McKenna, Stenberg top candidates for Maple Leafs with No. 1 pick in NHL Draft
The Toronto Maple Leafs will select either left wing Gavin McKenna from Penn State or forward Ivar Stenberg from Swedish Hockey League club Frolunda with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday in Buffalo. The draft is expected to feature a deep group of defensemen, with Chase Reid and Carson Carels considered potential future No. 1 defensemen, followed by Keaton Verhoeff, Daxon Rudolph, and Alberts Smits as top-pairing options. The Maple Leafs won the draft lottery with an 8.5 percent chance and will pick first for the third time in franchise history, with their last top pick being Auston Matthews in 2016.
Via NHL.com: www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-draft/2026-nhl-draft-
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