Selecting Gavin McKenna first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft was always going to change the direction of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Normally, there would be an argument for bringing an 18-year-old in slowly and giving him time to adjust to the NHL. However, Toronto doesn't really have that luxury anymore.
With Auston Matthews healthy and in his prime, a new coaching staff, and a summer that was clearly focused on winning now. The Maple Leafs aren't built like a team that wants to wait a few years. The expectation should be to compete right away, and that means McKenna has a pretty big role to play.
The Maple Leafs should be contending in 2026-27
Putting McKenna in the top six alongside the aforementioned Matthews would give Toronto another elite offensive player for teams to worry about. Matthews remains one of the best goal scorers in the NHL, while McKenna's ability to make plays and find passing lanes could open up even more opportunities for him. Toronto wouldn't need him to carry the offence, but he could immediately make the top six more dangerous.
On top of drafting McKenna, the front office tried to address one of the biggest issues that has hurt the Maple Leafs in recent years. The addition of Darren Raddysh was huge. He had a breakout season last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and if he can bring that same level to the Maple Leafs, it’ll drastically help them.
Adding Raddysh as the top offensive defenceman to a top-six that has the likes of Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, Matthew Knies, and McKenna. It is going to make this team a much stronger offensive team, which is something that appeared to fall off last season.
Lastly, the signing of Sergei Bobrovsky gives the Maple Leafs a veteran with two Stanley Cups and plenty of postseason experience. This is something that they’ve been lacking since the early 2000s.
The Maple Leafs should be pushing themselves into contention this season. The Maple Leafs now have Matthews, added a 70-point defenseman in Raddysh, and brought in a two-time champion in Bobrovsky. If McKenna is ready to contribute right away, there is no reason this team can't make a serious push in 2026-27.
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