Overview
- Practice lines reported Monday place McKenna on the second line as a winger with center John Tavares and William Nylander, making him likely to debut in Tuesday’s opener against Montreal.
- Coach Jim Hiller said he has a firm opening-night plan but cautioned that practice deployments are not guarantees and game-day adjustments remain possible.
- Sergei Bobrovsky is the projected starter in goal for the opener and the depth chart released in practice shows Zack MacEwen earning a fourth-line spot with Brandon Duhaime and Teddy Blueger.
- McKenna, 18, said he is excited for the debut and will have about 14 family and friends in attendance as the club leans on a season-long mentorship and living arrangement with Tavares to help his transition.
- The Leafs’ condensed preseason and split-camp schedule gave McKenna high-leverage reps that pushed him into a top-six role, a decision that reflects the team’s effort to fast-track his experience while protecting him with veteran support.