Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka confirmed the team has finalized its choice for the first overall selection at the 2026 NHL draft in Buffalo.
Chayka made the announcement during a Thursday press conference at the Ford Performance Centre, where he also introduced Jim Hiller as the team's new head coach.
>>> Australia Secures World Cup Knockout Spot with Paraguay Draw
"We do have our pick and a lot of conviction around it," Chayka said. "The ability for those top picks to be able to shape franchises is real.
We certainly hope that is one of them for us."
Management declined to publicly name the selection before Friday night, but Chayka highly praised Penn State winger Gavin McKenna, the consensus top prospect according to TSN.
"I got the chance to spend time with Gavin in Whitehorse, and he is a unique player and person," Chayka said.
"It is an amazing story. He never had a skills coach until he was 13.
He didn’t have a skating coach until he was 13. He was not in the gym until he was 15."
Chayka described McKenna's development as a "Canadian story of being out in the rink, love for the game, and passion for the game."
"His unique ability to break down the game and create offensive chances is special," Chayka added.
Exploring Additional Top-10 Pick
The Maple Leafs are reportedly exploring options to acquire another top-10 selection, having already strengthened their roster by trading for defensemen Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae.
