Being selected with the first-overall pick in the National Hockey League Draft is an experience that only an ultra-exclusive circle of elite hockey players will ever truly understand. Beyond the immediate wave of excitement, profound pride, and overwhelming sense of accomplishment a young athlete feels when they hear their name called on the grandest stage—surrounded by cheering family, friends, and thousands of eager fans—there lies an immense, unyielding amount of pressure. A top pick is tasked with carrying the heavy, franchise-altering expectations that inevitably accompany being crowned the premier talent of an entire draft class.
For Gavin McKenna, who heard his name called first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs back in June, those expectations are uniquely amplified by the sheer magnitude of playing in one of the most passionate and intense hockey markets on the planet. Yet, despite the daunting spotlight that awaits him in Canada’s largest city, players who have walked this exact path before him maintain unwavering faith that the young phenom possesses the right tools, temperament, and environment to deliver.
A Perfect Storm of Pressure and Preparation
Entering the league as a premier selection always brings scrutiny, but New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes believes McKenna has landed in a uniquely advantageous position. Hughes, who was selected first overall by the Devils in 2019 and has since blossomed into one of the most dynamic young offensive forces in the NHL, shared his perspective during the annual NHL Player Media Tour in Las Vegas.
"I think of all the first-overall picks in the last bunch of years, he might be a guy that A) might have the spotlight on him the most, but B) might be set up for the best spot," Hughes told The Hockey News.
Hughes noted the luxury of McKenna joining a competitive Maple Leafs roster rather than a rebuilding cellar-dweller—a stark contrast to his own entry into a New Jersey franchise that had missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in six of the previous seven seasons prior to his selection.
"The Leafs probably shouldn’t have had the first pick — and then on top of that he has AMatts [Auston Matthews] and John Tavares, who were first-overall picks before," Hughes added, highlighting the elite veteran pedigree already established in the Toronto dressing room. "He should have more than enough experience and guys to lean on, guys who he can talk to about situations he’s going to be going through."
Furthermore, Hughes emphasized the invaluable resource the teenager has right across the room in the team’s captain. "There’s no better person in the league for him to listen to than Auston Matthews, because AMatts went through all that stuff 10 years ago, so it should be a great setup for him."
Learning from the Best in Toronto
Unlike John Tavares, who began his career on Long Island, Matthews has lived through the unique, high-intensity microscope of being a top pick in Toronto, where a devout fanbase has spent decades yearning for ultimate success. The multi-time Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy winner understands the soaring highs and crushing lows of the local market better than almost anyone. Having spent time around the organization’s newest crown jewel over the past few weeks, Matthews has been deeply encouraged by how the teenager is handling the early stages of his professional journey.
"Being around him these last couple of weeks, you can see that he’s had fun," Matthews observed. "This is obviously a very exciting step, an exciting moment for him and his family to accomplish his dreams and come here."
Tavares, who was chosen first overall by the New York Islanders in 2009 before eventually returning home to sign with Toronto, has taken his mentorship a step further. He recently confirmed that he is welcoming McKenna into his family home for the rookie’s inaugural NHL campaign—a generous living arrangement that Tavares has maintained with young Maple Leafs prospects over the past few seasons. The veteran forward has been markedly impressed by the maturity the 18-year-old has displayed during their initial weeks together.
"He’s an unbelievable kid," Tavares said of McKenna. "I’ve been very impressed with how well he carries himself. You just want him to go out there and enjoy all the great things about being a Maple Leaf, living his dream playing in the NHL and the opportunity to play for an unbelievable fan base that’s going to love him and support him."
Perspectives from Across the League
The sentiment is echoed by other rising stars who know what it takes to navigate the pressures of elite hockey. Matthew Schaefer, another prominent first-overall selection who made his mark on Long Island, understands the vital importance of leaning on seasoned veterans. He believes McKenna will reap massive benefits simply by observing and absorbing the habits of Toronto’s established core.
"Toronto is a little bit of a bigger market, but I think they have a great group there," Schaefer noted. "For me, my ears are wide open when it comes to coaching staff and the players and older vets telling me things that really helped, or what it took for them to get to where I’m at right now. If he can just enjoy it and learn a lot from the older guys and just be himself, I think that’s what really helps you the most."
While Schaefer and McKenna developed alongside one another through the junior ranks while representing Team Canada on the international stage, another contemporary got an even closer look at the Whitehorse native this past summer. San Jose Sharks star Macklin Celebrini spent the off-season training alongside McKenna, gaining a firsthand appreciation for the young forward’s skill set and character.
Celebrini acknowledged the dual-edged sword of playing under the microscope in a Canadian hockey mecca, but expressed confidence that it will not derail McKenna’s trajectory toward becoming a premier playmaker in the NHL.
"It’s a blessing and a curse with the attention," Celebrini said. "When you’re doing well, they’re going to treat you like royalty. But also, every little mistake will be focused in on more and more. I got to know him a bit this summer. I don’t think it will affect him too much. But he’ll have a lot of guys there to help him through that."
A Changing Philosophy for Modern Prospects
While Celebrini and Schaefer represent the fresh wave of elite talent entering the professional ranks, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has seen it all. Entering the league as the definitive first-overall pick in 2005 under an entirely different era of hockey, Crosby has watched the landscape of the NHL shift dramatically over two decades.
Looking at the immediate responsibilities and opportunities handed to players like McKenna right out of the gate, Crosby views it as a positive reflection of evolving organizational philosophies and the immense trust modern teams place in their young stars.
"Year after year you see guys do it and it becomes normal — and it shouldn’t be," Crosby said. "Before you might have a guy who’s young but because of the roster he doesn’t fit and he’s not given the same opportunity. I think teams are more willing to give those guys a look and give them responsibility early. There’s nothing too big for them."