McKenna logs 15:19 in NHL debut, Marchenko joins retooled Maple Leafs

Fantasy hockey: McKenna managed 15:19 ice time in his first game but posted just one shot. Marchenko earned an assist in 20:08 and Bobrovsky stopped 21 of 24 shots.

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · September 30, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026

Gavin McKenna made his NHL debut on Tuesday, September 29, recording 0 goals, 0 assists and 1 shot in 15:19 against Montreal in a 2-3 loss. The No. 1 overall pick finished minus-2 with two giveaways in his first game. New teammate Kirill Marchenko also debuted, posting 0 goals, 1 assist and 4 shots in 20:08 in the same contest. Sergei Bobrovsky made 21 saves on 24 shots in his first start for Toronto.

McKenna's ice time is a decent starting point for an 18-year-old, but without a multi-game sample his fantasy value remains unclear. Marchenko's 20:08 and four shots suggest a larger role than expected, though his recent averages come from Columbus. Bobrovsky's workload is a hold until his split with Toronto's other goalie becomes clear.

Fantasy impact

Player by player

Gavin McKenna

McKenna finished his debut on Tuesday, September 29 with 0 goals, 0 assists and 1 shot in 15:19 against Montreal in a 2-3 loss. The 18-year-old was minus-2 and acknowledged he struggled with turnovers. There is no NHL sample yet to compare this performance against.

The 15:19 time on ice is a reasonable floor for a first-overall pick, but his fantasy value depends entirely on what his role looks like over the next few games. Watch for his power-play deployment and whether his ice time climbs. Toronto plays three more games this week, giving McKenna immediate chances to establish himself.

Kirill Marchenko

Marchenko posted 0 goals, 1 assist and 4 shots in 20:08 on Tuesday, September 29 against Montreal in a 2-3 loss. The Russian winger finished plus-1 with two hits in his Toronto debut. His recent averages are 0.33 goals, 0.48 assists and 2.7 shots per game, but those numbers come from his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets before he joined Toronto.

The 20:08 ice time exceeds his Columbus average of 18:49 a night, and four shots in one game is well above his 2.7 norm. His underlying play grades 86 out of 100 among forwards, a strong read on shot generation and ice time. He is not listed on Toronto's top power-play unit yet, though he averaged 2:49 per game on the man advantage with Columbus.

Sergei Bobrovsky

Bobrovsky stopped 21 of 24 shots on Tuesday, September 29 against Montreal in a 2-3 loss, playing 58:45. His recent averages are a 2.57 goals-against average and .902 save percentage, but those numbers were built with the Florida Panthers before he joined Toronto. His save quality grades 33 out of 100 among goalies.

The 21-save effort is a normal workload, but there is no Toronto sample yet to project his start share. Bobrovsky's underlying numbers with Florida were below average, which makes him a risky hold until his role and performance stabilize. Toronto plays three more games this week, so his next appearance will clarify whether he splits starts or commands the majority.

What to do

• Hold McKenna and watch his ice time and power-play usage over his next few games to see if his role expands beyond 15:19 a night.

• Hold Marchenko and monitor whether his 20:08 ice time and four-shot performance become typical or if he settles closer to his Columbus averages.

• Hold Bobrovsky until his start share with Toronto becomes clear, as his ratios and save quality were below average in Florida.

Schedule this week