Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna reached 23.34 miles per hour (37.57 kilometers per hour) during a 4-3 shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, establishing the fastest speed captured by an 18-year-old since NHL Edge began capturing metrics in the 2021-22 season.
How McKenna Compares To Fellow Rookies And Teammates
McKenna’s top speed outpaces early marks set by other high-profile teenagers in recent years. San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini and New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer both crossed the 23 miles-per-hour threshold at age 18, clocking 23.10 and 23.09 miles per hour respectively. While McKenna has built a reputation primarily as a playmaker since his WHL and NCAA careers, Toronto head coach Jim Hiller pointed to the forward’s raw speed as an unexpected revelation during pre-season play.
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 team’s second pre-season game on September 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.
Current Rookie Scoring And Roster Outlook
Through his first six games, McKenna has tallied four points, recording an assist against Vegas and another in a subsequent matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. That production places him in a tie for the NHL rookie scoring lead alongside Chicago Blackhawks forward Anton Frondell and Boston Bruins forward James Hages. Meanwhile, teammate Auston Matthews also flashed high speeds during the pre-season opener against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, generating questions regarding the team captain’s health and conditioning as the regular season unfolds.
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