Jim Hiller took the blame for sitting Gavin McKenna through much of the Leafs' 5-4 overtime loss to Buffalo: “That's on me.”
Hiller said McKenna didn't play for a stretch of the second period, and the coach looked to get him back out in the third.
By then, the rookie had sat so long that Hiller decided against it, even though he felt he should have played him.
Hiller also admitted he hadn't spoken to McKenna about it yet. That conversation matters more than the minutes.
The loss dropped Toronto to 3-3-2 heading into Saturday's game against the Islanders.
McKenna, 18, has two goals and five points in eight games, and he recently took a turn on the top power play while John Tavares was away.
Gavin McKenna's confidence becomes Jim Hiller's next priority
For a young player trying to earn his place, sitting for most of a period can sting. Rookies notice every shift they don't get.
The bigger question is where he fits once Tavares returns. Hiller likes to juggle lines, and the first overall pick could find himself pushed down the lineup.
That doesn't have to be a bad thing. A sheltered role can protect his confidence, as long as it's framed as a plan rather than a punishment.
Hiller deserves credit for owning it, but he has to talk to the kid today. An 18-year-old shouldn't learn about his coach's mistake from a press conference.
It's like forgetting your kid at the end of the bench in house league. The apology matters, but it has to come before the car ride home.
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The Leafs host the Islanders on Saturday. McKenna's ice time in that game will show whether Thursday was a slip or a signal.
The rookie has handled pressure all season, from the rookie-lap drama to the jersey debate. How he responds to sitting might be the next real test of his young career.
Did Jim Hiller hurt Gavin McKenna's confidence by sitting him?
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