2 names making Maple Leafs think twice about Gavin McKenna

The Toronto Maple Leafs can pick anyone.

That's what having the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft means. The whole draft class is available to the Leafs.

And yes, Gavin McKenna remains the obvious choice.

He starred at Penn State after coming over from the WHL, and he's been viewed as the favorite to go first in this class for multiple years.

"Most scouts and executives I've checked in with still believe Gavin McKenna is the most likely pick simply because of his high ceiling," ESPN's Emily Kaplan wrote in a new article this week. "Beyond the skill, McKenna showed at Penn State this season he can handle noise -- and often feed off it. Whether it was a loud building or moments when scrutiny turned negative, evaluators saw a player who used that energy as fuel, not something that rattled him. A GM's worst nightmare is passing on a talent like McKenna and he hits, then spends years making you regret it."

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Kaplan's article goes on to examine two other names that could be in the running, though.

Both Ivar Stenberg and Caleb Malhotra are making pushes toward the top of draft boards, too.

"Ivar Stenberg has made this more of a conversation than many expected," Kaplan writes. "His profile has increased steadily through his draft year, and some evaluators believe his maturity, two-way detail and pro-ready game have at least forced a deeper internal debate. Caleb Malhotra is also getting a ton of love and might surprise some with just how high he has climbed on several team's draft boards."

The Maple Leafs would have to be quite bold to go with anyone other than McKenna in this spot. No one is going to criticize a McKenna pick.

But at the end of the day, their main goal should be to get it right. If the Leafs truly think McKenna is the best dude in this draft, take him.

If not, though, then Stenberg or Malhotra could climb to the top of a draft board. Until McKenna's name is called, there'll at least be this speculation that something could change and shake up the entire draft.

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