John Tavares has his hands full this fall, and it isn't just about hockey.
The Toronto Maple Leafs captain laughed his way through a team video this week, laying out exactly how busy his life is about to get.
"I got three kids now, 4th coming in October, and the teenager moving in as well," Tavares said. "Keeps me busy, it's good tho."
That teenager is Gavin McKenna, Toronto's first overall pick, who's about to lean on Tavares as more than just a linemate.
Tavares posted 31 goals and 71 points in 82 games last season, still producing at 35 years old with 12 power play goals to his name.
He's spent his entire career in the kind of market that demands leadership on and off the ice, and now that job extends to a teenager stepping into the NHL for the first time.
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Toronto finished 32-36-14 last season, 28th overall, and every veteran presence in that room matters heading into a season built around a fresh start.
Why McKenna landing with Tavares matters so much
Having a mentor like Tavares could genuinely speed up how fast McKenna adjusts to life in the NHL, both on the ice and away from it.
Toronto is one of the most demanding markets in hockey for a young player to walk into cold.
Tavares taking McKenna under his wing, even jokingly comparing it to raising a teenager, says a lot about how seriously he takes that responsibility.
It also adds a real layer to Tavares' own plate. A fourth child arriving in October, plus a rookie who needs guidance during the most important stretch of training camp.
Head coach Craig Berube will be watching closely to see how quickly that relationship translates into results once the games start counting.
Tavares has carried a lot for this franchise over the years. Now he's adding a locker room mentorship on top of a growing family, and somehow he's smiling about it.
Whether that extra weight helps McKenna settle in faster, or just adds more pressure onto an already loaded veteran, is something training camp will start answering soon.
Will John Tavares mentoring Gavin McKenna speed up his NHL transition?
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