Toronto Maple Leafs first overall pick Gavin McKenna has been training with Macklin Celebrini throughout the offseason, and he said picking the brain of the San Jose Sharks superstar has helped prepare him for his rookie campaign.
"He's a pretty intense guy when it comes to his off-ice and on-ice stuff," McKenna said of Celebrini, per NHL.com's Tracey Myers. "To be in that environment and get into a routine, it felt good. I had a lot of fun, and I felt like I got better."
McKenna added, "My trainers probably won't like to hear this, but there was a week where we were on the ice for like 17 hours. So, yeah, max crazy but every skate out there, you're getting better and it's a competitive group. So I've had a lot of fun with it."
Celebrini was the first overall pick in 2024 and has already established himself as one of the NHL's top talents. He registered 115 points last season in his sophomore campaign and inked a five-year, $94-million extension Wednesday. Celebrini's $18.8-million cap hit stands to be the highest in the league when it kicks in.
Beyond both being top picks, McKenna and Celebrini share common ground in having played in the NCAA in their draft years. Celebrini attended Boston University, while McKenna jumped from the WHL to Penn State, where he managed 51 points in 35 games.
McKenna is expected to compete for a top-six role with the Maple Leafs this fall. He said he isn't worried about the pressure that comes with playing in a demanding market.
"Everyone talks about the Toronto market, but at the end of the day, I'm just out there playing hockey," he said. "To have that opportunity to get drafted to a market like that is pretty special. But for me, I just try not to think about it, try to block out all the noise and play the game I love playing."
