Mats Sundin praises Gavin McKenna’s skill and character in intro press conference
“I think it’s a fantastic honour and great for the fanbase and the Toronto Maple Leafs to be able to have first overall,” Sundin said. “I think with Gavin, not only will we see it on the ice as a player, but also the character and the person he is, Gavin is going to be an unbelievable asset for the Toronto Maple Leafs, for a long, long time. So I’m very excited to be here today with Gavin.”
Sundin knows McKenna’s position well, having been selected first overall by the Quebec Nordiques back in 1989. The Swedish Hall of Famer is no stranger to both the privilege and pressure of going first overall, as well as how that may look playing in a market like Toronto. Accordingly, Sundin shared how he’ll be helping guide McKenna through his first year.
“I think the most important advice I can give to Gavin is to stay true to himself,” Sundin said. “If there’s anything different in Toronto from other markets, it’s the size of the fan base, interest from the city, it’s the hockey capital of the world. But at the end of the day, it is a game of hockey.”
Of course, Sundin knows the city well from over a decade of donning the blue and white sweater as a player and captain. In Toronto, McKenna will also benefit from playing alongside another former first-round pick in Auston Matthews, who was selected by the Maple Leafs in 2016.