Maple Leafs, Chayka Exit 2026 NHL Draft With Great Haul of Prospects – Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs
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Round 1, 1st Overall: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)
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2nd round, 60th overall: Alexander Bilecki, LD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
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Round 3, 69th Overall: Ethan MacKenzie, LD, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
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Round 3, 73rd Overall: Zach Olsen, RW, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
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Round 3, 76th Overall: Måns Gudmundsson, RD, Färjestad BK U20 (Nationell)
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Round 3, 85th Overall: Jusso Ainasto, G, Jokerit U20 (SM-sarja)
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Round 4, 114th Overall: Patriks Plumins, G, Zemgale (Latvia)
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5th round, 158th overall: Cooper Williams, C, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
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Round 6, 161 Overall: Yaroslav Fedoseyev, RD, Chelmet Chelyabinsk (VHL)
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Round 6, 169th Overall: Brody Pepoy, RW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
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Final Grade
The 2026 NHL draft is officially in the books and the Toronto Maple Leafs are in dire need of bolstering their draft pool.
It was a fragile pipeline overall and it was up to general manager John Chayka and the scouting staff to try to fix it. They did so as he quickly returned it with plenty of quality talent and depth for the future. A day after Gavin McKenna was drafted, the Leafs started their second day with 60th pick and a bunch of third-round picks.
The Maple Leafs made their selection count among those picks, addressing a number of needs; competition, power, up and of course, defense as they take four defenders. Here’s a look at the 2026 draft class for them.
Round 1, 1St Overall: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)
It was a given that the Maple Leafs would be selecting McKenna first overall. Although he had an average first half – due to the transition from the Western Hockey League to the NCAA – he turned on the Jets with his production and consistency in the second half, finishing with 51 points in 35 games.
They got a player with the best offensive skills and the highest ceiling to be a top player in the NHL. His deceptive artistry and sense of play stand out above all. The way he can control situations in the attacking zone, draw players and open things up is at his best. He shows great patience, slows down the play, evaluates his options and hits quickly when an opening appears. He is not afraid to shoot the puck as he is very dangerous on his off-wing.
The consistency of the defensive team still needs to improve, but he has shown that he is willing to improve and show that he can do anything to win. He is known for his love of pressure and making everyone around him better. Going to a team with more stars should take the pressure off him and allow him to play his game and be comfortable at the NHL level.
Round 2, 60th Overall: Alexander Bilecki, LD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
I’m a big fan of Bilecki and even though he’s been playing third-team minutes, the energy and upside is very evident in his game. The offensive production may not have shown as he had 29 points in 66 games, but he had a better point-per-game average of 0.61 in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs (11 points in 18 games) to help the Kitchener Rangers win the championship and the Memorial Cup where he had three assists in four games.
Bilecki is a smooth, mobile and quick skater, who is a solid temporary defender with his passing and control. He always shows great confidence and composure when he manages to make plays when he has the puck while also getting out of pressure situations. His defensive game needs work, but there is promise. He is strong and competitive in one-on-one situations and rushes and has an effective stick to break up plays while transitioning on offense. He’s good at keeping players out and doesn’t give up too much space in the middle of the ice.
Bilecki saw limited ice time on a deep team, but the increased minutes and increased responsibilities next season could improve his value as a prospect. He says he is a winner and wants to continue that trend for the Maple Leafs.
Round 3, 69th Overall: Ethan MacKenzie, LD, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
After drafting a mobile, two-way defenseman in Bilecki, the Maple Leafs continued down that path with MacKenzie. He has been passed twice before, but found balance in his game this season with the Oil Kings scoring 22 goals and finishing with 58 points.
MacKenzie offers great balance on offense and defense. He is good at moving the puck in transition as he is a strong skater with great control and speed. He has a great burst of speed to cut outside on the run and then cut back to the inside to find the inside track. He has good puck protection skills, can get into shooting lanes well and does a great job of making strong plays with his passing and playmaking. Defensively, he has great awareness, shows good positioning, solid gap control and has the ability to shut down puck carriers and deny plays.
Given how much he’s grown, it’s a good bet the Maple Leafs make him since he has great qualities on both sides of the puck.
Round 3, 73rd Overall: Zach Olsen, RW, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
One of the picks acquired in the Brandon Carlo trade, the Maple Leafs picked a really painful forward to deal with. I had him as an option in 69th pick, but I’m glad this still works.
