TORONTO — Careful not to read too much into tonight’s showdown between the top two picks of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Auston Matthews allows a little smile when he thinks back to his own first taste of a No. 1–versus–No. 2 battle exactly 10 years ago today.
Patrik Laine, the second choice of the 2016 draft, lit up Matthews’ Toronto Maple Leafs for a hat trick, including the OT winner, in a thrilling 5-4 Winnipeg Jets victory.
Matthews settled for a single assist in a loss. Then proceeded to tally more goals than anyone in the league since their draft. Laine is a free agent.
So, the Leafs captain knows better than most what Gavin McKenna might be feeling heading into Monday’s tilt against San Jose Sharks prize Ivar Stenberg. (Sportsnet+ at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT).
“I remember my first game against Patty. It didn’t go my way, for sure,” Matthews said. “Two guys that went one-two in the draft, two really good players that are going to be really good players in this league for a long time.
“I think (McKenna) uses it as a bit of a measuring stick. But at the same time, you go out there and focus on yourself, focus on your team, play the game.”
The game is being positioned as just another one by the low-key Stenberg, who has already amassed six points in his first eight contests.
“Getting to know him,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said, “I think every game is important to him. He’s got a great head on his shoulders. You know, he’s a real savant on how he wants to play the game and understand it. And he's picking up things quickly.
“You see the skill, you see the plays he can make in tight, you see the confidence and swagger he has with the puck, and then his details away from the puck probably impress the most.”
The details away from the puck are very much a work-in-progress for the more dynamic McKenna, whose four-game point streak was interrupted by a benching as the Leafs tried to protect a lead Thursday against the Sabres.
But the rookie’s role has swiftly elevated. He was leaned on heavily in the absence of John Tavares (lower body) and will see shifts on Toronto’s deadly top power-play unit during tonight’s Bukala Bowl.
“I’m excited. A lot of talk between us, and he’s a good player. He’s having a good start to the year. But at the end of the day, I don’t go out there thinking it’s McKenna versus Stenberg. It’s Leafs versus the Sharks. It’s a team game,” said McKenna, who got friendly with his draft runner-up at the combine.
“He’s not afraid to make plays and try things,” McKenna observed. “Just a super confident player and don’t see him make a lot of mistakes.”
Zooming out, the Maple Leafs must limit their own mistakes in this one.
They are trying to snuff out a three-game losing skid and rebound from a rather muted performance Saturday at home against the lockdown Islanders.
“Just emotion,” is what Matthews is looking for. “We just want to make sure that we come out and we're skating, moving, playing physical and doing the right things. Playing with better structure can help minimize some of the mistakes that we've had. But for the most part, it's just going to be a little emotion and making sure that we come out ready to play.”
McKenna says urgency is already high for a Leafs group that wakes up in the Atlantic Division basement.
“We're hungry,” McKenna asserted. “We don’t want to lose this fourth game in a row, especially at home. They're a good team, and we've got to be ready. But I think every single guy in this room knows what he's got to do, and we're just looking forward to showing Scotiabank what we can do.”
Lettieri ‘will be flying’ in Leafs debut
As Hiller strives for chemistry in his top nine, Bo Groulx is expected to take a seat in favour of 31-year-old Marlies veteran Vinni Lettieri, recalled Monday morning to play opposite McKenna on Colton Scissons’ right wing.
The Calder Cup champ is grateful to management for giving him his first NHL look since he appeared in 26 games for the 2024-25 Bruins.
“Doesn't matter if you’re up or down. You just try to mature yourself. And while you're playing this game, there's never a day that goes by where you shouldn't keep on learning,” the patient Lettieri said.
“You’re very happy for the guys that are up here, and they're all deserving of the callup. You don’t just sit back and sulk.”
Groulx, who excelled his callup minutes late last season, has yet to earn Hiller’s trust. The coach noticed Lettieri’s work ethic during a training camp in which the forward had no shot of making the cut.
“I’m sure he wanted to be with the big group and feel like he had a fairer chance of making the team. Terrific attitude. Skilled. But just his work ethic and his passion really caught me,” Hiller said. “And he’s done a great job for the Marlies, going back to last year’s playoffs.”
Matthews, too, has been impressed by the Minnesota journeyman’s attitude and drive.
“He’s always looking for ways to get better,” Matthews said. “A little bit more undersized, but he’s very competitive. He works hard. He’s skilled. He can play up and down the lineup but has some scoring touch as well. So, I know that him jumping in tonight, he'll be ready to go. He'll be flying out there.”
One-Timers: William Nylander (illness, game-time decision) did not participate in morning skate but is expected to play Monday. He saw more ice than any other Toronto forward in Saturday's loss. Matthews just smiles: “I think he’s going to be great tonight. That’s usually how it goes with him. So, I don’t think any of us are too worried.”
Artur Akhtyamov was called up to back up Sergei Bobrovsky Monday and Anthony Stolarz Tuesday in Columbus. The move allows Bobrovsky, 38, to avoid extra flights and rest.
Hiller on all the hullabaloo over McKenna’s benching last week: “Trust me, I get some texts. But I’m not part of that. I'm not part of social media, or media at all. And so, for me, it's really the same.”
Hiller wants his top nine to take cues from how his fourth line played Saturday: “They played a little bit greasier. That's what we need to do.”
The struggling Yaroslav Askarov (2-3-0, .848) starts for San Jose.
Maple Leafs projected lineup Monday vs. San Jose Sharks:
Nylander – Matthews – Roslovic
Cowan – Paul – Marchenko
McKenna – Sissons – Lettieri
Duhaime – Blueger – MacEwen
McCabe – Raddysh
Rielly – Stecher
Ekman-Larsson – Blankenburg
Bobrovsky starts
Akhtyamov
