Gavin McKenna has not played his first NHL game for the Maple Leafs yet, but former NHL forward Shane O’Brien believes he has already earned respect.

O’Brien said fans may think twice before crossing the line because of McKenna’s well-known fight earlier this year. He said the young forward is coming to Toronto with plenty of "street cred."

O’Brien talked about the incident while discussing what McKenna could bring to one of the NHL’s toughest markets.

“Another thing he's got going for him is these Leafs fans in Toronto, you don't want to mess around with them because he's already knocked one guy out at the bar. You don't want to be the second guy that he just drops at the bar.”

O’Brien said that McKenna’s reported bar altercation has already earned him a tough reputation among Toronto fans.

“So he's got some street credit headed to the big smoke, too. These guys at Earl's or wherever he is, they might not fucking chirp him because they never know this guy could just snap.”

O’Brien made these comments while talking about an incident involving McKenna that received a lot of attention. Earlier this year, The Centre Daily Times reported the story in a report by Bret Pallotto in collaboration with Jon Sauber.

The report said McKenna was accused of punching a man during an incident in downtown State College after a Penn State hockey game. 

It also said that, according to a source familiar with McKenna’s side of the story, the situation got worse after a man allegedly insulted McKenna and his mother, even though McKenna’s teammates tried to calm things down.

O’Brien said this incident has already shaped how many people in hockey see McKenna before he has even played his first NHL game.

The incident behind O’Brien’s comments

The same Centre Daily Times report said the incident happened after Penn State's game against Michigan State. In that game, McKenna scored one goal and added two assists.

Police said the 18-year-old punched a 21-year-old man twice. The man suffered fractures on both sides of his jaw, needed surgery, and had his jaw wired shut for about two weeks.

Police later charged McKenna with felony aggravated a******, misdemeanor simple a******, and summary charges of harassment and disorderly conduct. He was later released on unsecured bail.

The report also said that, according to a source familiar with McKenna's side of the story, the group was leaving Doggie's Pub when a man started yelling at McKenna and his mother.

Before playing a game for the Maple Leafs, Gavin McKenna is already drawing attention. And Shane O’Brien believes fans may think twice before provoking him.

What do you think? Will McKenna be remembered more for this incident or for what he does on the ice? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi