Overview
- The Toronto Maple Leafs won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery and officially hold the first overall pick, a result reported on May 28 that gives the club control of the top selection at the June 26 draft in Buffalo.
- Gavin McKenna is the consensus frontrunner after a 2025–26 season at Penn State in which he scored 15 goals and added 36 assists in 35 games, and he has publicly said he would be “very honoured” to join the Maple Leafs.
- McKenna’s January aggravated-assault felony charge was reported dropped after security footage was reviewed, a development teams are treating as resolved while they weigh character and legal risk alongside on-ice evaluation.
- Ivar Stenberg and Caleb Malhotra have climbed draft boards and narrowed the gap on some scouting lists, creating a genuine debate inside and outside Toronto about whether to draft McKenna or choose an alternative.
- New GM John Chayka is open to hearing trade offers for the top pick but sources say the club’s preference is to keep it and use the selection to address long-term ceiling needs, a choice that will influence the team’s timeline and public scrutiny.