The rumor mill surrounding Gavin McKenna is running wild ahead of the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft. However, whatever concerns scouts and teams may have about the Yukon Territory native, the Toronto Maple Leafs apparently don’t share them. According to a report, Auston Matthews is the ace up the Buds’ sleeve that makes drafting McKenna an unquestionable decision.
“I was told by a couple teams, the only reason they were worried about taking McKenna first is if you don’t have a center who can play with him. Is it going to make it harder [on McKenna]? Toronto doesn’t have that problem,” Elliotte Friedman said on the FAN Hockey Show.
Despite reports suggesting McKenna could slide down from No. 1 and land with the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, or another NHL franchise, it seems all but guaranteed that Toronto will use its first overall selection on the talent out of Whitehorse.
McKenna could be perfect move for Toronto
It feels like the perfect complementary move. Drafting McKenna could put a full stop to the noise surrounding Matthews and a potential trade request out of The Six. At the same time, the Leafs can draft McKenna in a heartbeat because they could line him up on Matthews’ wing and expect superb production right from the get-go.
Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs
After all, it may take Toronto less than a year to replace Mitch Marner. The former fourth overall pick in 2015 was traded to Vegas on July 1, 2025, and McKenna will most likely be selected first overall on June 26, 2026, at KeyBank Center. A short trip across Niagara Falls and the US-Canada border would then follow for McKenna as he settles into his new life in Toronto.
Matthews’ contract situation
It all makes perfect sense for the Maple Leafs. However, they can’t overlook Matthews’ situation. McKenna’s arrival may ease the pressure for a while, but it won’t last forever. The end goal is always to win the Stanley Cup—for both Matthews and the Maple Leafs. With every passing NHL season in which both fall short of that goal, the buzz surrounding them will only grow louder.
Toronto is officially on the clock, and the pressure is mounting for the Leafs, too. Matthews is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2028, and he isn’t eligible to sign an extension until July 1, 2027. Thus, the upcoming 2026-27 campaign will be crucial in convincing Matthews that he is in the right place. Maybe McKenna is the X-factor in those conversations.
