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Gavin McKenna, Leafs Leadership & Analytics

September 30, 2026 · 29 min

Show notes

Sean Avery is back with another episode of The Sean Avery Show — and the NHL season is finally here.


This week, Sean Avery talks Gavin McKenna, William Nylander, Mike Babcock, the Edmonton Oilers, NHL fitness testing, analytics, scouting and what it takes to succeed in the NHL. Sean breaks down Gavin McKenna's mentality ahead of his first NHL game and explains why he believes the young star is ready for the pressure.


He also weighs in on William Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs, arguing that Nylander should be the team's leader, while discussing Auston Matthews, the Leafs and what Toronto needs from its stars. Sean also dives into the latest Mike Babcock comments, including Babcock's "tree versus a shrub" description of Shakir Mukhamadullin, and explains why he believes Babcock understands how to connect with everyday hockey fans.


Plus, Sean gives his take on the NHL eliminating fitness testing, shares his thoughts on Macklin Celebrini, reacts to Sidney Crosby's tribute to Marc-Andre Fleury, discusses Justin Verlander's final game, and explains why NHL teams should invest more in scouting and former players instead of relying so heavily on analytics.


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