A+++++++
Nation Sites
The Nation Network
The LeafsNation has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Maple Leafs fans share their thoughts on the 2026 NHL Draft
Photo credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff
Jun 29, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 29, 2026, 11:03 EDT
The Toronto Maple Leafs had themselves quite the weekend at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
They had the first overall pick and used it to select Gavin McKenna, who was always going to be considered a big get for the organization. While it could have been easy to rest on their laurels and not take the remainder of the draft seriously, the Leafs kept making strong picks on the second day of the festivities.
Getting Alexander Bilecki in the second round was a solid choice, the likes of Ethan MacKenzie and Zach Olsen as third-round picks have good value already, and Mans Gudmundsson seems like he could also be a promising pick as well. The class as a whole has reinvigorated what seemed to be a weak prospect pool going into it, and now there’s plenty of promising young talent to add to the ranks.
We asked you on social media to share your thoughts on how the Leafs did at the 2026 NHL Draft, and here are the highlights:
Much like a lot of prospect experts, including our guy Steven Ellis, the fans gave a high grade for the Leafs’ overall showing at the draft. It’s not simply about how the festivities started; it’s how much quality they were able to find in the later rounds of the draft that gets people excited.
Very well. Appears to be good value that fell.
A lot of the Leafs’ picks were players who were ranked high on a lot of amateur scouts’ lists ahead of the draft, and some of them were a shock that they remained on the board late like Patriks Plumins and Cooper Williams. Even their last two picks in Yaroslav Fedoseyev and Brody Pepoy generated some buzz after their respective selections, given the fact that they were still up for grabs that deep into the draft.
Other than McKenna I have no idea. I doubt most of the other commentators also have no idea.
It’s indeed hard to predict exactly how things will go for all 10 players taken in this draft, even for the surefire pick in McKenna at first overall. But at the outset, it’s hard not to be happy with what the Leafs were able to get done, and it gives them more assets to work with at the very least.
While the draft was not fully conducted by GM John Chayka, it’s fair to say he has done a good job to this point with his first offseason in charge of the Leafs. The smartest thing he could have done was entrust Mark Leach and Judd Brackett to handle things, which he did. We are still a ways away from knowing exactly how things will pan out but so far so good.
They did a great job of reloading their prospect cupboard, but now have a plethora of bottom-six/bottom-four type players, with Koblar, Holinka, Hopkins, Nansi, Williams, and Olson up front, and Chadwick, Johansson, Bilecki, MacKenzie, Gudmundsson, Fedoseyev on the blue line. Show more
The focus now shifts to the start of the free agent frenzy, where the Leafs have to continue to make additions since McKenna alone wouldn’t be enough to get them back in the playoffs. Adding another defenceman and improving their depth down the middle would certainly go a long way to ensuring just that.
We want to hear from you: what are your thoughts on how the Leafs did at the 2026 NHL Draft?
Sponsored by bet365
Breaking News
- Maple Leafs fans share their thoughts on the 2026 NHL Draft
- A look at the Maple Leafs RFAs and whether to qualify them
- Report: Maple Leafs expected to be among teams pursuing Patrick Kane during free agency
- Around the NHL: Yzerman throws cold water on Larkin trade, Blue Jackets’ Werenski linked to 8 teams
- Maple Leafs’ Måns Gudmundsson models his game after Red Wings’ Moritz Seider