Maple Leafs’ Latest Move Says a Lot About Their Draft Intentions

Ever since the lottery balls fell their way, everyone has been eyeing Gavin McKenna for the Toronto Maple Leafs at first overall in the NHL Draft. It feels like a can’t-miss opportunity for Toronto to add a Canadian-born winger who has the potential to be a massive point-producer. However, in true Maple Leafs fashion, it’s never that easy, and some also eyed them taking Ivar Stenberg, one of the many defensemen, or even trading down to accrue more assets.

According to a report from Chris Johnston on the Chris Johnston Show, the Maple Leafs recently made a move that likely all but confirms McKenna is their choice.

“Heard that some people from the Leafs’ staff have made a trip up to Whitehorse. I don’t view that as a full tell on their intentions, but the industry sense I get, it’s likely gonna be McKenna for the Leafs.”

Visits like this happen all the time, but the Maple Leafs going all the way to Whitehorse to meet with McKenna is worth noting, especially considering that the prospect normally trains in British Columbia during the offseason. The front office didn’t just want to see the player; they also wanted to build a connection with him by meeting him in his home environment. With all the fan pressures surrounding this selection, even John Chayka may not be bold enough to go against the grain and trade out of the pick and risk losing a generational player.

Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg?

Stenberg always looked like an intriguing option for the Maple Leafs, given the circumstances. After hiring Mats Sundin, who has been spending his hockey-watching time pre-Maple Leafs hiring, watching Swedish hockey, it seemed like Stenberg could be his top option. With Chayka already alluding to the fact that he would give serious consideration to anything Sundin said, it was easy to see a path where the Maple Leafs would take the Swedish prospect.

Add in the fact that Stenberg has been performing extremely well at the IIHF Men’s World Championship (with Sundin in attendance), and that McKenna decided to forgo playing with Canada. In that case, recency bias could lead to Stenberg moving ahead of him in the consensus rankings. Nevertheless, it doesn’t seem like this is going to be a Juraj Slafkovsky-over-Shane Wright situation, as some were thinking it could be.

Next: Ivar Stenberg is Making Life Harder for the Maple Leafs