Olsen is as competitive and aggressive as they come and they show every shift. He can be physical as he can make big hits, but he also has an offensive element to his game. He is always in a position to attack on the forehead and attacks the puck to win battles and get to those dangerous spots on the ice. He has a great set of hands in traffic and does a great job of getting pucks to the net or setting up plays. He is a player who knows his role and will do so every time while bringing sharpness and intensity to the process.
Round 3, 76th Overall: Måns Gudmundsson, RD, Färjestad BK U20 (Nationell)
While I’m down on Gudmundsson, this is still an excellent pick. While he may not be a next-level scorer, he has some offensive upside with his passing and breakout game. He had 25 points in 35 games last season and four assists in seven games for Sweden, which won gold at the World U18 Championship.
Gudmundsson’s strength lies in his strong and defensive game. He is good at protecting rushers and clearing passing lanes while providing a tough and physical aspect to his game. He has an active stick and great reach to break up plays and can push players to the puck with ease. He’s a tall defender at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, but moves well for his size moving the puck.
Round 3, 85th Overall: Jusso Ainasto, G, Jokerit U20 (SM-sarja)
The Maple Leafs continued to add to their growing pitching depth by selecting Jusso Ainasto. I’ll admit I didn’t have him on my goalscoring radar, but he put up decent numbers in the U18 SM-sarja. He had a .938 save percentage and 1.74 goals against average and at the U20 level, he had a .892 SV% and a 3.28 GAA. The Maple Leafs have bet on goaltenders in the past and this could pay off.
Round 4, 114th Overall: Patriks Plumins, G, Zemgale (Latvia)
If you don’t know the story of Patriks Plumins, you should go back and watch his performance at the World U18 Championship where he led Latvia back to their best finish in the tournament. He had a .947 SV% and took home top goalie honors.
Plumins already has a good frame as he stands tall in goal at 6-foot-4, 214 pounds. He is in good shape and well written on the net. He tracks the puck very well and has strong reflexes in goal while showing good lateral movement. He gets to shooters very well and does a great job of challenging them aggressively. Latvia has a history of producing good goals and Plumins could be next in line.
Cycle 5, 158th Overall: Cooper Williams, C, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
After taking Olsen two rounds earlier, the Maple Leafs took his counterpart in Cooper Williams. He posted back-to-back 57-point seasons with the Saskatoon Blades and represented Canada in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Williams is a very effective two-way center who likes to make his presence felt on and off the puck. He shows great awareness when in attack mode, pressing forward, forcing turnovers and disrupting plays while transitioning to attack quickly. He is highly intelligent and shows great attention to detail defensively, organized and responsible for his assignments. He has a good shot and always puts himself in the right position to score good scoring chances.
The Maple Leafs need deep bodies up the middle of the ice and Williams could be a very effective under-six center in the future.
Cycle 6, 161St Overall: Yaroslav Fedoseyev, RD, Chelmet Chelyabinsk (VHL)
Fedoseyev spent time in both the MHL and VHL while posting decent results offensively. He had 13 points in 24 games in the MHL, while adding a goal and five assists in 25 games in the VHL. The 6-foot-1, 188-pound defenseman is not known for his offensive production as he plays a reliable and steady defensive game while bringing the physicality to make big hits.
Cycle 6, 169th Overall: Brody Pepoy, RW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
With their final pick of the draft, the Maple Leafs selected Pepoy from the Spirit. The 6-foot-1, 173-pound winger has put up 29 points in 67 games and seems to embody the essence of the Maple Leafs’ draft outlook.
Pepoy has an unstoppable drive, always buzzing and making his presence known disrupting plays and using his attacking skills to attack and create plays. He is a warrior in difficult places and has the ability to keep up with it. He does a good job of protecting the defenders as he attacks in the middle. He has soft hands, a good shot and is hard to stop as he is always on the move.
Final Grade
This being Chayka’s first draft, he did a great job helping to strengthen the Maple Leafs bullpen. Going out with a top player in McKenna and a number of good picks in the middle part of the draft cycle could pay off. They really fought for second and third round picks and later round picks Williams and Pepoy have some potential as they both have talent, work ethic and upside.
Grade: A+
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