What we can infer about the Maple Leafs’ draft strategy from John Chayka’s media availability
With less than a month until the 2026 NHL Draft, the Maple Leafs are still in a state of transition, and Chayka provided some clarity on several items Friday. Here’s what we can infer about the team’s draft strategy and process from Chayka’s media availability.
Quick takeaways from Leafs GM John Chayka’s media availability with reporters in Buffalo
– No timeline for new head coach. Spoke to 55 people in any capacity for head coach.
– Leafs going best player available, considering 5-6 players for first overall. Lots of time w/McKenna.
Maple Leafs will hold onto 1st overall pick, Gavin McKenna is the favourite
McKenna was initially charged with felony aggravated assault on January 31. The felony charge against McKenna was quickly dropped, after police reviewed all the footage of the incident. Chayka and the Maple Leafs conducted extensive due diligence about McKenna, and appear to be enamoured with both the player and person.
“Gavin is a really nice young man. Really quality family. Spent some quality time with him, got to know him. He’s a small-town kid. It’s a remote area of the world, but very peaceful,” Chayka said.
No timeline in place for head coach, Leafs consulted 55 people in 1st round
It’s clear that the Maple Leafs are conducting some extensive due diligence for their next head coach. Although many fans are growing impatient, this is a good thing! Toronto effectively earmarked Brad Treliving and Craig Berube for their respective roles, prioritizing prior experience over any other quality. It backfired, as both Treliving and Berube displayed that the game had evolved past their archaic thinking.
Chayka didn’t mention any candidates by name, but said the team spoke to 55 people during the preliminary stage.
“We’re not as focused on some artificial timeline. We’re really focused on conviction. I think it’s been a long time since there’s been a full search for this organization. This is the next leader of the Toronto Maple Leafs. We’ve gone through a very thorough process.”
Auston Matthews isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon
All options are on the table for the Maple Leafs after winning the first overall pick, but the notion of trading captain Auston Matthews remains unthinkable. Chayka and Matthews are aligned on the team’s vision, after both parties met during the summer.
“What I saw was a happy captain, someone who has a lot of pride to be the captain of Toronto Maple Leafs, someone who wants to win in Toronto, which aligns with how we’re thinking about it,” Chayka said Friday.
Toronto may build around McKenna, Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan as its next core, while exploring all avenues to become younger, faster, more agile and ready to compete with the upstarts within the Atlantic Division. Trading Matthews in order to secure a package of younger, emerging stars or top picks (for example, the No. 2 overall pick from the San Jose Sharks plus Michael Misa) is the domain of fan fiction at this moment.