The draft seemed like it was going to be somewhat of an afterthought for the Toronto Maple Leafs as recently as two months ago. That was before they won the draft lottery and earned the right to select Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick. Combine that with the addition of a second-round pick thanks to Scott Laughton and the Los Angeles Kings making the playoffs and another third-round pick incoming following the Joseph Woll trade, and all of a sudden the Leafs actually have an opportunity to add some pretty good players to their prospect pool.

We expect that Gavin McKenna will be a Leaf come Friday night, and even if they shock the world and pick somebody else, they’ll be adding a franchise player with a pick that nobody expected them to even own thanks to the disaster of the Brandon Carlo trade. Their second-round pick, which sits at 60th overall, is less of a given. Here are X players the Maple Leafs should target when Day 2 of the draft arrives and they’re on the clock.

Matias Vanhanen (LW)

A 5-foot-11 playmaking forward for the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, Matias Vanhanen worked his draft stock up more and more as the season went on and firmly stamped his name on the map in the Memorial Cup. He led the Silvertips in scoring in the regular season with 87 points in 62 games as his team finished atop the league and turned it up a notch in the playoffs with 12 goals and 24 points in 18 playoff games, then four goals and eight points in five Memorial Cup games.

Below is an excerpt from DailyFaceoff’s Steven Ellis:

Vanhanen found instant chemistry with fellow Finn Julius Miettinen, and the pair couldn’t stop producing. Vanhanen was one of the WHL’s premier setup guys, showing excellent heads-up hockey sense every time he hit the ice. If it wasn’t for him, Everett’s offense would be significantly less lethal – Vanhanen seemed to be the primary play-producer. There’s no question he’ll get drafted in his second year of eligibility, but scouts aren’t completely sure what type of player he’ll be at the next level. He lacks any sort of physical play, and he’s not all too quick, either. But, man, his puck play is truly remarkable.

Ellis has Vanhanen ranked at 59th in his June 2026 Draft Rankings, which is one slot before the Leafs are set to pick, so there’s a very real chance for them to add two exceptionally strong playmakers with their first two picks in this draft.

Brady Knowling (G)

Taking a gamble on a goaltender is always worth it, as 2020 fourth-round pick and recent Calder Cup MVP Artur Akhtyamov just showed us after an exceptional playoff run in the AHL. The Leafs already have two intriguing goaltending options in the AHL between Akhtyamov and Hildeby, and if they want to buy another lottery ticket, taking a gamble on a 6-foot-5 netminder with raw talent in Brady Knowling could be an interesting option.

Here’s what Ellis had to say about Knowling, ranked 93rd in his most recent draft rankings:

Knowling had a good season with the USNTDP this year and even made his World Junior debut. The Boston University goaltender has a big 6-foot-5 frame, but he’s quick for his size, too. The Toronto-born goaltender is the No. 1-ranked North American goaltender according to NHL Central Scouting, with scouts noting that he commands the crease without giving up too many costly rebounds. Not every scout is fully sold on him, especially with passive hands that often lag behind when he moves crease-to-crease. He allows too many weak goals for my liking, too.

Knowling’s .880 save percentage with the U.S. National Team Development Program this season isn’t overly inspiring, but he’s set to play for the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit next season before heading to Boston University in 2027-28. He would be a long-term project if selected but could be worth the wait.

Rudolfs Berzkalns (C)

When it comes to the NHL Draft, getting NHL games out of anybody beyond the first round is generally seen as a win. Rudolfs Berzkalns doesn’t have a tremendously high ceiling as a prospect, but his high floor could make him an intriguing option at 60th overall. The Latvian has great size at 6-foot-4 and 203 pounds and displayed an ability to take on increased responsibility when his team needed him to. He’s set to play for Boston College in 2026-27.

Below is an excerpt from Ellis on Berzkalns, who is ranked 47th in his rankings:

Bērzkalns helped get Muskegon to the USHL playoffs, taking on an even more important role once Tynan Lawrence left for college. The Boston College commit is a big, 6-foot-4 center who played some good two-way hockey at the World Juniors. He isn’t flashy and likely won’t be a big-time producer in the NHL, but he plays with a ton of muscle and took over shifts in ways very few bigger forwards were capable of this year in the USHL. I like him as a fourth-line forward – I think he understands the defensive game well enough to be a solid player. He just… scares opponents in a way very few guys can at this age. I love him.

Ben Macbeath (LD)

Ben Macbeath was off most people’s radar last season, playing for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the BCHL and putting up modest numbers. He exploded onto the scene for his hometown Calgary Hitmen in 2025-26, finishing the season at a near point-per-game pace and emerging as a star defender. The Leafs’ best left-handed defensive prospect right now is Noah Chadwick, who seems to have a good chance at becoming an NHLer, but there’s a big drop-off after that.

Here’s what Ellis had to say about Macbeath.

Macbeath came out of nowhere this year, registering 51 points in 67 games as a WHL rookie. The 6-foot-2 defender blends size, skill and mobility together to become an absolute force with the puck. Some scouts think the ceiling is high enough to take him in the first round. I’m not there yet because it feels like he can be a bit too passive with his decision-making at times. But as Calgary fought its way to make the playoffs, Macbeath was easily one of its most important players. I think he has a bright future with the potential to be an impact second-pairing defender.

The Leafs’ prospect pool is in best player available territory, and with Ellis noting Macbeath’s first-round potential, the Leafs should take a chance on him if he’s available at 60.

Jaxon Cover (LW)

Jaxon Cover has one of the most fascinating stories of any draft prospect. He’s originally from the Cayman Islands, and with a lack of ice hockey programs there, he played roller hockey for most of his youth and didn’t put on a pair of skates until he was ten years old. The 6-foot-1 winger just wrapped up his rookie season with the London Knights, who the Leafs have long had ties to, and finished with 52 points in 67 games.

Ellis offered his take on Cover below:

London had a down year by the team’s standards, especially after consecutive league titles. But Cover quickly established himself as one of the most intriguing prospects, finishing the regular season with 20 goals and 52 points. Cover is one of the rawest prospects in the draft, having only started playing ice hockey at the age of 13. So the fact that he has been so productive with the puck and so dangerous without it has really excited scouts. He’s so quick, using his speed to force turnovers and break into scoring lanes. He’s creative, and as long as he continues to work on the smaller details in his game, he’ll be a solid prospect.

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