Nylander ‘super excited’ to be with McKenna at start of Maple Leafs camp

TORONTO -- William Nylander was attending an American Hockey League playoff game on May 5 when he was informed of a potential franchise-altering moment for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“We won the draft lottery! Are you (bleepin’) kidding me?” an astonished Nylander said to teammate Matthew Knies at the time, courtesy of his YouTube channel.

It was no joke.

Nor is the fact that the forward found himself on the first day of Maple Leafs training camp Thursday playing on a line with Gavin McKenna, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and veteran John Tavares.

“I mean, it's a game-changer,” Nylander said of McKenna’s addition, adding that “the team has been built a different way and a little different thought behind it.

“So I mean, I'm super excited.”

Especially after getting a chance to skate with McKenna for the first time.

“I thought we had some very good opportunities in practice when we were out there,” Nylander said. “We just want to keep building and don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. Just take it day by day.”

Nylander said that process includes offering advice to the 18-year-old, who has arrived after one season at Penn State University, in any way possible.

“I think you just try to help him out, I mean, with whatever questions or, you know, help guide him,” he said. “But you’ve just got to let him play. If he comes with questions to you, then you answer them. Maybe the odd time you see something, then you would tell him. 

“But you’ve got to let him play.”

At first blush, the combinations for Toronto’s top two lines implemented by new coach Jim Hiller and his staff makes a lot of sense.

As Hiller pointed out, one of the main reasons for the decision is that McKenna is living at the Tavares family home. As such, the teenager can learn good habits and pick Tavares' brain both at and away from the rink.

Hiller’s first impression of the unit on opening day of camp?

“I mean, I’m not specifically looking for Gavin when I’m out there,” Hiller said. “But what I’ve seen, what I saw today, and I guess I’d say what I’ve seen in the last week is, I see Gavin.”

Even among a group of seasoned NHL veterans, the rookie has made himself noticeable in a good way.

Hiller pointed to a moment in practice Thursday as an example. McKenna was boxed in the corner by Chris Tanev, one of the better shutdown defensemen in the game, and looked to be in no-man’s-land.

Except he wasn’t.

“I saw (McKenna) dance away and just do a nice little saucer pass into space,” Hiller said. “That jumps out at you … So those are the things that, you know you’re just standing there and you see them and you go, ‘OK, that’s at a high level.’”

It wasn’t the first time and likely won’t be the last.

In that regard, Tavares said McKenna’s elite playmaking talent should help spring the highly skilled Nylander into open space.

“Gavin’s ability to make plays through traffic is elite,” Tavares said. “That’s what makes him really special -- not just in time and space, but in traffic.”

For McKenna, Day 1 of camp brought more intensity and a higher pace than during the informal skates he’d had with teammates the past few weeks. But he remains confident in this new role, especially with talented linemates.

“It feels good knowing that, you know, the staff has confidence in me and putting me with those types of players,” he said. “So, it was fun being out there with them.

“I think they're both super smart players. I know with John, he's a workhorse, and with 'Willy,' he’s so skilled. And I think for me, just trying to play my game and not trying to change things up and just make my plays and try to get toward the net. And I think pucks will find me with those types of players.

“It should be fun.”

Meanwhile, captain Auston Matthews will start at center between Knies and newcomer Jack Roslovic. Matthews and Roslovic were linemates with the U.S. National Junior Program and are looking forward to rekindling the on-ice chemistry they had as teenagers.

“They were together at the program, and they maintained a good friendship,” Hiller said. “I think Auston really likes ‘Rosie’s’ game. He likes the skill. He likes how he can complement him.”