Gavin McKenna gave the Maple Leafs a glimpse of his creativity tonight against the Islanders, and it was the kind of play you rewind twice.
He faked a between-the-legs pass, held onto it, then fed the puck in front to Nick Paul.
Most rookies wouldn't dare try that. McKenna pulled it out in his second NHL game, at 18 years old.
His debut was quieter. The first overall pick finished his opener against Montreal without a point, with one shot on goal.
Nights like this are what the Leafs were waiting for. JD Bunkis warned that McKenna is the lightest player in the NHL, and plays like this show how he plans to survive.
In the clip, the rookie sells the between-the-legs pass, freezes the defence for a beat, then slides it in front to Paul.
-
No. 92 shows the skill that made him the first overall pick
The rookie skates in No. 92, after the No. 72 debate with Sergei Bobrovsky lit up Leafs fans this week.
Paul, 31, was on the receiving end. The veteran carries a $3,150,000 cap hit and gives the kid a net-front target who knows where to stand.
On a $1,075,000 cap hit, that kind of vision is a steal for Toronto.
Jim Hiller should keep the leash long. A quiet debut means nothing next to a player who sees passing lanes like this.
The fake works like a magician's misdirection. Everyone watches the hand that waves while the trick happens in the other one.
Easton Cowan also scored the Leafs' first power-play goal of the season tonight. Toronto's youth is starting to drive the conversation.
Ottawa visits Saturday. If McKenna keeps trying plays like this, some will end up on the scoresheet, and some will end up in Hiller's video session.
Should Jim Hiller give Gavin McKenna more ice time after this play?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Nick Robertson cheap-shots a former teammate as Pennsylvania mayhem ensues and Player Safety could get involve
