NHL Teams Target 2026 Draft Needs Ahead of 2-Day, 7-Round Selection

Q: Will the Maple Leafs draft superstar Gavin McKenna, or trade the top pick to finally solve their long-standing defensive woes?

The Maple Leafs are more likely to draft Gavin McKenna than trade the No. 1 pick. That is the clear direction from the available reporting. McKenna is widely viewed as the best player in the 2026 class and the consensus first overall choice. NHL.com projections from Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale both have Toronto taking him, and scouting reports describe him as a potential first-line star with elite playmaking and game-breaking offensive upside. One report went further, saying it does not expect Toronto to move the pick, noting how rarely a No. 1 selection is traded. The temptation to deal the pick is real. Toronto’s blue line remains a major organizational weakness, and this draft is unusually rich in top-end defensemen such as Chase Reid, Keaton Verhoeff and Carson Carels. Trading down could let the Leafs target a premium defense prospect while adding more assets, and a blockbuster move for an established NHL defenseman would directly address a long-standing need. But the balance of evidence still favors keeping the pick. McKenna is the kind of talent teams usually do not pass on, especially after winning a rare lottery. New GM John Chayka has acknowledged being open to all options, yet he has also called drafting first overall a special opportunity. The more likely path is that Toronto takes McKenna and tries to fix its defense through separate trades, roster moves, or free agency rather than sacrificing the top pick.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 18

June 26-27's 2026 NHL draft arrives with teams split between contending and rebuilding, forcing each club to prioritize the biggest holes in its prospect pipeline.
Defense and center dominate the board: Boston, the Islanders, Winnipeg and San Jose need blue-line help, while the Rangers, Penguins, Capitals, Blues and Oilers are short on NHL-projected centers.
Contenders are leaning toward immediate or near-term help, with Toronto expected to take Gavin McKenna at No. 1, Florida weighing a 50-50 chance of trading its first-rounder, and Carolina seeking depth after winning the Cup.
Teams with extra capital such as Calgary, Nashville, St. Louis and Seattle have room to trade up or swing on upside, while clubs with thin pick inventories like Dallas, Anaheim and Vegas face tighter paths to replenishing talent.