Overview
- Toronto used the No. 1 lottery pick to select Gavin McKenna and made nine additional selections at the 2026 NHL Draft, adding ten prospects to the system.
- The club is expected to sign McKenna to an entry‑level contract and he is being viewed as a candidate for the Leafs’ opening‑night roster while coaching staff plan to ease him into NHL minutes.
- Since taking over, GM John Chayka has replaced the head coach, moved on from Craig Berube in favor of Jim Hiller, and executed multiple roster transactions including a Joseph Woll swap that led to Samuel Ersson being flipped and a Brandon Carlo trade to St. Louis.
- Toronto has roughly $22 million in projected cap room and is pursuing high‑impact moves, with league insiders reporting the club is seeking a major return for Matthew Knies though other GMs say Toronto’s asking price is high; a near‑trade of Knies to Montreal collapsed after paperwork missed the deadline.
- McKenna projects as an elite offensive prospect but carries concerns about size, compete and defense that will shape whether the Leafs push him into a top role now or emphasize a longer development path as Chayka balances short‑term upgrades and the status of franchise players.