McKenna Steps Onto NHL Ice
The 2026-27 NHL preseason opened on Saturday with seven games across North America, delivering the league's first look at its most-hyped rookie class, a pair of coaching debuts, and an Edmonton club that looked ready to contend from the opening faceoff.
At Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, all eyes were on Gavin McKenna, the 18-year-old forward chosen first overall by the Maple Leafs in June. Stepping onto NHL ice for the first time in a Toronto uniform, McKenna lined up at left wing alongside center John Tavares and right wing William Nylander — two of the most decorated forwards in the league. Head coach Jim Hiller said before puck drop that he planned no pep talk: "I'm going to tap him on the back, look him in the eye and say, 'Go enjoy the night.'"
Toronto lost the game 4-1 to the Montreal Canadiens, with Phillip Danault recording two goals. But the scoreline was secondary to the impressions McKenna left. "He just makes the right play when it needs to be made. Very impressive," Hiller said after the game. Captain Auston Matthews, himself the No. 1 pick in 2016, offered similar praise: "He plays with a lot of confidence — the kind of skill and the plays that he can make. That line seemed to have meshed really well."
Veteran netminder Sergei Bobrovsky also made his Maple Leafs debut in the same game. The free-agent signing from Florida sits seventh in NHL history with 456 career wins and brings two Stanley Cup championships to Scotiabank Arena's crease.
In the split-squad game played at Bell Centre, the Canadiens completed the sweep with a 4-3 overtime win. Cole Caufield scored the game-winner, and defenseman Lane Hutson collected a goal and two assists across Montreal's pair of victories on opening night.
Oilers Punish a Jets Side Without Hellebuyck
In Edmonton, the evening's most prominent subplot came from an absence rather than a debut. The Winnipeg Jets took the ice without suspended starter Connor Hellebuyck, who refused to report to training camp while awaiting a trade following his off-season demand. Thomas Milic, 23, started in net for Winnipeg.
The Oilers showed little mercy. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each posted a goal and an assist playing together on Edmonton's top line, while defenseman Evan Bouchard collected four assists in a commanding 5-2 victory. The result also served as the preseason debut of head coach Mike Babcock, who won the 2010 Olympic gold with Canada and returns to behind an NHL bench after several years away from the game.
Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said Thursday that his club is still searching for "a resolution that works for both sides" on the Hellebuyck file, with no timeline on a trade. The veteran goaltender has five years remaining at $8.5 million per season and holds a no-movement clause, giving him veto power over any proposed destination.
Around the League
The Minnesota Wild defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in overtime, with Tyler Pitlick scoring the winner. The Vegas Golden Knights handled the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 as Jackson Hallum netted twice in the third period, including the go-ahead goal. The Seattle Kraken beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 in the NHL debut of new Vancouver head coach Manny Malhotra. In St. Louis, the Dallas Stars edged the Blues 2-1 on a Jack Becker goal late in the second period.
What Comes Next
The compressed preseason — an eight-day, 65-game slate negotiated in the new CBA alongside an expansion to 84 regular-season games — runs through September 26. The 2026-27 regular season opens September 29, when Carolina visits Florida and Toronto hosts Montreal in a rematch of Saturday's split-squad meetings.