Overview
- On Thursday McKenna logged just 6:36 of ice time and did not play after the second period, remaining on the bench through the third period and overtime.
- Head coach Jim Hiller told reporters the decision was his, blamed penalty and bench management for the extended absence, and said he will discuss the matter privately with McKenna.
- The benching came as Toronto lost 5-4 in overtime after Kirill Marchenko completed a hat trick and Buffalo rallied for a late comeback capped by Owen Power's winner.
- McKenna remains the Maple Leafs' 2026 first-overall pick and has five points in eight games, a record that the club says fits a phased, mentorship-led development plan.
- The episode raises public questions about in-game minutes control for high-profile rookies in Toronto and could increase scrutiny of Hiller's bench decisions without signaling any formal discipline or injury.