Confirmed with Link: LEAFS WIN #1 PICK IN 2026 NHL DRAFT

[Gallagbi]

Isn't there a difference between a rankings and a mock draft?

I think the logic is SJ will go Reid at #2 and then Canucks select Malhotra with the father connection?

I think that's the logic, but given it's well believed he'll go fourth there's usually a little more diversity in the rankings

 

[Daisy Jane]

would be nice but would probably required moving Knies to Chicago or something

and hoping he doesn't go 2nd.
i mean who knows what chicago wants to do.

 

[Hellcat]

Your entire post is just an incoherent strawman.

1) He's not ready for the NHL? Name the last #1 overall drafted forward who DIDN'T PLAY the very next NHL Season that transpired. This is laughable, he is absolutely ready to contribute at the NHL level, it's rare for #1 overall D not to play, it's essentially unheard of for forwards in the modern day NHL.

2) Literally nobody is saying he's Crosby or McDavid, but he's also objectively better than Lafreniere who he was more productive then in a lower scoring league a full 14 months of development younger...this is just silly.


3) Him going to NCAA to play against men and challenge himself is a positive, not a negative. He could've scored 200 points this season in the W, but he was already CHL player of the year and won the WHL Championship....I love the drive, willingness to challenge himself, also absolutely loved the adjustments he made in the second half.

4) RE : Lafreniere, this is just subjective nonsense that's not going to go anywhere. Lafreniere had one gear, I was a big fan of his but he was the worst skating #1 overall forward since Tavares, he could never shift gears the way a player like McKenna can, he also didn't have anywhere near the vision, hands. Comparing the statistics of a 16 year old to a player nearly 15 months older is just absurd, whether Lafreniere was viewed as an elite prospect or "very good" is completely and totally irrelevant, McKenna as a 16 year old was better and more dominant than Lafreniere in his Draft year in a lower scoring league, McKenna was undersized playing NCAA in his draft season, Lafreniere was significantly larger than the average Q player at 6'1 195 lbs.

I've seen both of these players life numerous times(Lafreniere around 10 times) and it's very, very evident you never spent time watching him in the Q.

Regarding Celebrini -- No, I used him as an example for just how good, productive Gavin McKenna was in the NCAA at generating scoring chances, literally nobody said this....but absolutely nobody in 2024 thought Celebrini would be the most dominant teenager to enter the NHL since Sidney Crosby either.

When "strawman" gets thrown around incorrectly in the first reply, it's usually a good indication that the discussion has already left the rails. A basic understanding of the English language can be surprisingly useful.

 

[TimeZone]

When "strawman" gets thrown around incorrectly in the first reply, it's usually a good indication that the discussion has already left the rails. A basic understanding of the English language can be surprisingly useful.

"McKenna is not a Crosby or McDavid level prospect"

Literally nobody you're responding to stated he is, nobody inferred as much, you're attacking an argument that has not been made, that is the literal definition of a strawman.

"All I'm saying is slow down"

Slow down with what? The non-existent Crosby/McDavid comparisons that YOU made up?

One does not need to be McDavid or Crosby level to be NHL ready, there hasn't been a #1 overall drafted forward to not play the following NHL season in well over 30 years, that's not going to change in 2026-27.

Quit projecting and go to bed, you clearly haven't spent an adequate amount of time watching(or even following) McKenna or Lafreniere(as a prospect) so why continue to embarrass yourself with laughably bad takes?

 

[Martin Skoula]

Grading IQ on a linear scale is a bit of dead end conversation at the higher levels. Reading the play at high speed and finding your best lane quickly is not the same thing as reading the play and at the same time having an accurate picture of how your opponent is reading the same play, then deliberately making bad-looking choices that you know your opponent will bite on just to move them out of position and make a better play that didn’t exist on first read.

Crosby IQ is brought up as the modern gold standard but was there not always talk about him needing very specific types of wingers, and him making passes that were too smart for his teammates to do something with? Would the higher IQ thing not be tailoring your playmaking to best fit the level your linemates think at, or control the pace to move them where you need them to be for the too-smart-for-grinders passes? Would McDavid not be more dangerous if he wasn’t always at top speed and looking for the highest % danger area but constantly shifted gears and sometimes moved pucks to unexpected 2nd 3rd 4th most dangerous options to keep everyone off balance?

If McKenna isn’t just scanning for how to get the puck to the slot the fastest the second the puck is on his stick, but he’s running a mental model of what his opponents and teammates are thinking and just how much of a turnover carrot to dangle in front of a defender to get them to overcommit without putting the puck in real danger, that’s a completely different conversation than the Crosby comparison.

That probably comes with a lot more growing pains given its high risk and dependent on knowing exactly how fast, how aggressive/disciplined, what kind of reach, etc your opponents have so he can know exactly how much space and time he has to bait the pieces into moving around the board, but that’s a skillset you can build a specific and unique offense around vs a plug and play piece like McDavid or Crosby that’s just going to win their minutes regardless of what your system is doing.

 

[RoadWarrior]

I don't find Alex Nylander to be as good of a stickhandler as William, not even close. He also never put up the kind of numbers William did as a prospect.

Alex Nylander as a comparison to McKenna in any regard is ridiculous. McKenna put up a comparable PPG in the WHL at 15 (it's a 16 year old league without exceptional status) as A. Nylander put up in his draft year.

Alex Nylander put up 7 points in 24 games in the AHL this playoffs - as a 28 year old.

He has a low motor to say the least and his skating is sub par. However he does have terrific hands around the net. It’s just that he doesn’t go to the net very often.

