McKenna goes top shelf for first NHL goal

Gavin McKenna officially welcomed himself to the NHL on Tuesday.

The No. 1 pick of the 2026 NHL Draft recorded his first two NHL points, a goal and an assist, during the second period of the Toronto Maple Leafs matchup against the Nashville Predators at Scotiabank Arena.

Around five minutes into the second period, McKenna recorded his first NHL point with an assist on Maple Leafs forward John Tavares’ goal. The rookie chipped the puck to Tavares who then brought it from the Maple Leafs zone to the Predators zone and fired a wrister to put Toronto on the board.

McKenna’s teammates made sure to collect the puck for the rookie.

About ten minutes later, McKenna then scored his first NHL goal. After receiving the puck from Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, McKenna went top shelf to cut the Predators lead to 4-3.

The rookie got low to the ice and pumped his in arm in celebration before hugging his teammates.

It took McKenna four games to record his first NHL point, a fact he joked about with the media before the game.

“When you’re in the Toronto media and putting up zero points in three games, I think you hear about it. Maybe that’s my welcome to the NHL (moment),” McKenna said with a smile in a video posted by Sportsnet.

The first of many to come.