3 Reasons Gavin McKenna Should Be the Maple Leafs’ 1st Choice
If the Toronto Maple Leafs are sitting there with the No. 1 pick in 2026, there’s really one name that keeps rising above the rest: Gavin McKenna. And honestly, there are three simple reasons why he should be the obvious choice — even in a draft class with serious talent.
Reason 1: McKenna’s hockey IQ is at another level.
The first thing you notice about McKenna isn’t speed or size. It’s how he thinks the game. His hockey IQ is just different. He slows everything down when he has the puck, almost like he’s playing at a different pace than everyone else on the ice. That ability to read pressure, open lanes, and find passing options that nobody else sees is what makes him so dangerous.
Other top prospects like Carson Carels or Daxon Rudolph are smart players too, but McKenna’s real-time processing speed and creativity are what set him apart. He doesn’t just react — he controls the game.
Reason 2: McKenna’s an elite playmaker, not just a scorer.
The second reason is simple: he drives offence at an elite level without needing to shoot every puck. McKenna is one of the best playmakers in recent draft history when you look at assist production, but it’s not just the numbers. It’s how he gets them.
He manipulates defenders, draws pressure, and then slips passes into high-danger areas like it’s routine. Whether he’s in the WHL or NCAA, he finds teammates in spots most players don’t even see developing. That kind of vision is rare, and it translates directly to creating offence in the NHL.
For a team that already has finishing talent, adding a player who feeds that talent is a huge advantage.
Reason 3: McKenna’s hands tie everything together.
Even with elite IQ and vision, none of it matters if you can’t execute — and McKenna absolutely can. His puck handling is clean, controlled, and creative under pressure. He can beat defenders one-on-one, hold onto pucks in tight spaces, and extend plays that should be dead.
That’s what makes him more than just a passer or system player. He can create offence out of nothing, especially off the rush or along the boards. Players like Xavier Villeneuve or Wyatt Cullen also have great hands in this class, but McKenna combines hands with elite decision-making and timing, which is what really separates top-end NHL stars from everyone else.
The bottom line. There’s no reason for the Maple Leafs not to choose McKenna.
When you add it all up, he has elite hockey IQ, high-end playmaking, and dynamic puck skills. McKenna isn’t just a safe pick for the Maple Leafs; he’s the kind of player you build around. If Toronto is serious about getting younger, faster, and more dangerous long-term, this is the type of talent you don’t overthink.