It took until Game 15, but Gavin McKenna finally walked into the Toronto Maple Leafs’ dressing room and saw his name to the left of Auston Matthews’ on the top line.
Rookie Gavin McKenna is set to play on the Toronto Maple Leafs' top line alongside Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic against the Seattle Kraken. Head coach Jim Hiller adjusted the forward combinations ahead of Game 15 at Climate Pledge Arena following injuries to key contributors. McKenna noted that earning the promotion alongside Toronto's captain provides a boost of confidence as he prepares to make the most of the expanded offensive role.
The lineup shuffle comes as top-six winger Kirill Marchenko was ruled out week-to-week after suffering an undisclosed lower-body injury on Monday in Calgary. Forward John Tavares remains sidelined in Toronto rehabbing his own lower-body injury. Toronto previously outscored opponents 2-0 during 19:04 of five-on-five ice time when Matthews and McKenna skated together earlier this season.
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