The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in a position of both opportunity and pressure as the 2026 draft approaches. After a disappointing 2025-26 campaign that saw them miss the post-season, the Leafs landed the first-overall pick. This marks only the third time in the club’s history they’ll draft first, with previous top picks being Auston Matthews and Wendel Clark.
However, the decision this time around is not straightforward. The Leafs could draft Gavin McKenna, but must weigh this against other options.
Options for the Maple Leafs
Toronto has several paths they could take with the No. 1 pick. These include drafting either Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, trading down to draft a lower-ranked prospect, or trading the pick for an current NHL player.
Selecting McKenna is seen as the ‘safest’ option for Toronto. He has been a prominent name in the 2026 draft for years. The Maple Leafs could also draft someone else at No. 1.
The Case for Drafting Gavin McKenna
Drafting McKenna would be a popular choice among Leafs fans. After a strong final year in the WHL, where he scored 129 points in 56 games for Medicine Hat, he had a productive freshman year with Penn State, tallying 51 points in 35 games. It is believed McKenna could replace some of Mitch Marner’s dynamism on Matthews’ wing.
The Whitehorse, Yukon product seems on track to become an incredible talent.
The Leafs’ New Era
The upcoming season marks a fresh start for the Maple Leafs. With a new general manager in John Chayka and a new head coach, significant roster changes are expected. Making the right call on June 26 will be key in setting the team up for a season of redemption. It is also an opportunity for Chayka to begin his tenure in Toronto positively.
The Maple Leafs missed the post-season for the first time in a decade.
The Maple Leafs will select No. 1 for the first time since 2016, the last time they missed the post-season.