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Maple Leafs select Måns Gudmundsson with 76th pick in 2026 NHL Draft
Photo credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff
Jun 27, 2026, 13:03 EDT
The Toronto Maple Leafs have selected defenceman Måns Gudmundsson with the 76th pick of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Gudmundsson, 18, is a 6-foot-2 right-shot defence man from Sweden who was part of Färjestad BK’s system. He spent much of the year with the U20 team where he recorded 25 points in 35 games while adding five points in seven playoff games, and even got a one-game stint in the SHL.
Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis wrote the following on X about what the Leafs are getting out of Gudmundsson:
Gudmundsson’s 6-foot-3 frame is intriguing as a starting point. So what happens when he shows off his puck skills, too? Gudmundsson had 25 points in 35 games at the Swedish U-20 level and had a solid showing en route to a gold at the U-18 World Championship. He’s a good puck mover who looked great on the power play, especially during the Swedish U-20 playoffs.
Gudmundsson’s shot lacks power, and he’s not actually that physical for his frame, which is why he’s further down here. But some scouts see a guy who has the tools to become a bottom-pairing option once he bulks up.
As a puck-mover and playmaker, he skates well with an offensive mindset while making impressive defensive plays with his high motor. He looks for rebounds and effectively sets up plays for his higher-scoring teammates down low in the slot. He can also lead a power play with consistency quarterbacking the unit with his elite vision and mobility. Gudmundsson’s also coachable and learns quickly which is the type of tools that are found in a talented bottom-pair defensemen.
Gudmundsson was taken with one of the two picks the Leafs received in the trade they made at the draft that sent Brandon Carlo to the St. Louis Blues. The other pick they got, 73rd overall, was used to select forward Zach Olsen. Gudmundsson joins a prospect pool that currently boasts the likes of Ben Danford, Noah Chadwick, and William Villeneuve along with the other defensemen they took so far in this draft.
You can expect him to return to Sweden to continue his development, where he can ideally get more opportunities in the SHL as early as next season.
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