BUFFALO — Look past Gavin McKenna’s wealth of offensive skills, if that’s possible. As tantalizing as it is to envision McKenna filling the net for the Maple Leafs for years to come — provided, of course, Toronto takes him with the first pick in the 2026 National Hockey League draft — there’s another reason why the 18-year-old winger should be an enticing possibility for Leafs Nation. His spirit.
Leadership Beyond Scoring
“He drags guys into the fight, if you will, not only in games but also in practice, makes (teammates) get there early, makes them stay later,” Leafs director of amateur scouting Mark Leach said on Friday at the NHL scouting combine. “That’s a big … those are special people. You bring people into the fight like that, it’s something about you. He has the ability to do that.”
The Leafs need that element, and badly we would suggest, though it shouldn’t fall on the shoulders of a teenager to carry that weight by himself. McKenna made it sound like he would be happy to jump in both feet on a Leafs team that will target a return to the Stanley Cup playoffs after missing the post-season this past spring.
McKenna's Perspective on Toronto
During a media availability on Friday alongside another fellow prospect, defenceman Keaton Verhoeff, McKenna said that being drafted to a Canadian market would “be pretty special.” And as that distinct possibility pertained to the Leafs, McKenna said: “The situation the Leafs are in right now, it’s pretty crazy that they got the first overall pick (because) their team is probably going to be fighting for the playoffs next year. I’d be pretty fortunate to go there.”
McKenna said it was “an honour” that Leafs general manager John Chayka made the trip to the family home in Whitehorse, Yukon, for a visit during the past month, and McKenna indicated that it went well from his end. “I think Toronto’s a little different than from where I’m from,” McKenna said with a smile. “Being a small-town kid, moving to a big city would be pretty cool.”
“If I was to be drafted there, I probably wouldn’t look forward to (the notorious Toronto traffic). If I get drafted there, I’d be super-excited. You hear a lot of things about the Toronto market and stuff like that, and from what I’ve heard from from their staff, and people who are part of that, that team, I’ve heard good things about it. They’re in a good spot right now. If I was to be drafted there, I’d be pumped.”
Draft Options Beyond McKenna
We should keep in mind that the Leafs say they won’t depart the combine on Saturday, once the fitness testing concludes the week-long event, with their minds made up on the player they will select first overall. If not McKenna, it could be Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg. Defencemen Chase Reid, Alberts Smits, Carson Carels and Verhoeff are in the conversation, along with centre Caleb Malhotra, but none to the point that they could go first overall.
“Highly skilled, highly creative, smart, mature, plays at a high pace and really just goes about his business like a pro,” Leach said about Stenberg. “All these top-end kids who are in the draft, we’ve dug in, find out what their background is, watched them play at different levels.”
Later Rounds and Team Needs
It’s not just the high-end players the Leafs have been interviewing. Leach and his staff will have another six picks once the first round is done, and the club has conducted approximately 65 interviews during the week. The later picks the Leafs will have could wind up being crucial to the team’s future, and though there will be no verdict on any of those players for several years, Leach knows what he will be looking for in Rounds 2-6. The Leafs don’t have a seventh-round pick this year, having traded it to Dallas in the swap two years ago that brought defenceman Chris Tanev to Toronto.
“I’ve always liked size to a point, but I’ve also liked competitiveness,” Leach said. “In order to play at the highest level and get the most out of yourself, you have to be competitive. All these kids can skate, they all have skill, they all have some good IQ. You have to be able to mix that all together and bring the best foot forward.”
First Overall Pick a Rare Opportunity
For Leach, who has been in the amateur scouting game for more 30 years, first with the Detroit Red Wings and then with the Dallas Stars before coming to Toronto two years ago, having the chance to pick first overall has not yet happened for him. “First time ever,” Leach said. “It’s special. I don’t want it every year, but it’s unique.”
Would Chayka think of trading the first pick? “I would say the probability is we take the pick, realistically,” Chayka sad. “We have had discussions. Everything’s for sale at the right price, but to date, there’s nothing compelling that we’re seriously considering. But there’s still time.” We don’t see a trade happening.
The draft will mark just the third time the Leafs have had the first pick overall. Wendel Clark became a Leafs legend after Toronto took him first in 1985. Auston Matthews has been a scoring machine in the 10 seasons since the Leafs called his name first in 2016. McKenna should get the same opportunity to make a similar mark in Toronto.
