Jim Hiller explains benching of Gavin McKenna during Maple Leafs loss

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller faced scrutiny following his decision to bench rookie prospect Gavin McKenna during a 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres. McKenna, the projected top pick for the 2026 NHL Draft, played only 6 minutes and 36 seconds, failing to see any ice time in the third period or overtime.

Hiller explained that the decision was unintentional, stemming from a series of consecutive penalties taken by Toronto late in the second period. Because McKenna is not part of the penalty kill unit, he remained on the bench during these sequences. Hiller admitted, “I probably should have got him out there early in the third. I didn’t. So I’ll talk to him about that.”

While Hiller attributed the situation to coaching logistics, some analysts suggested the benching might have been an attempt to teach the 18-year-old about defensive responsibility. Despite the controversy, Hiller expressed confidence in McKenna’s personality and talent, noting that the team continues to work on defensive play across the roster.