 

[RoadWarrior]

I wonder if he's looking at what Toronto has done this offseason, what American players are doing to make "superteams" in US markets, and deeply regretting that extension with the Oilers right now. Just imagine what we'd look like with McDavid in the mix right now.. and we could easily afford him. it'd be his best shot to win a cup yet, and in his hometown.

I'll never understand why he gave them another chance.

If McDavid leaves Edmonton he’s probably heading stateside to a sunny no state tax destination. The Raddysh connection could be helpful however if they any chance at all of bringing him here. The asking price from Edmonton would be Knies + McKenna + a goalie + multiple firsts. Not worth it to be honest given the mileage on him.

 

[AvroArrow]

If McDavid leaves Edmonton he’s probably heading stateside to a sunny no state tax destination. The Raddysh connection could be helpful however if they any chance at all of bringing him here. The asking price from Edmonton would be Knies + McKenna + a goalie + multiple firsts. Not worth it to be honest given the mileage on him.

Even McDavid isn't worth that much. You're talking about a 1st overall + Knies on an insane contract + 1sts ?

1st overall alone would be fair value considering age/contracts

He's the best player in the world but he's only signed for 2 years, if it was McDavid extended then yes that would be the asking price

 

[RoadWarrior]

Even McDavid isn't worth that much. You're talking about a 1st overall + Knies on an insane contract + 1sts ?

1st overall alone would be fair value considering age/contracts

He's the best player in the world but he's only signed for 2 years, if it was McDavid extended then yes that would be the asking price

McDavid will be extended at $20M per season… so even with an expanded cap that’s huge. You bring in McDavid and say goodbye to Matthews.

 

[Damisoph]

Mckenna has A LOT of Jr. tendencies in his game, carnival freak show stuff that works in the NCAA and Jr. he tries that stuff in the NHL, he will get murdered.

Marner did a lot of that highlight reel stuff in junior too. Seemed to translate for him, it will for McKenna.

 

[The Masters]

we draft this demon yet>?

 

[Apotheosis]

I wonder if he's looking at what Toronto has done this offseason, what American players are doing to make "superteams" in US markets, and deeply regretting that extension with the Oilers right now. Just imagine what we'd look like with McDavid in the mix right now.. and we could easily afford him. it'd be his best shot to win a cup yet, and in his hometown.

I'll never understand why he gave them another chance.

Honestly, would not surprise me if he ends up in Toronto next year (I think that is when his contract is done?). Rising cap, Toronto might actually be decent and a much deeper team than Edmonton. Also, a lot of push back to the obvious American bias being used to push trades out of Canadian teams to play in their desired cities.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Marner did a lot of that highlight reel stuff in junior too. Seemed to translate for him, it will for McKenna.

Are you trying to jinx the guy?

 

[Divine]

 

[RoadWarrior]

Honestly, would not surprise me if he ends up in Toronto next year (I think that is when his contract is done?). Rising cap, Toronto might actually be decent and a much deeper team than Edmonton. Also, a lot of push back to the obvious American bias being used to push trades out of Canadian teams to play in their desired cities.

If McDavid leaves Edmonton he’s going stateside. Wants those low taxes and sunshine. Kudos for committing to a team with lousy ownership and management but enough is enough.

 

[TimeZone]

Lord his hands are gross

 

[Maplebeasts]

The main boards especially the hockey prospect thread with Bjorck ranked #1 is just ridiculous man. The amount of galaxy braining, revisionist history, ignorance of context and stats to bring Mckenna down is staggering from some posters and media outlets.

 

[Divine]

The main boards especially the hockey prospect thread with Bjorck ranked #1 is just ridiculous man. The amount of galaxy braining, revisionist history, ignorance of context and stats to bring Mckenna down is staggering from some posters and media outlets.

What did you expect? The Leafs won the lottery.

The Laine vs Matthews debate was the exact same thing.

 

[fbuford]

If Chayka does make the mistake of drafting McKenna- please do not bring him up right away ....

If the Leafs want a "project", McKenna is the guy. He is an exceptional playmaker- although, his scoring ability is not NHL ready. He's 170lbs soaking wet - play away from the puck is questionable, and if you're worried about his defensive play- just forget about it!

Feeding him to the sharks is a great disservice to McKenna, he needs time to marinate ...

Another year in the NCAA will do wonders for him, the year after- give him some time in the AHL, than, as a mid season call-up we'll see what he can do!

 

[kb]

If Chayka does make the mistake of drafting McKenna- please do not bring him up right away ....

If the Leafs want a "project", McKenna is the guy, 170lb soaking wet - play away from the puck is god awful, and, just forget about the defense.

Feeding him to the sharks is a great disservice to McKenna, he needs time to marinate ...

Another year in the NCAA will do wonders for him, the year after- give him some time in the AHL, than, as a mid season call-up we'll see what he can do!

 

[BoBfromAulon]

If Chayka does make the mistake of drafting McKenna- please do not bring him up right away ....

If the Leafs want a "project", McKenna is the guy. He is an exceptional playmaker- although, his scoring ability is not NHL ready. He's 170lbs soaking wet - play away from the puck is questionable, and if you're worried about his defensive play- just forget about it!

Feeding him to the sharks is a great disservice to McKenna, he needs time to marinate ...

Another year in the NCAA will do wonders for him, the year after- give him some time in the AHL, than, as a mid season call-up we'll see what he can do!

I have time for people who try to be contrarian (reminds me of my 6-years-old son) but frankly some of the takes i read from some people here and on the main boards are laughable at best.