A recently surfaced video of Gavin McKenna dirt biking has thrust the Toronto Maple Leafs into an early and uncomfortable conversation about the off-ice risks they are prepared to accept from their first overall pick.
The clip shows the young forward enjoying a summer ride across a sand dune, dressed in little more than a helmet and jeans as he glides through the terrain. Combined with earlier footage of McKenna taking Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka out on an ATV, it paints a clear picture: off-roading is not a casual hobby for McKenna. It is a genuine passion, one that reveals a wilder edge beneath the humble public persona he has cultivated.
Embed X: https://twitter.com/Leafslatest/status/2085880327767982188
That passion, however, raises legitimate questions for an organization that has invested the top selection in the draft and is counting on McKenna to contribute sooner rather than later. There is no evidence that he has been reckless. He has worn a helmet and taken basic precautions. Yet dirt bikes and ATVs carry inherent risks that everyday activities do not. One poorly timed fall, one unexpected collision, and a promising season—or worse—could be compromised before McKenna ever plays a regular-season game in a Maple Leafs sweater.
Toronto does not need to ban the activity outright. Doing so would risk creating unnecessary friction with a high-upside prospect who has not yet stepped on NHL ice for the club. McKenna already carries the weight of elevated expectations. Removing one of his primary outlets for stress relief would be counterproductive. The organization must recognize that athletes need ways to decompress, and for McKenna that outlet involves engines, open space, and a degree of calculated adrenaline.
At the same time, the Maple Leafs cannot ignore the asymmetry of the situation. The franchise’s long-term plans rest, in part, on McKenna’s availability and development. While no activity is entirely risk-free, dirt biking and ATV riding sit higher on the danger scale than most recreational pursuits. A quiet, private conversation before the season begins—acknowledging his passion while underscoring the need for added caution—would strike a pragmatic balance. Helmets, protective gear, controlled environments, and perhaps limits on the most extreme terrain could reduce exposure without stripping away the activity itself.
McKenna has shown he can handle the machines safely so far. The Leafs’ task is not to extinguish that side of him, but to ensure it does not undermine the considerable opportunity both sides now share. Getting ahead of the issue now, while the calendar still offers room for dialogue rather than crisis management, is simply sound organizational hygiene. The first overall pick’s summer fun has already forced the conversation. How Toronto handles it may say as much about their player-management instincts as any on-ice evaluation.