Gretzky praises McKenna's maturity amid Toronto pressure

Wayne Gretzky said Gavin McKenna faces unusual pressure as a Canadian first overall pick playing in Toronto. He praised McKenna's maturity and said the young forward will get stronger, while also predicting Toronto will be better than expected. McKenna was held pointless in his debut, a 3-2 loss to Montreal.

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Gretzky discussed McKenna, noting Toronto is rebuilding and that owning the top pick usually follows a poor season. He suggested the scrutiny is especially heavy for a Canadian chosen first in Canada and Toronto. McKenna, listed at 5-foot-11 and 164 pounds, will likely add strength as he matures, Gretzky said, praising how the teenager has dealt with media and games.

Toronto finished last in the Atlantic before turning over much of its roster, and Gretzky expects the club to outperform outside forecasts. McKenna's debut brought no points, a minus-2 rating and