McKenna, who played a career-high 17:56 in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday and has five points (two goals, three assists) in nine games, said he has been impressed from what he has seen of Stenberg.
“I think he has poise out there,” McKenna said. “He’s a confident player, and he’s not afraid to make plays and try things. Just a super-calm player so, I think, give a lot of credit time for that.”
The last time the Maple Leafs had the No. 1 pick was 2016, when they selected current captain Auston Matthews. Like McKenna, Matthews did not have to wait long to face the No. 2 pick that year, Patrik Laine, who went to the Winnipeg Jets.
Matthews is hoping McKenna has a better experience than he did Oct. 19, 2016, when Laine had a hat trick, including the overtime winner, in a 5-4 Jets win in what was Matthews’ third NHL game.
“I think it’s always an exciting moment, a good measuring stick for sure,” Matthews said. “I remember my first game against Laine, it did not go my way for sure. But you play 84 of these a year and play really good players every single night but it’s two guys who went No. 1 and No. 2 in the draft.
“Two really good players who are going to be really good players in the League for a long time, I think you use it as a bit of a measuring stick but at the same time you go out there focus on yourself, focus on the team, play the game and play to win.”
