Gavin McKenna is still looking for his first NHL point, and the Maple Leafs' veterans are lining up to shield him from the noise.
William Nylander was emphatic. "There's no pressure to produce. He's going to be a great player. It's going to happen."
Then came the best line. "And when it does, it's going to come in waves."
John Tavares focused on the person behind the player. "You can tell he's really well raised, very humble and very respectful."
The 18-year-old has no points and a -3 through three games. For a first overall pick, that's enough to make some fans nervous.
He's flashed the creativity, though. His fake between-the-legs pass to Nick Paul against the Islanders was the kind of play most rookies wouldn't dare try.
Jim Hiller's Leafs need patience with their first overall pick
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The Leafs are 1-2-0 after a 3-2 home loss to Ottawa, and the pressure on everyone is rising. Hiller's group hosts Nashville on Tuesday.
That's exactly why the veterans spoke up. Nylander has three points and Tavares two, and both know how hot the Toronto spotlight can get.
McKenna carries a $1,075,000 cap hit and wears No. 92. He's also been at the centre of a jersey-number debate and a rookie-lap controversy in his first week.
Nylander is right. Three games is nothing, and anyone panicking about an 18-year-old in his first week needs to take a long breath.
Judging him now is like judging a sourdough starter after three days. It needs time before it turns into anything.
Tavares is 36, and his word carries weight in that room. When he calls a rookie humble and respectful, everybody hears it.
The waves Nylander promised haven't started yet. When they do, Toronto will forget this week ever happened.
Should Leafs fans be worried about Gavin McKenna's slow start?
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