With McKenna top prospect, Maple Leafs begin their rebuilding with top pick in NHL draft - The Globe and Mail
The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to make the first overall selection in the NHL Draft, which begins on Friday night in Buffalo. This marks a significant moment for the franchise as it embarks on a rebuilding phase, following a season where the team finished last in the Atlantic Division and missed the playoffs with Auston Matthews still on the roster.
Gavin McKenna, an 18-year-old winger from Whitehorse, Yukon, is widely projected to be the top pick. McKenna, who stands 5-foot-11, is known for his prolific scoring. He recently completed his freshman season at Penn State, where he recorded 51 points, with 32 of those points coming in his final 17 games. His performance tied him for fourth in the nation in scoring.
Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka, who was hired recently, visited McKenna in Whitehorse last month. Chayka indicated that the front office has reached a unanimous decision regarding their top pick, though he did not reveal the player’s name. The general manager emphasized the importance of making the right choice during this rebuilding period.
Draft Prospects and Uncertainty
While McKenna is a leading candidate for the first pick, the 2026 draft class is described as having a light presence of centres at the top and a deep pool of defencemen. This has created some uncertainty among NHL executives regarding the top five selections.
Other notable prospects include Swedish left winger Ivar Stenberg and centre Caleb Malhotra. The draft class also features several defencemen, such as Latvia’s Alberts Smits, North Dakota‘s Keaton Verhoeff, and Chase Reid, who is the top-ranked U.S.-born prospect.
The San Jose Sharks hold the second and ninth picks, while the Vancouver Canucks are slated to pick third. There is particular intrigue surrounding Malhotra, as his father, Manny Malhotra, was recently named the Canucks’ new head coach. The hometown Buffalo Sabres have the fourth pick, followed by the New York Rangers.
Potential Trades and Recent Activity
The draft order could still be affected by potential trades. The Sabres, for instance, acquired the fourth pick by trading defenceman Bo Byram to Chicago this week. The ninth pick has changed hands three times recently, moving from Florida to Ottawa before being acquired by San Jose.
Sharks GM Mike Grier has not ruled out trading the second pick, noting that he has received a couple of legitimate offers. Chayka also mentioned making a push to acquire another top-five selection. Such high-level pick trading is uncommon, having occurred only four times since the 2004-05 NHL lockout, with only one of those trades happening after the selection order was determined.
McKenna has been closely following the pre-draft activity, describing it as an “amusing distraction.” He has been determined to prove himself worthy of being considered a top player since being identified as such two years ago. His move from the Western Hockey League to Penn State was aimed at facing older and more physical competition, which he believes has prepared him for the next level.
McKenna’s journey includes a challenging personal period this past year. He faced charges of misdemeanour simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct following an altercation, though the most serious charge of aggravated assault was dropped. He has stated that he learned a lot from battling through the ups and downs.
Marlies Celebrate Calder Cup Victory
While the Maple Leafs prepare for the draft, their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, recently celebrated a championship win. The Marlies secured their second-ever Calder Cup by defeating the Chicago Wolves 4-3 in five games. The celebration took place on Monday at Real Sports Bar & Grill in downtown Toronto.
Marlies goaltender Artur Akhtyamov was named the MVP of the playoffs, receiving the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy, after making 27 saves in the decisive Game 5 victory. Akhtyamov was a fourth-round pick by the Maple Leafs in the 2020 draft.
Source: theglobeandmail.com
