Overview
- Toronto, which won Tuesday’s NHL Draft Lottery, now holds the first overall pick for the June 26 draft in Buffalo.
- New GM John Chayka is arranging meetings with head coach Craig Berube and captain Auston Matthews, with reporting indicating he is comfortable keeping Berube.
- Elliotte Friedman said Matthews could hold off on a decision about his future until July, after he sees the draft results and early free‑agency moves.
- Media projections have Toronto targeting 18‑year‑old winger Gavin McKenna, and both his agent and Matthews’ camp were described as excited about a possible pairing, though Ivar Stenberg remains in the mix.
- Strategy talk is intensifying, with ex‑GM Brian Burke urging Toronto to shop the top pick for multiple assets, while team analysts highlight a pressing need to add at least two top‑four defensemen.