice time in the 5-2 loss, his second-lowest TOI of the season. 

So how is the 18-year-old dealing with constantly being nailed to the bench? Andre Leal reports in The Hockey News that McKenna is still trying to stay positive—and to work on things.

I think it's just trying to stay in the game. You know, sometimes it can be tough to stay in it and find ways to get going on that next shift. But for me, I think being dialled in, watching the game, watching plays happen, I think that really keeps me dialled in. And when I'm out there, that next shift that I get, just trying to be around the puck a lot more. It's going to be harder to come by puck touches when you're not playing as much. So for me, trying to be around it and get those touches, I think, will be key for me.

'Just keep learning,' says McKenna as he bides his time waiting for more minutes

McKenna adds that better positioning without the puck will help him perform more to the coach's liking. And he feels that's coming. 

"I think that's one thing I've learned is it's hard in the O-zone," McKenna said. "Guys are always in the right position. So for me, that's something I've kind of wanted to get down pat. And I think I've been doing some video with Jim (Hiller) and Daniel (Alfredsson), and they've been helping me. So when you see it on video, I think it just comes naturally when you're out there. And I want to keep doing that. And I think just keep learning off of it and try and be in those right positions."

Meanwhile, despite the limited ice time, McKenna still ranks first in scoring amongst first-year players in the NHL this season, with 13 points in 21 games. And yet he's 20th in average ice time among the rookie crop. Imagine if he was getting a full share of minutes out there. 

Yes, there will be turnovers—he's tied for the lead among rookies at 26—but that's one of the things that comes with a gifted offensive player who has the puck on his stick a lot. As MacLean pointed out, "Great young stars... do turn the puck over because they’re creative and they’re trying to do stuff."

It's the price that the Leafs should be paying in order to fast-track the kid's development.

We'll see how it goes as the season unfolds, but McKenna seems to be taking it in stride, and is working on those parts of his game that currently has his coach afraid to play him.