With McKenna top prospect, Maple Leafs begin their rebuilding with top pick in NHL draft
“And I think that’s what we did.”For Toronto, the draft represents a familiar starting-over moment. It was in the same downtown Buffalo arena 10 years ago nearly to the day when the Maple Leafs selected Auston Matthews with the first pick.Though Matthews remains, the Maple Leafs are in transition with a new front office, new coach and having to rebuild their core group after finishing last in the Atlantic Division. It was the first time they’ve missed the playoffs with Matthews.Uncertainty over top-five selectionsMcKenna, an undersized winger at 5-foot-11 but a prolific scorer, is the projected No.
- ▪“And I think that’s what we did.”For Toronto, the draft represents a familiar starting-over moment.
- ▪It was in the same downtown Buffalo arena 10 years ago nearly to the day when the Maple Leafs selected Auston Matthews with the first pick.Though Matthews remains, the Maple Leafs are in transition with a new front office, new coach and hav
- ▪It was the first time they’ve missed the playoffs with Matthews.Uncertainty over top-five selectionsMcKenna, an undersized winger at 5-foot-11 but a prolific scorer, is the projected No.
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Open this photo in gallery:Gavin McKenna attends the 2026 NHL draft top prospects media availability on Thursday at the New Era Cap World Headquarters in Buffalo, N.Y.Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountIn giving John Chayka a tour of his hometown of Whitehorse, Yukon, last month, Gavin McKenna made sure to take the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager on a visit to a nearby mountain.“I had fun,” McKenna said with a smile on Thursday.
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