Gavin McKenna has long been heralded for his elite vision and playmaking prowess—traits that made him a prized pick for the Toronto Maple Leafs in this past summer’s draft. However, the 18-year-old rookie is proving that his game is far more multidimensional than his scouting reports suggested.
During Thursday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, McKenna turned heads not just with his passing, but with his explosive raw speed. According to data tracked by NHL Edge, the teenager reached a top speed of 23.34 miles per hour (37.57 kilometers per hour) during the contest. That mark is officially the fastest speed recorded by an 18-year-old player since the league began utilizing tracking technology in the 2021-22 season.
McKenna’s sprint puts him in elite company, surpassing the previous record-holders for that age group. For perspective, NHL stars like San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini and New York Islanders defender Matthew Schaefer both eclipsed the 23-mph barrier at age 18, clocking in at 23.10 and 23.09 mph respectively. McKenna’s performance against Vegas, which currently stands as the fastest burst by any Maple Leafs player this season, places him in the 99th percentile of NHL skaters.
The revelation of his straight-line speed has been a pleasant surprise for the Toronto coaching staff. Head coach Jim Hiller, who has been monitoring McKenna’s development closely since the start of training camp, admitted that the rookie’s skating ability was not his most anticipated attribute heading into the year.
“If you ask me what’s the one part of his game that has caught you off guard, I would say it’s his skating,” Hiller remarked following the team’s second preseason game in September. “It’s his speed. I don’t know if he was talked about that way, but his skating and his straightaway speed has been really good. Of course, we know he’s got great agility, but that’s the thing that’s jumped out at me so far.”
That speed is translating into production. Following his assist against Vegas and another helper in Saturday’s clash with the Colorado Avalanche, McKenna has tallied four points through his first six NHL games. He currently sits in a three-way tie for the league lead in rookie scoring, alongside Chicago’s Anton Frondell and Boston’s James Hages.
As the season progresses, opponents are learning that McKenna is more than just a creative threat in the offensive zone. With his world-class playmaking ability now supplemented by top-tier, record-breaking speed, the Maple Leafs rookie is proving to be a dangerous dual-threat, signaling a breakout campaign that few might have predicted for an 18-year-old in his debut season.
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