Toronto Maple Leafs first overall pick Gavin McKenna isn't getting too low as he continues to search for his first NHL point.
"I think just how hard it is," McKenna said Tuesday when asked about his welcome-to-the-NHL moment, per Sportsnet. "You come in, you believe in yourself, and I still believe in myself, but yeah.
"Especially in the Toronto media, with putting up zero points in three games, I think you hear about it. Maybe that's my welcome to the NHL," McKenna added with a smile.
McKenna has played on the Leafs' second line with John Tavares and William Nylander for each game. The line ranks 43rd in expected goal share (22.2%) out of 45 trios that have played at least 20 minutes together, according to MoneyPuck.
The 18-year-old has been prolific at every level. McKenna racked up 51 points in 35 games last season at Penn State, and he had 129 points in 56 contests two years ago in the WHL with Medicine Hat.
"It's obviously not where you wanna be, but ... I've been on many streaks where I've put up no points," McKenna said. "Had a tough start to college last year and started to figure things out there. Honestly, learning from last year and learning from these first few games, I think, is gonna be key. Sticking with it, being confident, I know it's gonna come. So just keep working and have confidence."
Leafs head coach Jim Hiller continues to back McKenna.
"I think he's doing really well," Hiller told reporters Monday. "He's young, and he just seems unflappable to me. I'm sure he wishes he had more right now. Of course. That's obvious. But I haven't seen it affect him. When I talk to him, he's got a smile on his face, and he walks around here the same as he did two months ago and two weeks ago. So, I think that's a really important quality for him."
McKenna's next opportunity to get on the scoresheet comes Tuesday against the Nashville Predators.
