Maple Leafs considering five or six players at first overall and it is not a lock that it is McKenna

Maple Leafs GM John Chayka is not going to just pick Gavin McKenna without doing homework first and admitted there are five or six names who could go at #1.

Gavin McKenna is expected to go #1 however there's a slew of other prospects who certainly can make the argument they deserve that spot. John Chayka knows this and as an astute and attentive GM he's aware that he needs to interview everyone to make sure, and admitted this field is absolutely stacked so he really can't go wrong.

Toronto lucked out when they got the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and suddenly all eyes turned to Gavin McKenna as the only one who could fit the massive market in Toronto.

John Chayka praises draft class while staying mum on his true decision

But guys like Ivar Stenberg, Chase Reid, and Caleb Malhotra are all still more than worthy of a top pick and a player like Stenberg already fits in seamlessly with the Swedish contingent.

That's why John Chayka didn't show his hand at the Draft Combine as he decided to praise the upcoming draft class and ensured that the team has done their 'due diligence' in order to make sure they have all their bases covered:

There's a nice mix of different players & different styles & a few different positions. It's a good year. It's nice for it to be hard.

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For what it's worth, Chayka can't really go wrong with the first five or six presumed picks. Besides McKenna and Stenberg, depending on needs he can go after one of the top defenceman or even a potential elite two-way threat in Malhotra.

Toronto is likely going to pick McKenna though, and all signs have pointed to the Maple Leafs being not only impressed with his athletic ability but also his character and demeanour off the ice.

Potential first overall picks that were interviewed by Toronto are a mixed bag to say the least

We already know how Chayka feels about McKenna and how he feels in kind, but what about the other players?

Stenberg didn't participate in the Combine due to not feeling 100% however it's not like that will drop his stock any and Chayka already has the inside scoop thanks to Mats Sundin:

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But he did comment that playing with Oliver Ekman-Larsson was a 'super fun guy' and took him under his wing. When asked by Ryan Leslie in a 1 on 1 interview, Stenberg was pressed about what he knew about Toronto and he was as honest as possible:

We talked a little bit, not too much. How great the fans are and how much they love hockey, that's all I know, I don't know much but those two are a big role.

Stenberg also described his game as 'a good offensive forward but play defence as well' so if the Maple Leafs were looking for their Patrice Bergeron or Aleksander Barkov then he very well could be that guy.

Reid was also interviewed and expressed a ton of praise for the Maple Leafs though admitted he was nervous about the entire process - but a #1 pick would feel oh so sweet for the defender:

A lot of guys in there so it was a little nerve-wracking sitting down in front of 10 of them but it was definitely good. [On being #1] Truly an honour especially where I came from & being able to build myself from nothing to something.

If Toronto needs a two-way offensive defender they need look no further than Reid. Though he's going to the NCAA next season, he would be arguably the best defensive prospect Toronto has had and instantly improve the blueline.

But Malhotra wasn't exactly impressed and kind of shrugged it off as a basic process, nothing special and he seemed a bit bummed out that he wasn't on a real shortlist; though is excited for Draft Day nonetheless:

A very basic meeting. Like John Chayka's talked about, they have a long list of guys that could go 1st. They talked about how they have a long list. Guys like McKenna & Stenberg are at the top of that list & excited to see what happens on draft day.

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Malhotra would be a great pick though a bit off the board considering the hype around McKenna and Stenberg, plus with Vancouver hiring his father Manny as head coach - and holding the third overall pick, it's likely he heads out west.

It seems that Chayka did his homework and there are some great prospects who could come in and change the franchise. While McKenna seems like the obvious pick, you never know what can happen at the NHL Draft and that's what's so exciting.

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