Maple Leafs' Gavin McKenna Reveals Another Strength To His Game, Breaking NHL Speed Records Among 18-Year-Olds

Gavin McKenna has always been advertised as a playmaker. That has been true since being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs this past summer, as well as during his WHL and NCAA career.

His puck skills are off the charts, and it doesn't take a genius to see that's a strength of his game. But what hasn't been talked about nearly as much as his playmaking is McKenna's ability to skate and his quickness.

In Toronto's outing against the Vegas Golden Knights - a 4-3 shootout loss on Thursday - McKenna reached 23.34 miles per hour (37.57 kilometers per hour). That's the fastest speed captured by an 18-year-old since NHL Edge began capturing it in 2021-22.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini and New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer were also able to break the 23 miles-per-hour mark when they were 18, clocking 23.10 and 23.09 miles per hour, respectively.

McKenna's top speed from the Leafs' clash against the Golden Knights ranks in the 99th percentile of the NHL. So far this season, McKenna's 23.43-mile-per-hour burst is the fastest burst on the team this season.

Toronto's head coach Jim Hiller noticed McKenna's speed earlier in 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 said after the Leafs' second pre-season game on Sept. 23. "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.

The Maple Leafs rookie recorded an assist in that game against Vegas and added another helper in Saturday's game against the Colorado Avalanche, which makes for four points in six games. 

McKenna is tied for the league lead in NHL rookie scoring, alongside Chicago Blackhawks' Anton Frondell and Boston Bruins' James Hages.

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