A recent comment about Gavin McKenna sparked a fire in the media this week. Connor McDavid shared his thoughts on the Maple Leafs' new No. 1 pick, and one Toronto broadcaster fired back hard. 

Sid Seixeiro publicly challenged McDavid's understanding of what playing in Toronto means. McDavid spoke about McKenna on Monday at the Zach Hyman Celebrity Classic outside Toronto. 

"I am the last guy on earth who wants to rip on a player the calibre of Connor McDavid, but Connor McDavid doesn't have a clue what it's like playing hockey in the city of Toronto at that level," Seixeiro said on The Sid Seixeiro Show.

Seixeiro's reaction on the July 29 episode of The Sid Seixeiro Show came in response to the Oilers captain's opinion on Toronto's new pick.

"I don't know much about him. I haven't paid attention all that much, to be honest. Seems like he's a good kid," McDavid said as per Yard Baker. "He'll have his hands full in Toronto, but he seems like he's prepared for it. He'll have a good support system there too, obviously with Auston, and he'll have lots of support around him, so he should be fine."

Edmonton selected McDavid first overall back in 2015, and he has spent his career under constant criticism in a major Canadian hockey market. Still, Seixeiro argued that the pressure he faced in Edmonton doesn't compare to Toronto's.

The Toronto radio host didn't hold back in his response. He then explained further on his point by comparing both the teams.

"In Edmonton, the intensity from the media and the fans is always very consistent, a six to a seven, all the time,” Seixeiro said. “Toronto, and we've seen this over the last 10 years, last year aside. When things are going okay, the market generally leaves you alone. When things go bad here, though, it goes from a four to an 11."

Seixeiro continued making his case for why Toronto stands apart. His scathing commentary ended with him suggesting that McDavid did not know what having "his hands full" meant.

Two different No. 1 picks chose two different paths

McDavid and McKenna share a similar story despite the decade long gap in between them. Both entered the NHL as the top pick, carrying heavy expectations on them since day one.

According to ESPN, Edmonton drafted McDavid first overall in 2015, and he quickly grew to become the face of the league. Toronto then selected McKenna first overall in this year's draft. He now enters the league known for its intense media coverage and heavily active fanbase.

McKenna will be mentored by Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, the No. 1 pick in 2016, on handling Toronto's pressure before he heads into his rookie season.

Fans' reactions to Seixeiro's comments have been mixed. Some agreed that Toronto's media environment is uniquely demanding. Others argued that McDavid's original remarks were fair and that Seixeiro's response only proved his point about the pressure McKenna will face.

Do you think Seixeiro's criticism of McDavid was fair? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit