McKenna, Stenberg set to face off in battle of top 2 picks of 2026 Draft

TORONTO -- Gavin McKenna wants to make one thing clear about how he views his first game against Ivar Stenberg.

"Obviously, a lot of talk between us and he is a good player," McKenna said. "He's having a good start to the year, but at the end of the day, I don't really go out thinking its McKenna versus Stenberg. It's Leafs versus the Sharks. It's a team game so I'm looking forward to playing against them."

Still, when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the San Jose Sharks at Scotiabank Arena on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN+, NBCSCA), the top two picks in the 2026 NHL Draft -- McKenna No. 1 for the Maple Leafs and Stenberg No. 2 for the Sharks -- will be going head to head in the NHL for the first time. 

But more importantly, as McKenna, 18, said, it's a matchup of two teams looking to find their footing in the first few weeks of the NHL season. 

The Maple Leafs (3-4-2) have lost three straight (0-2-1) while the Sharks (4-3-1) have lost three of their past four (1-2-1).

"We're hungry," McKenna said. "We know we don't want to lose this fourth game in a row, especially at home. They're a good team and we've got to be ready. Every single guy in this room knows what he's got to do."

Added Stenberg, "Just like a fun game. Hopefully we win."

Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky has been impressed with how Stenberg, 19, has acclimatized quickly to the NHL. After having two assists in his first five NHL games, Stenberg had a goal and an assist in two of his past three games for six points (two goals, four assists) in his first eight.

"Getting to know him, I don't honestly think (this game means any more to him)," Warsofsky said. "I think every game is important to him. He's got a great head on his shoulders. He's a real savant on how he wants to play the game. He's picking up things quickly."

Stenberg attributed a lot of his comfort level to having fellow Swede Alex Wennberg, a 32-year-old with 877 games of NHL experience, around to help guide him.

"It would be really hard without him," Stenberg said. "It's so nice to talk Swedish with him. He's a real good mentor for me. I ask him stuff every day, super good guy. Everything outside of hockey, on the ice, translating stuff. He's been super nice to me."

Wennberg said though he understands the buildup of the first meeting between McKenna and Stenberg, he does not expect his teammate to be distracted by the added hype.

"It's a dream come true for him but just the way he is handling it is so professionally," Wennberg said. "Not only is he a smart player, solid player with skill and all that, but he's handling the pressure, it's been really impressive to see at a young age."

"You always have to paint that picture, No. 1 against No. 2, I think it's a great thing you have a battle within the battle but at the end of the day you have to focus on your own game."

"I feel like whatever I can do to help him, like if it's advice or just small things but I see it as more of a friendship than a mentorship."

McKenna, who played a career-high 17:56 in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday and has five points (two goals, three assists) in nine games, said he has been impressed from what he has seen of Stenberg.

"I think he has poise out there," McKenna said. "He's a confident player, and he's not afraid to make plays and try things. Just a super-calm player so, I think, give a lot of credit time for that."

The last time the Maple Leafs had the No. 1 pick was 2016, when they selected current captain Auston Matthews. Like McKenna, Matthews did not have to wait long to face the No. 2 pick that year, Patrik Laine, who went to the Winnipeg Jets. 

Matthews is hoping McKenna has a better experience than he did on Oct. 19, 2016, when Laine had a hat trick, including the overtime winner, in a 5-4 Jets win in what was Matthews' third NHL game.

"I think it's always an exciting moment, a good measuring stick for sure," Matthews said. "I remember my first game against Laine, it did not go my way for sure. But you play 84 of these a year and play really good players every single night but it's two guys who went No. 1 and No. 2 in the draft. 

"Two really good players who are going to be really good players in the League for a long time, I think you use it as a bit of a measuring stick but at the same time you go out there focus on yourself, focus on the team, play the game and play to win."