"“I don't know if either one really moves the needle on its own,” Johnson said. “Gavin McKenna won't be as good as Alex Tuch next year. Gavin McKenna will be much better than Alex Tuch in three years. So, I don't know how that factors into Auston Matthews's calibration about what he wants to do.”"
"“I'm guessing that Auston's view on the Leafs is, in its entirety, what the team feels like, not just one player or one player that is going to play with me in lieu of what Mitch used to do.”"
"“But, also, what we're going to do on defense, who our coach is going to be, what system are we going to plan -- it's the entire package that he will be evaluating, not just, 'Hey, we got you a good winger. Are we good to go?'”"
The Toronto Maple Leafs winning the 2026 Draft Lottery provides an immediate offensive boost by adding Gavin McKenna or another player to the lineup next season. The added talent does not resolve the team’s larger issues tied to its other first-overall draft pick. Questions remain about whether McKenna’s presence would influence Auston Matthews to stay and sign an extension. Alex Tuch is also considered as a potential free-agent addition. The view is that neither McKenna nor Tuch alone changes Matthews’ decision, because McKenna’s near-term impact differs from Tuch’s, and Matthews evaluates the full team situation, including defense, coaching, and system plans.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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